UK Innovator Founder visa
Updated, January 1st, 2026 by Mark I. Davies, Esq. – Global Managing Partner, Ivy League Law Faculty, and recipient of a White House Commendation for service to the legal profession. Reviewed by Richard Latta, Esq
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Primary legal source: UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Innovator Founder (GOV.UK)
GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-innovator-founder
Overview
The Innovator Founder visa is for entrepreneurs who want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK, backed by an endorsement from an approved endorsing body. It is the current route that replaced the older Innovator visa.
GOV.UK
At a legal level, this visa enables a person to help establish a UK business based on an innovative, viable and scalable business idea they either generated, or which they have significantly contributed to. The applicant may hold a key role in day-to-day management and development of the business.
GOV.UK
What the visa lets you do
You can
- Set up one business or several businesses
GOV.UK
- Work for your business, including as a director or as a partner in a partnership
GOV.UK
- Take additional work outside your business, as long as it is a job needing at least a level 3 qualification
GOV.UK
- Bring eligible dependents
GOV.UK
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
GOV.UK
- Extend your stay in further 3 year periods, with no stated limit on the number of extensions, provided you apply again with a new endorsement before your current permission expires
GOV.UK
- Apply for settlement after 3 years, if you meet the settlement requirements
GOV.UK
You cannot
- Access most public funds
GOV.UK
- Work as a professional sportsperson, including as a coach
GOV.UK
A restriction founders often miss: you cannot hire out your labour
The Immigration Rules make clear that “working for your business” does not include filling a position or hiring out your labour to another business. This is true even if you do the work through your own company or via a recruitment or employment agency.
GOV.UK
Key eligibility requirements
Your business idea must be new, innovative, viable, and scalable
GOV.UK summarises the core criteria like this:
GOV.UK
- New: you cannot join a business that is already trading
GOV.UK
- Innovative: an original idea that is different from anything else on the market
GOV.UK
- Viable: realistic and deliverable, with potential for growth
GOV.UK
- Scalable: evidence of planning for job creation and growth into national and international markets
GOV.UK
You must obtain an endorsement, and apply while it is still valid
Your application must be supported by an endorsement from an approved endorsing body.
GOV.UK
Home Office caseworker guidance states the endorsement letter must be issued no more than 3 months before the date of application, and must not have been withdrawn.
GOV.UK
English language requirement at level B2
The Rules require English language ability at level B2 in all 4 components, unless an exemption applies.
GOV.UK
Maintenance funds requirement
If you are applying for entry clearance, or you are applying in-country but have been in the UK with permission for less than 12 months, the Rules require funds of at least £1,270 held for a 28 day period in line with Appendix Finance.
GOV.UK
Suitability and immigration status conditions apply
Caseworker guidance summarises that the applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability, and in country switching is not permitted from certain routes such as Visitor and Short-term Student.
GOV.UK
Endorsement: what endorsing bodies and the Home Office will look for
What you are really being assessed on
In practice, endorsement is where most of the real scrutiny happens. The Home Office expectation is being a genuine founder with an active day to day role, with monitoring by endorsing bodies during each grant of permission of stay.
What the endorsement letter must confirm
Home Office caseworker guidance lists required confirmations, including that:
GOV.UK
- You are considered a fit and proper person for endorsement under the rules and guidance
- The endorsing body has no concerns over the legitimacy of the sources of funds or transfer of funds invested into the endorsed business
- The endorsing body has identified no reason to believe you or the business may be the beneficiary of illicit or unsatisfactorily explained wealth
This is a strong signal that your funding narrative and evidence are not just “nice to have”. They are part of what the endorsement system is designed to test.
Endorsement validity window
Both the Immigration Rules and caseworker guidance emphasise the endorsement date must be no earlier than 3 months before you apply.
GOV.UK
Approved endorsing bodies and endorsement costs
Who can endorse new Innovator Founder applications
GOV.UK maintains a list of authorised endorsing bodies. The “Business Endorsing Bodies” list includes:
GOV.UK
- UK Endorsing Services
- Innovator International
- Envestors Limited
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP), which only endorses founders invited onto its programme
Endorsing body fees and checkpoint meeting fees
GOV.UK states:
GOV.UK
- £1,000 per person to apply for endorsement
- If the visa is granted, mandatory contact point meetings cost £500 per meeting, and you must meet at least twice during your permission
Investment funds: what is required, and what is commonly misunderstood
There is no initial fixed minimum investment in the Immigration Rules
The Innovator Founder Rules focus on endorsement, English, and maintenance funds for the visa application stage, not a set investment minimum.
