Introduction
The Innovator Founder Visa is the UK’s dedicated route for entrepreneurs who want to build something original – and scalable – on British soil. It’s not for passive investors or franchise buyers. It’s for founders with ideas that solve real problems, and the ambition to scale them.
Whether you're building a new SaaS platform, an AI-driven product, or a tech-enabled solution in health, finance, or education, this visa is for people creating innovation, not just operating.
This guide walks you through every stage of the process:
You're in the right place if you are:
Crafting a business plan that meets UK endorsement standards
Securing endorsement from an approved body
Navigating the visa application process
Understanding what comes next – funding, growth, and settlement
We’ve worked with startup founders across fintech, deep tech, consumer, SaaS, and more. If you’re serious about launching in the UK, here’s how to do it right with the UK Innovator Founder Visa.
What Is the UK Innovator Founder Visa?
The Innovator Founder Visa is the UK’s flagship route for non-UK entrepreneurs who want to build and scale a business on UK soil. It replaced the old Innovator and Start-Up visas in 2023 – and with that, removed the £50K minimum investment rule.
This guide walks you through every stage of the process:
To qualify, your business idea must be:
Innovative – something new or clearly differentiated
Viable – with real potential for market success
Scalable – capable of growth and job creation in the UK
With This Visa, You Can:
Launch a new business
Work for your own company
Apply solo or with a co-founder team
Bring your partner and children as dependents
Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 3 years
A common mistake? Putting too much weight on the product, and not enough on your role and expertise. This visa isn’t about owning something innovative – it’s about building it. The UK wants active founders: the people building, pitching, hiring, iterating, and scaling. That’s what endorsement bodies look for – and that’s where we help you stand out.
Who Can Apply?
The Innovator Founder Visa is built for people starting something new, not joining what already exists.
You’re eligible if you:
Are 18 or older
Have a business idea that is innovative, viable, and scalable
Are the founder or co-founder actively building the business
Meet the B2 English level (CEFR)
Have at least £1,270 in personal savings (not tied to investment)
You cannot apply with a business that already exists in the UK market, or join as a late-stage co-founder. The project must be new and the idea must be original and capable of standing out.
We always assess founder fit before recommending this route. Investors, advisors, and “silent co-founders” won’t qualify. You need to be in the trenches – designing, building, and growing the business from day one.
Approved Endorsing Bodies
To apply for the Innovator Founder Visa, your business must be backed by an approved UK endorsing body. These organizations decide whether your idea meets the government’s standards: innovative, viable, and scalable.
Current examples include:
Choosing the right endorsing body isn’t just a formality – it’s a strategy. We help clients align their business with the priorities of the endorsing body that’s most likely to say yes. That alignment – idea, traction, and narrative – can make or break your application.
The Three Core Criteria: Innovation, Viability, and Scalability
To receive an endorsement, your business plan must demonstrate that your venture is:
1. Innovative
Your business needs to be innovative in a way that’s clear, credible, and specific. This doesn’t mean using buzzwords. It means introducing something new, original, and relevant to the UK market.
What Counts as Innovation
A platform or product that solves a defined problem using emerging tech (e.g., AI, blockchain, deep data models)
A novel business model that disrupts how a traditional industry operates
An international concept adapted uniquely for the UK with measurable advantages over local competitors
Your business is innovative if…
It introduces a new technology, model, or system
It solves a defined problem in a new way
It has measurable advantage over local competitors
You can showcase the innovation through an MVP or a prototype
You can explain what makes it necessary for the UK
Endorsing bodies are looking for clarity. You’ll need to clearly explain:
What makes your idea different
Why that difference matters
How it’s being validated (e.g., MVPs, pilots, case studies, prototypes, or patents)
Founders often describe their product like insiders. We help translate it for endorsement-body reviewers, policy makers, and investors. Our process surfaces your true differentiator and frames it for instant impact.
Innovative features vs. business-level innovation
Endorsing bodies assess innovation at the business model level, not just product features.
What doesn’t qualify on its own:
- A new UI or visual design
- Feature parity with an existing product, but in a new language or region
- Custom-built functionality inside an otherwise standard product
- Plug-ins or add-ons to existing platforms that don’t shift user experience or business logic
Instead, focus on:
- A fundamentally new way of delivering value
- A product that introduces efficiency, accessibility, or capability that didn’t exist before
- Tech or model innovation that drives the entire business, not just one component of it
Innovation must be visible in the way the company operates and competes – not just in a single feature.
2. Viable
Endorsing bodies want proof that you can take your idea from a slide deck to a real business.
What You Need to Show
That you (and your co-founders) have the skills and experience to build and operate the business
A realistic go-to-market strategy – how you'll reach customers, not just describe them
A credible execution plan, including early product development, team growth, and revenue milestones
Your business is viable if…
You (and your co-founder, if any) have the skills and experience to run it
There’s commercial interest (e.g. waitlist, letters of intent, demo users)
The financial model and pricing are realistic
You’ve identified key business risks and have mitigation plans
You are personally leading the day-to-day operations
Your business plan should make it obvious how the company will launch, operate, and sustain itself, even without outside investment. Early signs of traction (waitlists, pilots, partnerships, feedback) can help a lot.
