UK Innovator Founder Visa

UK Innovator Founder Visa

UK Innovator Founder Visa is the UK's leading immigration option for ambitious entrepreneurs and skilled business professionals. It helps those who want to start a unique and innovative business in the United Kingdom.

At Bekenbey Solicitors, our team of SRA-regulated legal experts, led by Dr Ergul Celiksoy, possesses a deep and practical understanding of the Innovator Founder route. We specialise in guiding visionary founders like you through every stage of this complex but rewarding journey, from initial concept to permanent settlement.

Part 1: The Core Eligibility Requirements

To apply successfully, you need to meet a strict set of eligibility criteria. The Home Office checks this using a 70-point system, as explained in Appendix Innovator Founder of the Immigration Rules. You must score all 70 points; they cannot be exchanged for one another.

The points are awarded as follows:

• 50 points for your Endorsement (based on your business plan and its innovation, viability, and scalability).
• 10 points for your English Language ability.
• 10 points for your personal Maintenance Funds.

Below, we break down each requirement in detail.

Requirement 1: The Endorsement Letter (50 Points)

This is the most important and challenging part of your application. Before you can apply to the Home Office, you need to get an endorsement letter from a Home Office-approved endorsing body.

This letter confirms that the endorsing body, a specialist organisation, has rigorously assessed your business plan and is satisfied that it meets all required criteria.

The 50 points for endorsement are broken down as follows:

• 30 Points - Business Plan: You have a solid, believable business plan, and you are either the sole founder or a key member of the founding team.
• 20 Points - Innovative, Viable, & Scalable Business: Your business plan genuinely demonstrates innovation, viability, and scalability.

We will explore the endorsement process and these three key terms in detail in Part 2.

Requirement 2: English Language (10 Points)

You must be able to prove you can speak, read, write, and understand English to a specific standard. The Home Office requires all Innovator Founder applicants to prove they have English language skills at CEFR Level B2.

What is CEFR Level B2?

Level B2 is the fourth level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It is described as an "upper-intermediate" level.

In practical terms, this means you can:

• Understand the main ideas of complex text, including technical discussions in your field.
• Interact with native speakers with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, without causing strain for either party.
• Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain your viewpoint.

This level is often considered equivalent to an IELTS score of 5.5 in all four components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). You can prove this by either passing an approved secure English language test, or by holding a degree (taught in English) that is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher.

Requirement 3: Maintenance Funds (10 Points)

You must prove you can support yourself financially upon arrival in the UK. This is a personal savings requirement, separate from any funding for your business.

• Required Amount: You must have at least £1,270 in your personal bank account.
• Time Requirement: You must have held this money for at least 28 consecutive days before the date you submit your visa application.
• Exemption: This requirement is automatically met if you are applying for an extension or to switch visas from within the UK and have already been lawfully in the UK for 12 months or more on a valid visa.

Requirement 4: Age and Suitability

You must be at least 18 years old to apply. You also need to meet the general suitability requirements. This means you cannot be refused under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, such as for reasons related to criminal activity or a bad immigration history.

Part 2: The Endorsement Process: Proving Your Business Is "Innovative, Viable, and Scalable"

Securing your endorsement is the true challenge of the Innovator Founder application. Your business plan serves as the foundation of this process. It is the main proof you will provide to an endorsing body to show that your business concept is more than just an idea; it is a legitimate commercial proposal.

The "Innovative, Viable, Scalable" Test Explained

The Official List of Endorsing Bodies (New Applications)

You cannot apply to just any organization. The Home Office has approved a limited, specific list of organizations that can issue endorsements for new Innovator Founder applications.

As of 2025, the four approved business endorsing bodies are:

1. Envestors Limited
2. UK Endorsing Services (UKES)
3. Innovator International
4. The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

An important note: The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) is a government-run programme and can only endorse applicants who have already been invited to participate in their programme. Therefore, for most new applicants, the choice is between the first three bodies.

Understanding "Legacy Endorsing Bodies"

When researching, you will likely find a much longer list of endorsing bodies, including many UK universities. It is critical to understand that these are "Legacy Endorsing Bodies".

These organisations are not permitted to accept new applications. Their role is limited to managing their current endorsees from the now-closed Start-up and old Innovator visa routes. Spending time applying to these organizations will lead to an automatic rejection. You must submit your new application to one of the four bodies listed above.

