This guide is maintained as a current resource for July 2026 and covers only the laws of England and Wales. Information is for general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Detailed explanation of Innovator and Start‑up visa requirements in the UK, including eligibility criteria, endorsement process, business plan standards, financial and English language requirements, application steps and rights after granting.
The United Kingdom offers immigration routes for entrepreneurs and business founders who wish to establish or grow innovative enterprises within its economy. Historically two separate routes existed - the Start‑up visa and the Innovator visa - each with distinct requirements and outcomes. Recent reforms have replaced these with a new single route called the Innovator Founder visa. Understanding the eligibility criteria, endorsement process, financial requirements, and legal implications of these routes is crucial for prospective applicants, solicitors, business advisers, investors and anyone considering UK immigration on a business basis.
This article explains the legal and procedural requirements, eligibility conditions, timing and common questions for Innovator and Start‑up applicants, drawing on official UK government guidance and Immigration Rules. Clear definitions and practical context are provided to make the complex legal landscape accessible without sacrificing precision.
Start‑up Visa: Status and Legacy
The Start‑up visa was designed for early‑stage entrepreneurs seeking to establish a business in the UK for the first time with an innovative, viable and scalable idea endorsed by an approved body. However, as of 13 July 2023 the Start‑up route is closed to new applications. Only applicants who already hold a valid Start‑up endorsement issued before 13 April 2023 may continue to use the route, and then only for a limited period. Start‑up visa holders may bring dependants and may later seek to switch to the Innovator Founder route to extend their stay or progress toward settlement. Start‑up does not itself lead to settlement in the UK.
Under the legacy Appendix Start‑up of the Immigration Rules, applicants needed endorsement from a Home Office‑approved endorsing body, be aged 18 or over and meet basic application requirements such as biometric submission and identity verification.
Because the route is closed to new applications, this article focuses primarily on the current Innovator Founder visa, which has replaced both the Innovator and Start‑up categories.
Innovator Founder Visa: Overview
The Innovator Founder visa is a business immigration route for individuals wishing to establish an innovative business in the UK that has significant potential for growth and job creation. It offers initial leave to enter or remain, opportunities for extension and a route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after usually three years, provided applicants meet continuous residence and endorsement criteria.
The visa requires an endorsement from a Home Office‑approved endorsing body that assesses the applicant's business plan and viability. Approval of endorsement does not in itself grant leave but is a mandatory prerequisite to applying for the visa with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Eligibility Criteria
Endorsement from a Home Office‑Approved Body
Before applying for the Innovator Founder visa, applicants must obtain an endorsement letter issued no more than three months before the visa application. Endorsement is provided by an approved endorsing body that evaluates whether the business venture satisfies criteria of being:
- Innovative – offering a new product, service or process not widely available in the UK market;
- Viable – demonstrating realistic prospects of business success based on sound planning and resources;
- Scalable – showing potential for job creation, growth and penetration of national or international markets.
Endorsement letters must include specific details such as the name of the endorsing body, the applicant's identity details and a unique reference number. The endorsement must not have been withdrawn at the time of applying.
Applicants under the legacy Start‑up or Innovator schemes may be endorsed under “same business” criteria if their business was previously assessed and they meet continuity and performance conditions.
Points‑Based Eligibility
Under Appendix Innovator Founder of the Immigration Rules, applicants must score at least 70 points. Points are awarded for:
- Endorsement and business criteria (usually 50 points, under new or same business rules);
- English language requirement at B2 level (10 points);
- Financial requirement to support themselves and their business activities (10 points).
Meeting the English language requirement typically involves demonstrating competence at B2 level in speaking, listening, reading and writing unless exempt through nationality or recognised English‑taught qualifications. (English language reforms effective from early 2026 are raising standards to B2 across multiple immigration categories, though categories vary; see Financial Times reporting on these reforms.)
Age and Identity Requirements
Applicants must be 18 years old or over at the time of application, provide a valid passport or travel document, and submit biometric information where required.
