UK Innovator Founder Visa

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas. It requires endorsement from an approved body and a viable business plan. This visa encourages new ideas and innovation, supporting those who can immigrate to UK, contribute to the economy, and create jobs.

The UK Innovator Founder Visa allows you to work full-time on your business and bring family members. After 3 years, you can apply for UK PR Visa if your business is successful.

Apply for UK Innovator Founder Visa

UK Innovator Founder Visa Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the UK Innovator Founder Visa, you must:

• Be over 18 years old when you apply: You must be over 18 years old when you apply for the UK Innovator Founder Visa.

• Have your business or business idea endorsed: Before you apply for this visa, you need to have your business or business idea addressed by an endorsing body in the UK. They will provide you with a letter of endorsement if your business is eligible.

• Prove you have investment funds: If you want to start a new business, you will need to prove to the endorsing body that you have enough funding. You do not need investment funds if your business is already established and endorsed for an earlier visa or you have changed your business – and already agreed it with your endorsing body.

• Have enough money to support yourself in the UK: You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while in the UK.

• Prove your knowledge of English: To apply for the UK Innovator Founder Visa, you must prove that you can read, write, speak, and understand English to at least Level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

UK Innovator Founder Visa Documents Required

When applying for the UK Innovator Founder Visa, you will need to provide:

• Your letter of endorsement from an endorsing body in the UK.
• A valid passport and other identity documents.
• Evidence of funds to support yourself in the UK.
• Proof of knowledge of English.
• Your tuberculosis test results report.

You may also need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. You will be asked to provide a certified translation if your documents are not in English or Welsh.

How to apply for UK Innovator Founder Visa?

You must apply for UK Innovator Founder Visa online. The process to apply for this visa depends on whether you are currently living:

• Outside the UK.
• Within the UK and extending your current visa.
• Within the UK and switching from a different visa.

Your partner and children can also apply with you to stay in the UK as your ‘dependents’ if they are eligible.

Note: The application process for UK Innovator Founder Visa can get a bit complex, especially for first-timers. If you are having trouble, seek guidance from the best UK Immigration Consultants in India at Nationwide Visas.

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UK Innovator Founder Visa Costs

Application costs

The standard application fee for UK Innovator Founder Visa is:

• £1,191 per person if you apply outside the UK.
• £1,486 per person if you apply to extend or switch your visa in the UK.

Money to support yourself

You be asked to maintain at least £1,270 in your bank account, which will prove that you can support yourself in the UK. These funds should be maintained in your account for at least 28 consecutive days, with the final day within 31 days of your visa application. Your partner and children must also demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the UK. You or your dependent will need:

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

Healthcare surcharge

You must also pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay in the UK, which is usually £1,035 per year per person.

UK Innovator Founder Visa Processing Time

The latest UK Visa processing time for the Innovator Founder Visa is 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK and 8 weeks if you apply from within the UK. You may also have the option to pay extra for a faster processing service for your visa application.

UK Innovator Founder Visa Validity

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is valid for 3 years.

You will also need to meet with your endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show that your business is making progress. Your visa will be cut short if the endorsement issued to you is withdrawn by the endorsing body. If you want to stay longer in the UK, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires.

You may also be eligible to apply for an extension. After 3 years, you may also be eligible to apply for UK PR – also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’.

UK Innovator Founder Visa Extension

You can usually apply for UK Innovator Founder Visa extension and stay in the UK if

• You continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
• You are still running a business in the UK or want to start a new one.

Your dependent’s visa will not automatically extend if you apply for an extension. They must apply separately at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Need help?

Get in touch with Nationwide Visas, the best UK Immigration Consultants in India. Our team will carefully evaluate your case and offer the best solutions to immigrate to UK under the Innovator Founder Visa. Whether you need help with your visa application, document gathering, or setting up your business - we’ve got you covered. Book a free consultation today!