The Endorsement Application Timeline

Securing your endorsement is a multi-stage process. Based on typical applicant journeys, you should plan for the following timeline:

1. Business Plan Development (1 to 3 months): This is the most important phase. A thorough, researched, and convincing business plan is essential.
2. Endorsement Body Assessment (4 to 8 weeks): Once you submit your plan, the endorsing body will review it. They may ask for more information or request an interview or pitch presentation.
3. Visa Application Window (3 months): If your plan is approved, the body will issue an endorsement letter. This letter is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue. You must submit your visa application to the Home Office within this window.

Part 3: The Visa Application: Costs, Process, and Timeline

Once you have your endorsement letter, you can submit your visa application to the Home Office. This section gives a clear outline of all required costs and timelines related to the application.

A Complete Breakdown of Costs (2025)

Understanding the full financial commitment is essential for planning. The fees are significant and must be paid, in most cases, upfront for the full 3-year duration of the visa. The table below details the mandatory costs per person.

Fee Category	Cost (Applying from Outside UK)	Cost (Switching/Extending in UK)	Notes & Key Sources
Home Office Application Fee	£1,274	£1,590	This fee is per person, including each dependant.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£3,105	£3,105	Charged at £1,035 per year. The full 3-year amount is paid upfront.
Endorsement Body Fee (Initial)	£1,000	£1,000	Paid directly to the endorsing body for their assessment.
Mandatory Contact Meetings	£1,000 (total)	£1,000 (total)	You must pay £500 per meeting. A minimum of two meetings (at 12 and 24 months) are required.
ESTIMATED TOTAL (per applicant)	£6,419	£6,735	This total excludes legal fees, dependant application fees, and all business investment capital.

What is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)?

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee for most UK visa applicants. It is not optional, even if you have private health insurance. Paying the IHS grants you access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS) on broadly the same basis as a permanent UK resident. As of February 2024, the fee is £1,035 per person, per year. For the 3-year Innovator Founder visa, you must pay the full £3,105 at the time of your application.

Application Processing Times

After you submit your application online and provide your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo), you will have a waiting period for the Home Office decision. Typical processing times are:

• Applying from outside the UK: Approximately 3 weeks.
• Applying from inside the UK (switching or extending): Approximately 8 weeks.

Priority services may be available for an additional fee to accelerate this timeline.

Part 4: Life on the Innovator Founder Visa

Once your visa is granted, you will receive permission to stay in the UK for 3 years. During this time, you have specific rights and obligations, known as "visa conditions".

Secondary Employment: A Key Flexibility

A significant advantage of the Innovator Founder route is the flexibility it offers. While your primary purpose in the UK must be to develop your endorsed business, you are permitted to take on secondary employment.

• The Rule: You can work for another employer, but the job must be a "skilled role". This is defined as a job at RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) or above.
• The Benefit: This rule helps reduce risk for entrepreneurs. It lets you earn a steady income from a part-time or full-time skilled job. This income can support you and your family while your new business is in its important but unprofitable early stages.
• The Prohibition: You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

Mandatory Check-Ins (Maintaining Your Endorsement)

Your relationship with your endorsing body continues after your visa is granted. You need to keep in touch with them and show your progress.

• The Rule: You are required to attend mandatory "contact point meetings" with your endorsing body, typically at the 12-month and 24-month marks of your visa.
• The Purpose: At these meetings (which cost £500 each), you must show that you are making "significant progress" with your original business plan and are actively running the business.
• The Risk: If you fail to attend these meetings or if the endorsing body is not satisfied with your progress, they have the power to withdraw your endorsement. If this happens, the Home Office will be notified and will cancel (curtail) your visa.

Bringing Your Family (Dependants)

This visa route lets you bring your immediate family with you to the UK. This way, you can build your life and your business together.

Who Qualifies:

• Your Partner: Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (if you have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years).
• Your Children: Your children under the age of 18.

Financial Requirements for Dependants: You must prove you have additional maintenance funds to support your family, in addition to your own £1,270. These funds must also be held for 28 consecutive days. The required amounts are:

• £285 for your partner
• £315 for one child
• £200 for each additional child

Example: For an applicant, a partner, and one child, the total maintenance fund required would be £1,270 + £285 + £315 = £1,870.

Dependants' Rights: Your partner and children will be granted visas that are valid for the same period as yours. They will have the right to work (except as a sportsperson) and study in the UK.

Part 5: The Path to Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

The ultimate goal for many entrepreneurs is permanent residence. The Innovator Founder Visa provides an accelerated pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as "settlement".

Applicants on the Innovator Founder route can apply for ILR after just 3 years in the UK.

