Immigration, Simplified

Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder visa is designed for entrepreneurs who want to establish a unique, high-growth business in the UK. This route replaced the old “Innovator” and “Start-up” visas, combining them into a single, more flexible category.

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Official UK Government Updates

For accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official UK Government source:

UK Innovator Founder Visa Updates

Core Eligibility

To qualify, your business idea must be assessed by an approved endorsing body and meet three primary criteria:

Innovation: You have an original business plan that meets a new or existing market need and creates a competitive advantage.
Viability: The plan is realistic and achievable based on your available resources and skills.
Scalability: There is clear evidence of structured planning and potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

Key Benefits and Flexibilities

No Minimum Investment: Unlike previous versions, there is no requirement to show a specific amount of investment funds (e.g., £50,000) to apply.
Secondary Employment: You are permitted to work outside of your own business, provided the role is skilled at RQF Level 3 or above.
Fast-Track Settlement: This is one of the quickest routes to permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain), with eligibility possible after only 3 years.

2026 Application Costs

Applying for this visa involves both Home Office fees and private fees paid to your endorsing body.

Fee Type	Amount (Outside UK)	Amount (Inside UK)
Visa Application Fee	£1,274	£1,590
Endorsement Fee	£1,000	£1,000
Checkpoint Meetings (x2)	£500 per meeting	£500 per meeting
Health Surcharge (IHS)	£1,035 per year	£1,035 per year

Maintenance Funds: You must show at least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days before you apply.

Approved Endorsing Bodies (2026)

As of early 2026, the primary organizations authorized to provide endorsements are:

Envestors Limited
UK Endorsing Services
Innovator International
The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) (Note: GEP usually only endorses founders already invited to their program).

Staying Compliant

The visa is initially granted for 3 years. To maintain your status, you must:

Attend Check-ins: You are required to meet with your endorsing body at the 12-month and 24-month marks to prove your business is making progress.
Active Management: You must be a registered director and be involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.
Milestones for Settlement: To apply for settlement after 3 years, you must meet at least two specific milestones, such as creating 10 full-time jobs, reaching £1 million in annual gross revenue, or investing at least £50,000 into the business.

Digital Status (eVisa)

Starting in 2026, all new Innovator Founder permissions are issued as eVisas. You will not receive a physical BRP card; instead, you will manage your status and prove your right to work through a digital UKVI account.