Stay in the UK for up to 3 years, extendable unlimited times. Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 3 years.
The United Kingdom encourages innovators and entrepreneurs to come to their country and work. However, the process of applying for an innovator visa can be a difficult task. This page talks about the process, eligibility, best business plan you need to have, etc. Read on.
The Innovator visa is for individuals seeking to set up a business in the United Kingdom based on an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea. Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa category closed for new applicants on March 29, 2019 and has been replaced by the Innovator visa and the Start-Up visa.
Those intending to set up or start a business in the UK can apply for either Innovator visa UK or Start-Up visa for the UK. You can no longer apply for a UK Entrepreneur visa.
You can stay in the UK for three years if -
You can only apply for this UK visa route if you have an endorsement from a designated UK endorsing body. An Endorsement Letter will be provided to you if your business is found to be eligible.
As part of the eligibility requirements, you must -
A decision on your visa application can be expected within three weeks if you are applying for the Innovator visa from outside the UK. Those applying from within the country can expect a decision on their visa within eight weeks.
You will have to apply online.
At least B2: Independent User in all four abilities - listening, reading, writing, and speaking - as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The visa fees to be paid will be based on where you will be applying from.
UK Innovator - Visa Processing Fee
|
Applying for |
Applying (from outside the UK) |
Visa Switching or Extention (in the UK) |
||
|
In British Pounds |
In Indian rupees |
In British Pounds |
In Indian rupees |
|
|
Main applicant |
GBP 1,021 |
INR 1,02,133 approx |
GBP 1,277 |
INR 1,27,742 approx |
|
Partner |
GBP 1,021 |
INR 1,02,133 approx |
GBP 1,277 |
INR 1,27,742 approx |
|
Children |
GBP 1,021 (for each child) |
INR 1,02,133 approx (for each child) |
GBP 1,277 (for each child) |
INR 1,27,742 approx (for each child) |
Note: You will have to pay the applicable visa fees for each individual that is -
You must get your business or business idea endorsed before you can apply. A UK Innovator endorsing body can be either a business organization or a higher education provider. An organization in the UK can only offer an innovator visa endorsement if they are on the list of organizations designated by the UK Home Office.
Funds of at least GBP 50,000 will be needed to invest in the business.
Investment funds will have to be shown when setting up a new business in the United Kingdom as an innovator. Investment funds not needed if business previously endorsed or there has been a change of business (approved by the endorsing body).
An Endorsement Letter will be needed to apply to the UK Innovator visa category.
Generally, the following documents will be needed for application submission -
Additional documents might be asked for, based on the individual circumstances of the applicants.
To be eligible, you must -
To be granted an Innovator visa UK, the business that you intend to set up in the United Kingdom must be something that is entirely different from anything else on the market.
An endorsement doesn’t guarantee a visa. However, an endorsement proves that the applicant and their business have the support of the leading business organizations and higher education providers in the UK.
The endorsement requirement is based on the principle that business organizations and providers are the best-placed to assess and identify innovative business ideas and talent.
Dependent children and dependent spouse/partner of the applicant can be included in the visa application.
Yes. You will be expected and required to play a key role in the day-to-day management and development of your prospective UK business.
The Innovator visa for the UK provides a route to settlement. You can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after living in the UK for three years on a UK Innovator visa.
The basic differences are -
|
UK Innovator visa versus UK Start-up visa |
|
|
UK Innovator visa |
UK Start-Up visa |
(1) initial application (2) extension (3) settlement |
|
The 59 endorsing bodies for Innovator visa UK are -
UK Innovator Visa - 59 Endorsing Bodies
|
Endorsing Organization |
Endorses businesses in |
|
1. The Bakery |
Technology solutions |
|
2. Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV) |
Technology |
|
3. Blue Orchid Enterprise Solutions Ltd. |
All sectors |
|
4. Boardroom Advisors |
All sectors |
|
5. Britbots |
Automation, Robotics, Related artificial intelligence (AI) |
|
6. Capital Enterprise (IDEA London) |
Technology |
|
7. Cardiff Metropolitan University |
Wide variety of businesses. [Only endorses Cardiff graduates.] |
|
8. Community and Business Partners |
All sectors |
|
9. Consilium Consulting |
All sectors |
|
10. CyLon |
Cybersecurity |
|
11. Deep Science Ventures |
Agriculture, Computation, Energy, Pharma |
|
12. DRS Business Solutions |
All sectors |
|
13. Edinburgh Innovations |
All sectors |
|
14. Emerge Education |
Education |
|
15. Emsworth Corporate Planning (ECP) |
All sectors |
|
16. Entrepreneur First (EF) |
Technology |
|
17. Envestors Limited |
All sectors |
|
18. Fashion Angel |
Fashion and textiles |
|
19. First Corporate Finance |
All sectors |
|
20. Fortunis Capital Ltd. |
All sectors |
|
21. Founders Factory |
AI & Big Data, Home and Hygiene, Travel, Media, FinTech, Retail, Health & Wellness, EdTech |
|
22. The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) |
Technology |
|
23. Innovator International |
All sectors |
|
24. Ignite |
Technology |
|
25. Innovate Britain |
Technology, Education, Transport, FinTech, Fashion, Infrastructure, Manufacturing |
