Innovator Founder Visa Solicitors in London

Launching a business in a new country is an exciting process, but the legal pathway to get there can feel complex and uncertain.

The UK Innovator Founder Visa offers a structured route for international entrepreneurs to establish and grow an innovative business in the UK, yet the application process involves strict eligibility requirements, an endorsement stage, and ongoing compliance obligations that can be difficult to navigate alone.

At BHD Solicitors, our specialist Innovator Founder Visa solicitors in London and Croydon work closely with founders and entrepreneurs at every stage of the process. We’ll help you understand whether this visa is right for you, prepare a strong application, and guide you through the Innovator Founder Visa endorsement process.

With a client-focused approach and extensive experience in corporate and business immigration, we’re committed to giving you practical, clear Innovator Founder Visa guidance that maximises the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Contact our Innovator Founder Visa solicitors in London and Croydon

For Innovator Founder Visa guidance and a free telephone consultation, call our London or Croydon offices today on 0208 681 5128 and speak to one of our senior Innovator Founder Visa lawyers.

What is the Innovator Founder Visa?

The Innovator Founder Visa is a UK immigration route for experienced entrepreneurs who want to establish a new, innovative business in the UK. It replaced both the previous Innovator Visa and the Start-up Visa in April 2023, bringing both routes together into a single, streamlined business visa pathway.

Successful applicants are granted three years’ leave to remain and can bring dependant family members with them. The route leads directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), meaning the right to live and work in the UK permanently, after three years, provided the relevant business milestones have been met.

Who is the Innovator Founder Visa suitable for?

This founder visa is designed for entrepreneurs, either outside the UK or already here on certain other visa categories, who have a genuinely original business idea they want to build from scratch. It’s well-suited to:

• Experienced founders with a novel product or service concept
• International professionals seeking to relocate and launch a UK start-up
• Those who have identified a clear gap in the market with a scalable plan to fill it

You cannot use this entrepreneur visa route to join or take over an existing trading business.

Innovator Founder Visa requirements

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following Innovator Founder Visa requirements:

• Be aged 18 or over
• Hold a business idea that is innovative, viable, and scalable, assessed by an approved endorsing body
• Demonstrate English language proficiency at level B2 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
• Hold at least £1,270 in personal maintenance funds, with additional amounts required for dependants
• Obtain a valid endorsement letter before submitting your Home Office application

There is no minimum investment fund requirement for this route, which is a significant departure from earlier entrepreneur visa categories.

The endorsement process explained

The Innovator Founder Visa endorsement is the most critical stage of the application. Before approaching the Home Office, you must satisfy one of the approved Innovator Founder Visa endorsing bodies that your business idea meets three core criteria:

• Innovative: Your idea must be original and genuinely different from existing products or services on the market.
• Viable: You must have the relevant skills and experience to bring the idea to life.
• Scalable: Your business must show clear potential for growth, including the ability to create jobs and expand nationally or internationally.

There are currently four active endorsing bodies: UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International, Envestors Limited, and The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (restricted to founders already invited into its programme). The Innovator Founder Visa endorsement fee is £1,000, paid directly to the endorsing body. Once your visa is granted, you’ll need to attend at least two contact point meetings during your stay, each costing £500.

A strong Innovator Founder Visa business plan is central to securing endorsement. Our team can help you identify the right endorsing body, prepare a robust business plan, and present your idea as compellingly as possible.

How to apply for an Innovator Founder Visa

Once you have your endorsement letter, you can apply online. Applications from outside the UK are typically decided within three weeks; applications made from within the UK take up to eight weeks. Priority services are available for an additional fee. Our Innovator Founder Visa lawyers will prepare and review your full application, ensuring every document is correct and submitted on time.

Innovator Founder Visa fees

The Innovator Founder Visa fees are:

• Application fee (outside the UK): £1,357
• Application fee (switching or extending inside the UK): £1,693
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Payable on top of the application fee; covers NHS access during your stay
• Endorsement fee: £1,000, paid separately to your chosen endorsing body

We’ll provide a full cost breakdown at your initial consultation so you can plan your budget clearly from the outset.

