The Innovator Founder Visa offers a fast-track route for entrepreneurial trailblazers to establish a business in the UK. Designed for founders with bold, scalable, and innovative ideas, this visa enables you to live in the UK while building your enterprise—with a direct path toward permanent settlement.
Our Houston-based legal team works closely with U.S. clients to navigate the endorsement process, visa application, extensions, and eventual settlement with precision and confidence.
The Innovator Founder Visa is a successor to the old “Innovator” scheme, created for entrepreneurs aiming to launch disruptive businesses in the UK. It requires endorsement by an authorized UK body, and demonstrates your business idea is new, innovative, viable, and scalable.
You can make your initial application from outside the UK or switch from within, stay for an initial three-year period, extend freely with ongoing endorsement, and become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years.
To be eligible, you must:
Be at least 18 years old
Hold an approved endorsement for your business idea
Meet English language requirements (typically B2 level)
Demonstrate at least £1,270 in savings held for 28 consecutive days before applying
Be fit and proper, with no adverse background issues
You must also show your business idea is uniquely innovative, has the potential to grow significantly, and that you’ve played a key active role in the venture. Your endorsing body conducts due diligence and verifies that there are no concerns about the legitimacy of your background or funding.
Securing an endorsement is the critical and initial step. You’ll need to:
Submit a strong business plan that outlines innovation, viable growth strategy, and scalability
Demonstrate your personal contribution as an essential business driver
Undergo background checks and validation of your funding sources
Commit to two contact-point meetings with your endorsing body over your visa duration, to verify progress
If embroiled in performance issues or non-compliance, the endorsement can be withdrawn, which may jeopardize your visa status.
Once endorsed, you apply online:
Fee: Approximately £1,274 from outside the UK, or £1,486 if switching inside.
Endorser Fee: Around £1,000 + £500 per contact-point meeting.
Processing Time: Generally 3 weeks from outside or 8 weeks when switching.
Valid For: 3 years, renewable indefinitely with continued endorsement.
Your initial 3-year stay brings you closer to ILR. Compliance with visa obligations—like running the endorsed business and attending meetings—is essential.
Launch one or multiple businesses in the UK
Work in your own business as founder, director, or partner
Take on another skilled job (RQF Level 3) outside your venture
Study at educational institutions
Bring eligible partner and children as dependents
Travel freely in and out of the UK
Settle after 3 years if business success and visa conditions are met
However, you cannot claim public funds or act as a professional sportsperson.
After three years in the Innovator Founder category, you may apply for ILR if you:
Are actively managing and running the endorsed business
Can demonstrate success through at least two of the following:
£50,000 investment used productively
Creation of 10 full-time jobs for settled workers
Or 5 jobs with average salary of £25,000
Annual revenue of £500k+ (with £100k in exports) or £1 million+
Demonstrable R&D activity or IP protection
Attended required contact-point meetings and received re-endorsement
Have passed the Life in the UK Test and meet residence criteria
Once granted ILR, you can live indefinitely in the UK and eventually pursue citizenship.
Navigating this sophisticated visa route from the U.S. requires both legal precision and strategic business vision. We offer:
Customized Support — tailored advice for U.S. entrepreneurs applying to the Innovator Founder route
Endorsement Preparation — strong business plan crafting, market positioning, and fund sourcing documentation
Visa Application Management — from online submission, identity verification, to biometric logistics
ILR Strategy Planning — mapping your path from business launch to permanent settlement
You gain consistent legal guidance, clear communication across time zones, and proactive support throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
How much funding do I need?
You must show £1,270 in savings held for 28 days before applying. Endorsing bodies may expect you to have sufficient business funding beyond that.
Can I switch into the visa from inside the UK?
Yes — if you’re on a qualifying visa (e.g., work, study), you can switch in country, provided your current visa isn’t one of the excluded categories.
Do dependents need separate endorsements?
No — eligible partners and children apply as dependents, not requiring endorsement, but must submit their own applications.
How often can the visa be extended?
There is no limit; as long as the endorsing body re-endorses you, you may extend every 3 years.
If you’re ready to launch your innovative business in the UK under this visa route, schedule a free consultation today. We’ll assess your business ideas, help secure endorsement, and guide you toward success and settlement.
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📞 Phone: +1 346‑355‑6111
📧 Email: info@adambernards.com
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Let us help bring your vision to life—with expert legal and business support every step of the way.