General ILR Requirements

To be eligible for ILR after 3 years, you must meet several general requirements:

1. Continuous Residence: You must have spent at least 3 continuous years in the UK on the Innovator Founder route.
2. Absences: You must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during those 3 years.
3. Life in the UK Test: You must pass the mandatory "Knowledge of Life in the UK" test.
4. English Language: You must meet the English language requirement (which you likely already proved at Level B2 for your initial application).
5. New Endorsement Letter: You need to be endorsed by your endorsing body again. This final endorsement shows that you have successfully grown your business and met the specific milestones for settlement.

The 7 Business Milestones for Settlement (You Must Meet at least TWO)

This is the final test. To get your ILR endorsement, the endorsing body must be satisfied that your business is active, trading, and sustainable. You also need to show that you have played a key role in its development.

Critically, you must prove you have achieved at least TWO of the following seven business milestones:

1. £50,000 Investment: You have invested at least £50,000 into the business and this money has been spent furthering the business plan.
2. Customer Growth: The business has "doubled the number of customers in the last 3 years" AND this number is "higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable... products or services".
3. R&D and Intellectual Property: The business has "engaged in significant research and development" and has "applied for intellectual property protection in the UK".
4. £1 Million Revenue: The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £1,000,000 in the last full year covered by its accounts.
5. £500,000 Revenue + Exports: The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000 in the last full year, with at least £100,000 of that revenue coming from exporting overseas.
6. Create 10 Jobs: The business has created the equivalent of at least 10 full-time jobs for settled workers (i.e., British citizens or those with ILR).
7. Create 5 Skilled Jobs: The business has created the equivalent of at least 5 full-time jobs for settled workers, each paying an average salary of at least £25,000 per year (gross).

You do not need to meet all seven of these criteria. Meeting just two is enough to qualify for settlement.

A Critical Note on ILR for Dependants

A crucial point for families: the 3-year settlement pathway applies only to the main visa applicant.

Dependant partners must complete 5 continuous years of residence in the UK before they can apply for their own ILR.

This creates a "desynchronised" (or out-of-sync) settlement timeline. When you (the main applicant) are granted ILR at year 3, your partner will need to apply to extend their dependant visa (to remain attached to you as a "settled person") until they reach their own 5-year requirement. Planning for this is essential for family applications.

Part 6: Switching to the Innovator Founder Visa

If you are already in the UK on a different visa, you may be eligible to "switch" to the Innovator Founder route without having to leave the country.

Who CAN Switch?

Most individuals on a long-term visa can apply to switch. A key group that benefits from this is Student Visa Holders. You can switch from a Student visa if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You have successfully completed the course of study you were sponsored for.
• You are studying for a Ph.D. and have completed at least 12 months of that Ph.D. (this rule was updated from 24 months, making it more accessible).

Who CANNOT Switch?

The Immigration Rules explicitly prohibit switching from short-term or visitor routes. You cannot switch to the Innovator Founder visa if your current (or last) grant of permission was as a:

• Visitor
• Short-term Student
• Parent of a Child Student
• Seasonal Worker
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household

If you are in one of these categories, you must return to your home country to submit your Innovator Founder visa application.

How Bekenbey Solicitors Can Secure Your Success

The Innovator Founder Visa is a journey. It starts with an idea and ends with a successful business and permanent residence in the UK. This guide shows that the path is complicated, and the stakes are high. Your success depends not only on your idea but also on how well you present it to meet the strict, subjective criteria of the Home Office and its endorsing bodies.

At Bekenbey Solicitors, we do more than just file paperwork. We partner with you for the entire 3-year journey.

• Business Plan & Endorsement Strategy: The most difficult step is securing your initial endorsement. Our team, led by Dr Ergul Celiksoy, will work closely with you to review, refine, and structure your business plan, ensuring it compellingly demonstrates the "innovative, viable, and scalable" criteria that endorsing bodies demand. We help you build the strongest possible case from day one.
• Full Application Management: We offer a detailed, SRA-regulated service to manage your Home Office application. We take care of the complex financial evidence for you and your dependents. We make sure that all 70 points are supported correctly. We submit an application aimed at increasing your chances of receiving first-time approval.
• Strategic ILR Planning: Our support continues even after you receive your visa. We offer advice from the moment you arrive and create a 3-year business plan. We will help you monitor your progress and make smart business choices. This way, when you reach the end of the 3 years, you will be well-positioned to achieve at least two of the seven ILR business milestones.

Your vision deserves the most expert legal support. Contact Dr Ergul Celiksoy and the Bekenbey Solicitors team today for an expert consultation on your Innovator Founder visa application.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Please contact Bekenbey Solicitors for advice specific to your circumstances.