Understanding the Requirements of Innovator Founder Visa in 2025

The Innovator Founder route is the UK’s flagship pathway for entrepreneurs who intend to establish an innovative, viable and scalable business. It is endorsement-led rather than investment-threshold-led, offers an initial grant of 3 years, and can provide accelerated settlement (ILR) at the 3-year mark where the business meets specified performance criteria. 

Who Can Apply For Innovator Founder Visa?

This route is for founders who originate, or have made a significant contribution to – a defensible business plan and who will play a day-to-day leadership role in developing and managing the venture. Endorsement is obtained from an approved business endorsing body after an assessment of innovation, viability and scalability. You can apply as a sole founder or as an instrumental member of a founding team (each founder must be endorsed individually).

What Are The Eligibility Requirements For Innovator Founder Visa? 

Entry Requirement for an Innovator Founder

If an applicant is applying from outside the UK, an entry clearance must be obtained prior to arrival. Certain countries are subject to the Tuberculosis requirement, in that case, the applicant must obtain a medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present.

Genuine Innovator Founder Requirement

The applicant must be a genuine Innovator Founder applicant. 

Innovator Founder Points Requirement: How Are the 70 Points Scored?

Applicants must score 70 points: 50 for endorsement (either “new business” or “same business”) and 20 for the mandatory English language and financial requirements. At endorsement stage the business plan is assessed, as well as whether the venture is innovative, viable and scalable.

General Requirements for an Endorsement

Applicants must be supported by an endorsement letter from an endorsing body.

English Language Requirement for an Innovator Founder

Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of at least level B2.

Financial Requirement for an Innovator Founder

If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, or is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK for less than 12 months at the date of application, they must have funds of at least £1,270 for a 28-day period.

Business Requirements for an Innovator Founder

Business Requirements of a New Business for an Innovator Founder

For a new business, the applicant must have an innovative, viable and scalable business venture and they must meet all the following requirements:

• The applicant must have a business plan and have either generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in that business plan; and demonstrate that they will have a day-to-day role in carrying out the business plan; and confirm that they will have at least two Contact point meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals during their period of permission; and be either the sole founder or an instrumental member of the founding team.
• The applicant must have a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage; and
• The applicant’s business plan must be realistic and achievable based on the applicant’s available resources; and
• The applicant must have, or be actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run the business; and
• There must be evidence of structured planning and of potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

Business Requirements of a Business Previously Assessed by an Endorsing Body for an Innovator Founder

The applicant’s business must be a business that has previously been assessed by an Endorsing Body or Legacy Endorsing Body while the applicant had permission as an Innovator Founder or on the Start-up or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route.

If an applicant has or has last had permission as an Innovator Founder, they need to demonstrate that they have attended at least 2 Contact point meetings with their Endorsing Body at regular intervals during their period of permission or similar regular checkpoint assessments with their Legacy Endorsing Body; and confirm that they will have at least two Contact point meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals during their period of permission.

The applicant’s business must be active, trading and sustainable and the applicant must have made significant progress against their business plan.

The applicant’s business must be registered with Companies House and the applicant must be listed as a director or member of that business.

The applicant must be involved in the day-to-day management and development of their business.

Innovator Founder Endorsement: How the Endorsement Process Works

What is “endorsement” and why do you need it?

Think of endorsement like a green light from a trusted panel that says your startup idea is worth backing. For this visa, you must be endorsed before you apply. The Home Office trusts a small number of approved organisations (“endorsing bodies”) to check whether your business looks innovative, viable, and scalable.

• Innovative: a real edge or originality (not just another café with a generic app).
• Viable: you (and the plan) can actually deliver this.
• Scalable: it can grow, hire people, and expand beyond a tiny niche.

Who gives the endorsement? – Approved Innovator Founder Endorsing Bodies

Below is a limited set of Home Office-approved endorsers

• UK Endorsing Services

• Innovator International

• Envestors Limited

• The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP): The GEP is a government programme run by the Department for Business and Trade for internationally mobile, tech-based entrepreneurs and helps them scale and internationalise their innovation rich companies from a UK global HQ. GEP only provide visa endorsements for founders that have already been invited to participate on their programme.

Each has slightly different intake windows, forms, and expectations. You apply to one that fits your sector/stage. They are not investors. They are gatekeepers checking your business’s quality and credibility.

Contact-Point Meetings & Compliance: What Ongoing Duties Apply?

Applicants need to attend at least two contact-point meetings at regular intervals. Withdrawal of endorsement, missed checkpoints, or material non-progress can trigger cancellation of permission.

What do endorsing bodies look at?

The chosen endorsing body will mainly look at the applicant’s business plan and the applicant.

• Business plan: What are the problem? What are the solution? What is the market? Who are the competitors? Why the applicant’s business is different? How the business will make money? What the applicant needs to build next? What are the realistic goals?
• Evidence: Anything including market research, early users/MVP, letters of intent, IP filings, financial plan to demonstrate that the business plan is not just theory.
• Applicant’s role: the Applicant must be a founder or an instrumental co-founder and involves in the day-to-day management.
• Fit & proper checks, including source of any funds the applicant will use.