GOV.UK
Why some websites still talk about £50,000
Many online pages still state that founders need £50,000 investment funds. For example, Westkin Associates’ Innovator visa page states that a new business must have at least £50,000 of investment funds.
Westkin Associates
That figure is firmly relevant to settlement criteria in the Rules as one of the “two out of” success measures, not a universal entry requirement.
GOV.UK
A nuance to treat carefully: team founder wording in caseworker guidance
Home Office caseworker guidance contains a section about “innovator teams” and states that each applicant must independently demonstrate a separate £50,000 available to invest where the application is under the new business criterion.
GOV.UK
Because the Immigration Rules and GOV.UK public overview do not present a universal £50,000 entry threshold, this is exactly the kind of point where founders should align their strategy with the specific endorsing body’s requirements and evidence expectations, and ensure the plan is consistent across endorsement and application materials.
GOV.UK
How long you can stay, and what happens during the visa
Duration of permission
You can stay for 3 years on this visa.
GOV.UK
Monitoring and contact point meetings
You must meet your endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show progress, and GOV.UK states your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn.
GOV.UK
DavidsonMorris also flags that substantial changes to the business concept, ownership or founder role may require fresh consideration by the endorsing body, which is a practical compliance point founders should plan for.
DavidsonMorris | Solicitors
Switching into Innovator Founder from inside the UK
Who cannot switch
Caseworker guidance lists categories that cannot switch into this route, including: Visitor, Short term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, and people outside the Immigration Rules.
GOV.UK
Switching from Student permission
Caseworker guidance states Students can switch only if they have completed their course, or have completed at least the first 12 months of a PhD.
GOV.UK
Application process: a step by step structure founders can follow
Step 1: build an endorsement ready pack
A strong endorsement pack usually includes:
- A clear problem, solution, and differentiation case showing true innovation
- Market analysis grounded in evidence, not generic claims
- A viable operating model and credible financials
- A scale plan tied to hiring, routes to market, and international expansion where relevant
- Founder role clarity showing you will be central and day to day
- Funding narrative and evidence that satisfies due diligence expectations
GOV.UK
Step 2: apply to an approved endorsing body
Confirm you are using an endorsing body on the official list, then follow that body’s process and pay their endorsement fee.
GOV.UK
Step 3: apply online to the Home Office within the endorsement validity window
GOV.UK states you must apply online, and caseworker guidance confirms the endorsement must be dated within the required 3 month window and not withdrawn.
GOV.UK
Step 4: provide identity documents and supporting evidence
GOV.UK explains you will need to prove your identity and provide documents as part of your application.
GOV.UK
Your evidence set typically needs to cover:
- English language at B2 (or exemption)
GOV.UK
- Maintenance funds where required
GOV.UK
- Any additional requirements such as TB screening where applicable
GOV.UK
Step 5: after grant, plan for checkpoints and governance
You should calendar the checkpoint meetings, prepare internal reporting, and keep your endorsing body aligned on material changes so you do not trigger avoidable endorsement risk.
GOV.UK
Processing times and Home Office fees
Decision times
GOV.UK states typical processing times are:
- 3 weeks if you apply outside the UK
- 8 weeks if you apply inside the UK
GOV.UK
Application fees and healthcare surcharge
GOV.UK lists the application fees as:
- £1,274 per person if you apply outside the UK
- £1,590 per person if you apply to extend or switch inside the UK
GOV.UK
You must also pay the healthcare surcharge as part of the application.
GOV.UK
Dependants
Who can apply as a dependant
A partner and dependent children can apply on this route.
GOV.UK
Maintenance funds for dependants
The Rules require, where funds must be shown, the following amounts:
- £285 for a dependent partner
- £315 for the first dependent child
- £200 for each additional dependent child
GOV.UK
What dependants can do
The Rules state dependant work, including self employment and voluntary work, is permitted except as a professional sportsperson, and study is permitted subject to ATAS where relevant.
GOV.UK
Extension
You can apply to extend for another 3 years, and GOV.UK states there is no limit on the number of times you can extend, but you must re apply with a new endorsement before your current permission expires.
GOV.UK
Settlement after 3 years
Settlement is built into the route, but it is evidence heavy
The Rules confirm the route is a route to settlement.
GOV.UK
To apply for settlement, you must meet the qualifying period requirement of 3 years with permission as an Innovator Founder.