Switching to an Innovator Founder Visa

If you’re already in the UK on another category, you may be able to switch to the Innovator Founder Visa without leaving the country, subject to suitability requirements and your current immigration conditions.

We also advise on the related self-sponsorship route for directors and founders considering alternative options.

Extending your Innovator Founder Visa

The visa is granted for three years. If you haven’t yet met the ILR business milestones at the end of that period, you can apply to extend for a further three years. There’s no limit on extensions, but a fresh endorsement confirming continued progress is required each time.

Path to settlement: Innovator Founder Visa to ILR

After three years, you can apply for ILR if you’ve met the business growth requirements, haven’t exceeded 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period, and pass the Life in the UK Test. The ILR application fee is £3,226, and most decisions are made within six months. ILR then opens the pathway to British citizenship.

How our Innovator Founder Visa solicitors can help

Our Innovator Founder Visa lawyers provide end-to-end support, from assessing your eligibility and advising on the right endorsing body, to preparing your Innovator Founder Visa business plan and submitting your Home Office application. We understand that every founder’s circumstances are different, so our advice is always tailored to your specific idea, background, and timeline.

Whether you’re applying from overseas, switching from another visa category, or looking ahead to ILR, our team in London and Croydon is here to provide clear, practical guidance at every step. If you need support with wider corporate and business immigration matters alongside your founder visa, we can assist with those too.

Frequently asked questions about the Innovator Founder Visa

How much investment do I need for an Innovator Founder Visa?

There is no minimum investment fund requirement. Unlike earlier entrepreneur visa routes, you don’t need to demonstrate a set amount of capital. You do need at least £1,270 in personal maintenance funds, with higher amounts required if you’re bringing dependants.

What is the Innovator Founder Visa success rate?

The Home Office does not publish an approval rate specific to this route. Outcomes depend heavily on the strength of your endorsement and the quality of your application. Our solicitors will work with you to ensure your Innovator Founder Visa business plan, supporting evidence, and endorsement are all as strong as possible before you apply.

Can I bring my family on the Innovator Founder Visa?

Yes. Your partner and children under 18 can apply to join you as dependants. Each dependant must submit a separate application and pay the relevant visa fee and healthcare surcharge. Dependants can work and study in the UK while your visa remains valid.

How long does the Innovator Founder Visa last?

The visa is initially granted for three years. You can extend it for further three-year periods if you haven’t yet met the ILR requirements, with no cap on extensions, provided your endorsing body confirms continued business progress each time.

Can I work for another employer on the Innovator Founder Visa?

Yes, in limited circumstances. You may take on supplementary employment in a role requiring qualifications at level 3 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) or above. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson, and any additional employment must remain secondary to running your endorsed business.

What happens if my endorsement is withdrawn?

If your endorsing body withdraws your Innovator Founder Visa endorsement, you’ll lose the basis for your visa and may need to leave the UK or switch to a different immigration category. Maintaining regular contact with your endorsing body and keeping your business on track is essential. Our team can advise you promptly if your endorsement is at risk.

How long does the Innovator Founder Visa application take to process?

Applications from outside the UK are typically decided within three weeks. Applications made from within the UK, including switches and extensions, usually take up to eight weeks. Priority and super-priority services are available for faster decisions at an additional cost.

What is the difference between the old Innovator Visa and the Innovator Founder Visa?

The Innovator Founder Visa replaced the Innovator Visa (and Start-up Visa) in April 2023. Key changes include the removal of the previous £50,000 minimum investment requirement, a reduced number of active endorsing bodies, and a clearer three-year route to ILR. The ongoing monitoring process is now formalised into two structured contact point meetings with your endorsing body.

Get expert advice from Innovator Founder Visa solicitors in London and Croydon

As an established UK immigration law firm in Greater London, we can draw upon our vast resources to provide tailored, practical and affordable solutions to support you while offering a personalised and caring service.

For more information and to arrange a consultation with one of our senior Innovator Founder Visa solicitors, contact your local branch in London or Croydon.