What does the process feel like?

• First, the applicant needs to choose an endorsing body that suits the sector/stage.
• Second, the applicant needs submit their form, business plan and evidence.
• Third, the applicant will be invited to two contact-point meetings with the endorsing body.
• The endorsing body will decide whether to endorse the applicant. If successful, the applicant will be given an endorsement letter.
• Lastly, with that endorsement letter, the applicant will move to the visa application.

Innovator Founder Visa Application Process

Can I Switch to the UK Innovator Founder in the UK?

Switching from inside the UK is allowed from most routes (the usual short-stay exclusions apply: Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or outside the Rules).

Team Applications for Innovator Founder: Can Co-Founders Apply?

Yes. Each co-founder must secure their own endorsement and be an instrumental team member with a defined role and contribution.

How Much does a UK Innovator Founder Visa Application Cost?

The UK Innovator Founder Visa costs £1,274 per person if you apply outside the UK. It costs £1,590 per person if you apply to extend or switch your visa in the UK.

You will need to pay £1,000 to get an endorsement from an approved endorsing body.

If your visa application is successful, you will need to meet at least twice during your stay in the UK, and you will need to pay £500 each time you meet with your endorsing body. 

You will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge of £3,105 for a 3-year visa as part of your application.

How Long Does A UK Innovator Founder Visa Valid For?

Initial permission is granted for 3 years. It can be extended in 3-year periods with a new endorsement. There is no maximum time in the route. 

Our Innovator Founder Visa Endorsement Application Service

Step 1 – Free 15-minute No Obligatory Discussion via Phone Call

During the 15-minute no obligatory discussion, we will get an initial understanding of your circumstances and provide some general information about the Innovator Founder route. We do not provide legal advice during this call, meaning we will not be assessing the feasibility of your business idea, commenting on suitable endorsement bodies, or giving tailored strategy on how to prepare your application.

Book a 15-minute No Obligatory Discussion, or complete our enquiry form. A solicitor will review your enquiry. We aim to respond within 48 hours.

Step 2 – One-Hour Business Consultation – Personalised Eligibility Assessment

During our business consultation to understand your venture, traction, and UK plans. We will:

• advise on whether your business fits the new business or same business pathway
• advise your position on switching, TB and maintenance requirements, and any dependant requirements.
• explain the current relevant UK immigration rules in plain English
• explain what the endorsing bodies expect on Innovation, Viability, Scalability requirements
• identify the most appropriate endorsing body for your sector and stage

Step 3 – Full Representation (Stage 1): Innovator Founder Endorsement Application Preparation 

• We will provide a written advice letter, explaining the immigration rules in detail and requirements for the chosen endorsing body.
• We will provide a list of supporting documents you need to collate and guidance on the evidence.
• We will advise on the content and structure of your business plan, ensuring it meets the endorsing body’s requirements.
• We will review every document to eliminate technical weaknesses and ensure consistency between plan, forms and evidence.
• We will prepare a well-organised application bundle.
• We will draft the endorsement application and assist with the submission of you endorsement application.
• We will act as your legal representative for your communications with the endorsing body until a decision is made.

Step 4 – Full Representation (Stage 2): Visa Application  

With the endorsement letter in hand, we prepare your Innovator Founder visa application (and any dependant applications). We complete all forms, check document formats, calculate fees/IHS, book biometrics, and ensure the visa stage corresponds with the endorsed plan. 

Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) Application Requirements as an Innovator Founder

In order to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Appendix Innovator Founder of the Immigration Rules, the applicant must:

• Apply using the correct application form, pay the fee, enrol biometrics, and provide a valid passport/ID
• Be in the UK and have (or have last held) permission as an Innovator Founder
• Meet the suitability requirements
• Have spent at least 3 years in the UK with Innovator Founder permission
• Meet the continuous residence requirement for that qualifying period
• Meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement
• Provide a current endorsement letter issued within the last 3 months and not withdrawn, covering all of the following information:

(a) confirmation that the applicant has shown significant achievements, judged against the business plan assessed in their previous endorsement; and

(b) confirmation that the applicant’s business is registered with Companies House and the applicant is listed as a director or member of that business; and

(c) confirmation the business is active and trading; and

(d) confirmation that the business appears to be sustainable for at least the following 12 months, based on its assets and expected income, weighed against its current and planned expenses; and

(e) confirmation the applicant has demonstrated an active key role in the day-to-day management and development of the business; and

(f) confirmation the applicant’s business venture has met at least two of the following requirements:

(i) at least £50,000 has been invested into the business and actively spent furthering the business; or

(ii) the number of the business’s customers has at least doubled within the most recent 3 years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable main products or services; or

(iii) the business has engaged in significant research and development activity and has applied for intellectual property protection in the UK; or

(iv) the business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £1million in the last full year covered by its accounts; or

(v) the business is generating a minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000 in the last full year covered by its accounts, with at least £100,000 from exporting overseas; or

(vi) the business has created the equivalent of at least 10 full-time jobs for settled workers; or

(vii) the business has created the equivalent of at least 5 full-time jobs for settled workers, each of which has a mean salary of at least £25,000 a year (gross pay, excluding any allowances).