GOV.UK
Settlement endorsement requirements and business success criteria
For settlement, the endorsement letter must confirm key points such as the business being active and trading, sustainable for at least the next 12 months, and your active key role.
GOV.UK
It must also confirm the venture has met at least two of the specified success criteria, which include:
- At least £50,000 invested into the business and actively spent furthering the business
- Customers at least doubled within the most recent 3 years, and currently higher than the mean for comparable UK businesses
- Significant research and development and an application for UK intellectual property protection
- £1 million minimum annual gross revenue in the last full year covered by accounts
- £500,000 minimum annual gross revenue with at least £100,000 from exports
- The equivalent of at least 10 full time jobs created for settled workers
- The equivalent of at least 5 full time jobs created for settled workers, each with mean salary at least £25,000 per year
GOV.UK
The Rules also restrict double counting and set additional constraints where more than one founder is applying for settlement on the basis of the same venture.
GOV.UK
Common pitfalls and how to reduce risk
Weak innovation case
Generic business models with superficial tech dressing often fail at the endorsement stage because they do not show credible differentiation.
Founder role not clearly day to day
The Rules require a key role in day-to-day management and development. If the plan reads like passive investment, or if you intend to outsource leadership, that tends to clash with what the endorsing body and Home Office expect.
GOV.UK
Funding narrative not credible or not evidenced
Caseworker guidance is explicit that endorsing bodies confirm legitimacy of sources of funds and must have no concerns about illicit or unexplained wealth. Treat this as a central part of your application strategy, not an afterthought.
GOV.UK
Side work described wrongly
Some online pages still describe supplementary work using outdated limits or outdated Innovator route assumptions. The Rules and GOV.UK frame the permission in terms of skill level for other employment and the labour hire restriction, not a generic weekly hours cap.
GOV.UK
Correction 1: £50,000 is not a universal entry requirement for Innovator Founder
Some sources still present an initial £50,000 investment requirement, for example Westkin’s Innovator visa page.
Westkin Associates
The current Innovator Founder Rules focus on endorsement and maintenance funds at the visa stage, and place £50,000 primarily inside the settlement criteria as one possible success metric.
GOV.UK
Correction 2: the labour hire restriction is often missing
Many guides say you can run your own business and work elsewhere, but do not spell out the specific restriction that you cannot fill a position or hire out your labour to another business, even through your own company or an agency. This page includes the wording because it sits directly in the Rules.
GOV.UK
Improvement 1: endorsement due diligence is made explicit
A lot of pages describe endorsement as a simple approval step. Caseworker guidance shows it is also a due diligence framework, including fit and proper person confirmation and explicit funding legitimacy confirmations.
GOV.UK
Improvement 2: switching rules and Student switching are pinned to Home Office wording
Many firm pages summarise switching loosely. Caseworker guidance provides a clear list of routes that cannot switch and a clear Student switching condition, and this page uses that language.
GOV.UK
Improvement 3: monitoring and endorsement withdrawal consequences are front and centre
The Home Office requires 12 and 24 month checkpoint meetings and warns the visa may be cut short if endorsement is withdrawn. Ongoing scrutiny and the need to manage changes properly are paramount.
Disclaimer
This information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. Immigration rules are subject to frequent changes. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date content, this does not constitute legal advice. Always consult with a qualified immigration solicitor or the official Home Office guidance before making an application.
About the Authors
Mark I Davies, Esq.
Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.
Mark I Davies, Esq. JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Licensed with the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, Member Law Society of England & Wales, MBA, Wharton School of Business. Top 10 Investment Visa Lawyer, Licensed (USA), Georgia State Bar. AILA Member.
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Education
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JD, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | MBA (Finance), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) |
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Financial Training
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Completed Analyst Training Program at a major international bank | Chartered Accountant background with professional training in financial analysis and reporting |
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Legal Practice
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Admitted to practice in Georgia (USA) | Registered Solicitor with the Law Society of England & Wales | Former CMBS lawyer at one of the world’s largest international law firms |
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Immigration Track Record
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15+ years advising HNW investors |
Zero denials for clients advised on source-of-funds compliance in EB-5 | Hundreds of successful EB-5 cases globally
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Recognition
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Named a
Top 25 EB-5 Immigration Attorney by EB5 Investors Magazine (2018–2023)
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Professional Engagements
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Lecturer/trainer for other lawyers at AILA, ACA, University of Pennsylvania Law School | Frequent speaker at global investment immigration conferences |