Financial Requirements
Applicants must show evidence of sufficient personal savings to support themselves without recourse to public funds. This usually means demonstrating a minimum balance in a bank account for a consecutive period (for example at least £1,270 for 28 days in a personal account immediately prior to applying).
Unlike the previous Innovator route, the Innovator Founder visa does not currently mandate a specific fixed investment sum such as £50,000 for new business ventures. However, the endorsed business must have viable funding to demonstrate its growth and operation. Recommendations from endorsing bodies and caseworker guidance focus on realistic financial backing.
Business Plan and Ongoing Engagement
Another essential requirement is a robust business plan that articulates how the venture will operate, grow and contribute to the UK economy. The endorsing body verifies that the applicant has made a significant contribution to the plan and will play a day‑to‑day role in its execution.
Endorsing bodies also monitor progress at regular intervals (commonly around 12 and 24 months) and will report to UKVI if the business fails to meet growth expectations or if the applicant misses check‑in milestones.
Start‑up Route: Legacy Conditions
For completeness, under legacy Start‑up criteria (closed to new applications), candidates needed an endorsement of an innovative, viable and scalable business idea and to be at least 18 years old. Endorsement had to be issued before the closure date to be used. The route permitted dependants and a maximum stay of two years but did not provide a direct path to settlement; progression typically involved switching to the Innovator Founder route.
Application Process and Timing
Sequence
- Prepare business plan and supporting evidence demonstrating innovation, viability and scalability.
- Apply to an approved endorsing body for endorsement; pay any required endorsement fees.
- Receive the endorsement letter valid for three months.
- Submit the Innovator Founder visa application to UKVI with the endorsement letter, identity evidence, English language proof, maintenance funds and applicable fees including the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Visa Duration and Extension
Successful initial Innovator Founder visas generally grant up to three years' leave to enter or remain, with mechanisms to extend permission if the business continues to demonstrate growth and the applicant maintains contact point engagements. Extension or switching for settlement also requires a fresh endorsement.
Rights and Conditions After Granting
An Innovator Founder visa holder may:
- establish and run one or more businesses in the UK;
- be employed as a director or act as a self‑employed business partner;
- bring eligible dependants with them;
- travel in and out of the UK and seek settlement after the qualifying period if continuous residence and other conditions are met.
Visa holders are usually not eligible for most public funds and must comply with UK immigration conditions attached to their leave, including maintaining progress in their endorsed venture.
Risks and Common Issues
- Endorsement Failure: Without an endorsement, a visa application cannot proceed. Applicants should carefully select approved endorsing bodies and ensure their business plans meet criteria.
- Contact Point Compliance: Failure to engage with the endorsing body's monitoring requirements can jeopardise future extensions or settlement.
- Financial Documentation: Inadequate proof of maintenance funds or poorly documented business viability may result in refusal.
- Timing and Validity: Endorsement letters expire after three months; visa applications must be submitted within that window.
Common Questions
Can Start‑up visa holders still apply?
Yes, existing Start‑up holders may complete their stay and can switch to Innovator Founder if they meet the “same business” or new business criteria.
Is there a minimum investment requirement?
The Innovator Founder route does not currently impose a rigid investment threshold such as old Innovator route figures (e.g. £50,000) for new ventures, though endorsing bodies will assess funding adequacy.
Does the visa lead to settlement?
Yes. Provided applicants meet continuous residence and endorsement progress requirements over the qualifying period, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain after typically three years.
Key Takeaways
The Innovator Founder visa provides an immigration pathway for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas that demonstrate viability and scalability. Applicants must obtain endorsement from a Home Office‑approved body, comply with points‑based criteria including English language and maintenance funds, and submit a comprehensive business plan. The Start‑up route is closed to new applicants but continues as a legacy pathway for existing holders. Innovator Founder status enables entrepreneurs to establish and grow businesses in the UK, bring dependants, and pursue settlement, but requires careful planning, credible documentation and ongoing engagement with endorsing bodies.
