UKBusiness / startup residence permit

Visa for business founders in the UK

The Innovator Founder Visa is a UK residence permit for entrepreneurs with a new, innovative and scalable business idea approved by an official endorsing body. It suits those who want to run and develop their own business in the country themselves, rather than work as an employee.

Visa term

Usually up to 3 years, then an extension or ILR straight away

Processing time

Endorsement plus about 3 weeks for the visa

Work

Work on your own business; limited employed work

Residence

Live in the UK and actively develop the business

Source: gov.uk — Innovator Founder visa

Who can get the visa

Requirements for the applicant

Aged 18 or over
English at level B2 (nationals of a number of English-speaking countries are exempt from proving it)
An assessment and an endorsement letter from an approved endorsing body before the application is filed
At least £1,270 in a bank account for 28 days in a row before the application — if the applicant has spent less than a year in the United Kingdom

Requirements for the business

The business must be new — you cannot join a business that is already running
The idea must be innovative — different from what is already on the market
The business must be viable and have growth potential
The idea must be scalable

What it costs

Visa from outside the United Kingdom (per person)	1 357 GBP
Extension or switching status inside the United Kingdom (per person)	1 693 GBP
Endorsement of the business or business idea by an endorsing body	+1 000 GBP
Meeting with the endorsing body (per meeting, at least 2 meetings during the visa)	+500 GBP

Documents to gather

Endorsement letter — confirmation of the assessment of the business or business idea by an endorsing body
A passport or another document proving identity and nationality
A bank statement showing at least £1,270 in the account for at least 28 days in a row before the application
Proof of knowledge of English
Tuberculosis test results, if required for the applicant’s country
A certified translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh

How the process runs

The route to the visa starts with approval of the business and ends with a Home Office decision.

1
Obtain the endorsement
Present the business plan to an endorsing body and obtain an assessment and an endorsement letter confirming that the business is new, innovative, viable and scalable.
2
Prepare the documents
Collect the passport, a bank statement showing £1,270 in the account for 28 days in a row, proof of English and, where required, tuberculosis test results.
3
Apply online
File the visa application through the GOV.UK website and pay the application fee.
4
Give biometrics
Attend the appointment to provide your biometric data.
5
Receive the decision
about 3 weeks when applying from outside the United Kingdom, about 8 weeks when applying for an extension or to switch status inside the country
The Home Office takes a decision on the visa application.

Who you can bring with you

A partner and children can apply as dependants if they meet the conditions.

Partner (spouse or civil partner)

A marriage or civil partnership recognised in the United Kingdom, or living together for at least 2 years, or a relationship of 2 years or more while living apart, with evidence that the relationship is genuine. In addition you must show £285 in the account for at least 28 days before the application.

Children

Under 18 (or older if they are already dependants), living with the applicant except while in full-time study, and not married or in a civil partnership. In addition you must show £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child — in the account for at least 28 days before the application.

Renewal and the grace period

The visa can be extended an unlimited number of times, each time for 3 years — provided the business is still running or the applicant is starting a new one and goes through the endorsing body assessment again. After 3 years of residence in the United Kingdom on this visa you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Visa for business founders	Skilled worker visa	Visa for professional leaders
Visa term	Usually up to 3 years, then an extension or ILR straight away	Up to 5 years at a time (tied to the CoS), can be extended repeatedly	1–5 years at a time, at your choice, extendable; there is no overall maximum
Grounds	Innovative business	Employment	Leaders in science / IT / the arts
Work	Work on your own business; limited employed work	Work in the sponsored job plus supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week	Full right to work in any field and to change employer without a sponsor
Residence	Live in the UK and actively develop the business	Absences must not exceed about 180 days a year	You must show that your centre of life is in the UK

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

ILR is possible after 3 years if the business is developing

Route to citizenship

Citizenship after ILR once the residence and language requirements are met

Frequently asked questions about Visa for business founders

Who can get the Innovator Founder Visa?

The applicant must be over 18, have English at level B2 and a business idea that an endorsing body has assessed as new, innovative, viable and scalable, issuing an endorsement letter.

How much does the Innovator Founder visa cost?

An application from outside the United Kingdom costs £1,357 per person; an extension or switching status inside the country costs £1,693. An endorsement from an endorsing body costs £1,000, plus £500 for each of the minimum two compulsory meetings with the endorsing body during the visa.

How much is the health surcharge (IHS) for this visa?

The standard Immigration Health Surcharge rate is £1,035 a year per adult applicant; for terms longer than a year the charge is recalculated in proportion to the length of the visa.

How long does the application take?

When applying from outside the United Kingdom the decision usually arrives in about 3 weeks. When applying for an extension or to switch status inside the country it usually arrives within 8 weeks of the application date.

Can a partner and children come with the applicant?

Yes, a partner and children can apply as dependants if they meet the conditions — for example, the partner is in a recognised marriage or partnership or has lived with the applicant for at least 2 years. In addition you must show £285 for the partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child.

Can the visa be extended and can it lead to permanent residence?

The visa can be extended an unlimited number of times for 3 years at a time. After 3 years of residence in the United Kingdom on this visa you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Do you have to invest a set amount of money in the business?

There is no hard investment threshold for the business. What matters is passing the endorsement and showing the endorsing body realistic funding for the business, as well as holding your own £1,270 in the account for 28 days in a row for your own maintenance.

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.