|
26. International Innovation Hub Ltd. |
Digital and Tech, Renewable Energy, Engineering, Manufacturing |
|
27. Invest Northern Island |
All sectors |
|
28. Kollider |
Creative, digital and tech sectors |
|
29. Level 39 |
Retail Tech, IoT and Smart Cities, FinTech, Cybersecurity |
|
30. MDR LAB |
Tech start-ups in the legal space |
|
31. MedCity |
All life sciences |
|
32. Nexus |
Film and dance, tech, music, event management, VR, media, fashion & textiles |
|
33. North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) |
All sectors |
|
34. Oxford Brookes University |
Support available to Brookes students, staff and recent graduates across all disciplines. |
|
35. Pall Mall Investments International |
All sectors |
|
36. Panacea |
AI, Biotech and Healthcare, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Food, Materials |
|
37. Primus Capital |
Any sector, provided there is an innovative tech angle |
|
38. Queensbury Consulting |
All sectors |
|
39. The Royal Society of Edinburgh |
Enforcement only to awardees that have secured an RSE Enterprise Fellowship |
|
40. Sapphire Capital Partners LLP |
All sectors |
|
41. Schoolgate Accounting Services |
All sectors |
|
42. Scottish EDGE |
All sectors |
|
43 Seedcamp |
Focus on backing world-class founders creating valuable, tech businesses for sufficiently large addressable markets. |
|
44. SETsquared Bristol |
Tech startups |
|
45. Severn Seed Finance (SSF) |
All sectors, except Retail |
|
46. SFC Capital |
All sectors |
|
47. Startup Giants plc |
Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Tech, SaaS, FinTech, PropTech, AdTech |
|
48. The Start-up Race |
All sectors |
|
49. Swansea University |
All sectors |
|
50. Techstars London |
Funding given to all types of startups, working in all verticals, using any type of business models. |
|
51. Tech X |
Energy sector - clean tech, oil and gas, renewables |
|
52. The Shropshire Incubator (Operated by European Innovation Ltd.) |
AI, IoT, Technology, Mixed Reality (XR) |
|
53. University College London |
For UCL graduates that have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea |
|
54. University of Central Lancashire |
MedTech, AI, Data Economy etc. |
|
55. University of the Arts London (UAL) |
Only for alumni that have been previously endorsed by the UAL for Start-Up visa. |
|
56. University of St Andrews |
All sectors |
|
57. University of Bradford |
All sectors |
|
58. Wayra |
Tech startups |
|
59. Zinc |
Business, design, and technology |
Endorsing bodies no longer accepting new applications, but authorized to continue maintaining and monitoring their existing endorsed migrants -
You might apply for permanent settlement - also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) - if you -
No. You can’t work for any other business while in the UK on an Innovator visa.
GBP 50,000 in investment funds will have to be shown.
You must have at least GBP 1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying, requesting an extension, or switching to Innovator visa from another visa category while in the UK.
GBP 50,000 each will be required for each Innovator applicant. For example, if three are applying as a team, they must have GBP 150,000 to invest.
You must prove that you can read, write, speak as well as understand English at CEFR Level B2. Generally, this can be proved by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as PTE Academic UKVI, IELTS for UKVI etc.; or getting your degree-level academic education (taught in English) assessed through Ecctis (earlier known as UK NARIC).
On March 1, 2021, UK NARIC came to be UK ENIC, operated and managed by Ecctis Limited.
Yes, you might apply for an extension of stay for another three years when your current Innovator visa is about to expire.
No limit on the number of times that you can get your UK Innovator visa extended.
Generally, healthcare surcharges will have to be paid when applying for a visa or UK immigration application for more than six months, if applying from outside the UK. No need to pay healthcare surcharge when applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or for a UK visitor visa.
A healthcare surcharge of GBP 624 per year - approximately INR 62,000 per year - is usually applicable. Dependents that are 18 years and above will have to pay the same amount.
The healthcare surcharge will be based on the length of the visa granted.
Here, CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference and is used to determine the level that an individual is at in terms of their proficiency in a particular language. There are six CEFR levels, from beginner (A10) to very advanced (C2). The CEFR level describes what the person can do at a specific CEFR level.
According to the CEFR, a B2 level equates to an independent user that can synthesise information and arguments from multiple sources.
No. You cannot use the money from your investment funds to meet the personal funds requirement.
While you can form a team with other applicants, you cannot share the same investment funds between yourselves.
Your Innovator visa UK can be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body. To be able to remain in the UK, you will be required to re-apply with a new endorsement before the expiry of your current visa.
Non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals looking to establish a business in the United Kingdom would have to apply under either -
The UK Entrepreneur visa pathway is no longer available.
No. You can no longer apply for a new Tier 1 (Investor) visa. Those who either already hold a UK Investor visa or held one as their most recent visa within the previous 12 months, can apply -
(1) for a visa extension for two years,
(2) to settle in the UK with indefinite leave to remain (ILR), and
(3) get family members to join them.
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