Innovator Founder Visa UK

Innovator Founder visa: endorsing body approval, no minimum investment floor, contact-point meetings at 12 and 24 months and a 3-year path to Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Wesbridge Associates is an IAA-regulated UK immigration law firm. Our advisers support individuals, families and UK sponsors with skilled worker visas, sponsor licences, family routes, settlement (ILR), British citizenship, appeals and compliance — combining experienced legal advice with AI-powered self-service tools.

Reviewed by Wesbridge Associates' IAA-regulated immigration advisers. Last updated: July 2026.

The Innovator Founder visa replaced the Innovator and Start-up routes in April 2023. It is for experienced entrepreneurs and first-time founders launching an innovative, viable and scalable UK business idea endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body. There is no minimum investment funds requirement, work outside the business is permitted, and settlement is available after 3 years. Wesbridge Associates supports founders from endorsement pitch through to ILR.

Who qualifies

You need (a) endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing body (currently including Envestors, UK Endorsement Services and Innovator International, among others) certifying that your business idea is innovative, viable and scalable, (b) English at CEFR B2 (higher than most work routes), (c) £1,270 personal savings held for 28 days, unless waived by the endorser, and (d) suitability checks. You can be a sole founder or one of a small founding team who each apply on their own endorsement. There is no set minimum investment fund — the Home Office withdrew the £50,000 requirement in April 2023.

What the visa allows

The Innovator Founder visa is granted for 3 years, extendable, and now permits secondary employment outside your business at RQF Level 3 or above (previously prohibited under the old Innovator route). You can bring dependants (partner and children under 18). Your endorsing body will hold two mandatory 'contact point' meetings at 12 and 24 months to check that you are actively working on the business and meeting the growth and impact criteria agreed at endorsement. Losing endorsement (or failing to secure re-endorsement) leads to curtailment.

How it works with Wesbridge

Step 1 — proposition and body fit: we test your idea against the innovation/viability/scalability criteria and shortlist appropriate endorsing bodies (each has its own sector focus, fees and pitch format). Step 2 — endorsement application: business plan, financial model, evidence of skills, letters of intent, IP and market evidence. Step 3 — Home Office application (£1,274 out-of-country / £1,590 in-country) plus IHS (£1,035/year for 3 years), biometrics and decision. Step 4 — first 12 and 24-month contact points with the endorsing body to evidence progress on job creation, revenue, funding, exports or scale. Step 5 — settlement: apply for ILR after 3 years by meeting at least 2 of 7 published progress criteria (e.g. £50,000+ investment received and spent, doubling revenue and £1m turnover, 10+ new UK jobs at £25,000+, applied to intellectual property registered in the UK).

Fast-track ILR criteria

Innovator Founder qualifies for accelerated settlement after 3 years if you meet at least 2 of the 7 criteria in Appendix Innovator Founder: (1) £50,000 invested from any source and spent furthering the business; (2) number of customers doubled in past 3 years and higher than the average of similar UK businesses; (3) engaged in significant R&D activity and applied for UK IP protection; (4) generated £1m+ annual gross revenue in the last full year with £500,000+ from exports; (5) generated £500,000+ annual gross revenue in the last full year with £100,000+ from exports; (6) created 10+ new full-time UK jobs paid at least £25,000; or (7) created 5+ new full-time UK jobs paid at least £25,000 with the business's average salary at least £25,000. English at CEFR B2 and Life in the UK are also required.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need to invest?

There is no minimum investment fund — the £50,000 requirement from the old Innovator route was removed in April 2023. However, evidence of committed funding (your own or third-party) strengthens your endorsement pitch, and £50,000 invested and spent is one of the 7 progress criteria for accelerated ILR.

Can I work outside my business?

Yes. Since April 2023 Innovator Founders can take secondary employment at RQF Level 3 or above, provided your main activity remains developing the endorsed business. You cannot take low-skilled work below RQF Level 3.

What happens if my endorsing body withdraws support?

Loss of endorsement triggers curtailment of your visa — the Home Office is notified and normally reduces your leave to 60 days to find alternative endorsement, switch route or leave the UK. Prevention is far better than cure: engage seriously with your 12- and 24-month contact points and act early if the business pivots away from the endorsed model.

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