Endorsers don’t want to hear what might work – they want to see that you’ve already started thinking in timelines and numbers. We push clients to define not just the “what,” but the how much, how soon, and with what resources. Your financials don’t need to be accounting-grade, but they do need to show that you’ve done the math.
Viability risks to address before applying
Endorsement bodies want to believe your business can work, and they’re trained to spot gaps.
Common viability risks:
- Lack of relevant experience in your founding team
- No clarity on how the first users or customers will be acquired
- Over-reliance on future investment without a plan for sustainability
- Missing logic in your financials (e.g. no explanation for costs, unrealistic revenue)
- Business operations based entirely outside the UK
3. Scalable
Endorsing bodies look for more than an innovative, self-sustaining startup – they want clear proof your business can scale into a significant business.
What Signals Strong Scalability?
A repeatable, cost-efficient acquisition strategy
SaaS, marketplace, or platform models with recurring revenue potential
Tech-enabled operations
A clear plan for geographic or market expansion
Your business is scalable if…
It can grow with positive unit economy
It can scale beyond the UK market
Certain operations are or can be automated/delegated
It has potential to generate jobs, exports, or investment in the UK
Saying “we plan to scale” isn’t a strategy. We help clients build a 12–36 month growth map that answers four questions:
1. What drives growth?
2. What resources does it require?
3. What markets will you enter?
4. And what does success actually look like in numbers?
If your growth plan reads like a vision board, you’re not ready. If it reads like a forecast, you probably are.
Business models that rarely meet scalability expectations
Examples that often raise red flags:
- Agencies, studios, or consulting businesses with billable-hour models
- Service-based models without tech enablement or automation
- Physical retail or location-dependent models (e.g. cafés, coworking spaces)
- One-time sale products with no recurring revenue or network effect
- Ventures fully reliant on the founder’s personal expertise or network
If your model can’t grow without significantly increasing staff or costs, it’s not scalable. Focus on systems, automation, and revenue that compounds.
Business Plan Expectations (And What Most People Get Wrong)
An Innovator Founder business plan is not a pitch deck but also is not a bank loan application. It needs to prove that your business is credible, deliverable, and aligned with UK interests – while still reading like something a smart investor would respect.
Endorsing bodies aren’t looking for mere promises. They’re looking for clarity, logic, and evidence.
What Your Business Plan Must Include
1. Executive Summary
Make it obvious – within one page – what your business does, who it’s for, and why it matters to the UK. Include the product, market, traction, and team in one clear, punchy overview.
5. Business Model
How will this business make money – and how soon? Break down revenue streams, pricing strategy, and projected LTV/CAC. This isn’t theory – it’s your logic, and it needs to hold.
7. Financial Forecasts
3–5 years of clear, realistic projections. Include cash flow, expenses, margins, and unit economics. Don’t overpromise – just prove you understand how the business works on paper.
11. Appendices
Think of this as your credibility stack. Include CVs, POCs, wireframes, letters of intent, technical architecture, testimonials – anything that makes your case more concrete.
Documents to attach in your appendices
The appendices section helps turn a promising business plan into a credible one. It’s where you prove what you’ve claimed or add depth where space is limited.
Recommended inclusions:
- CVs or bios of the founding team
- MVP screenshots, wireframes, architecture diagrams
- Letters of intent or early partnership agreements
- Pilot results, user feedback, or waitlist screenshots
- Financial model spreadsheets and supporting forecasts
- Regulatory research or compliance documents
- Detailed market & competitor research (if not included in the business plan)
The stronger your appendices, the less guesswork for the reviewer, and the more serious your application feels.
Most rejections happen not because the idea is weak, but because the plan reads like a vision or promise, not a well-built roadmap. We help founders rebuild from the inside out – clarifying assumptions, sharpening numbers, and turning vague sections into compelling proof.
You Got Endorsed! Next Steps
Once your endorsement is approved, you can move to the so called Stage 2 – applying for your Innovator Founder visa through the UK Home Office.
What You’ll Need to Submit
Your endorsement letter (must be recent and valid)
A valid passport
Proof of English language ability (B2 CEFR or equivalent test/degree)
A bank statement showing £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days
A tuberculosis test result (if required for your country of residence)
Visa Fees & Healthcare Surcharge
£1,274 — if applying from outside the UK
£1,590 — if applying from inside the UK (switching visas or extending)
Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 per year
Processing Times
3 weeks (outside the UK)
8 weeks (inside the UK)
Dependants
Your partner and children can apply as dependants, and their visas normally expire when yours does. Dependants include a spouse, civil or unmarried partner (with proof of a 2-year relationship or ongoing commitment) and children under 18, or over 18 if already approved as dependants. You must show evidence of your relationship and of their residence or education.
Dependants can work and study in the UK, except in restricted roles such as professional sports.
To meet financial rules, you must have £1,270 for yourself plus £285 for a partner, £315 for one child, and £200 for each additional child, held for at least 28 days, unless you’ve lived in the UK for a year or more.
Heads Up: The Innovator Founder visa requires applicants to demonstrate B2-level English via a Secure English Language Test, a UK school qualification, or an English-taught degree (with Ecctis verification if earned abroad). Nationals of certain English-speaking countries, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, are exempt.
If you need an English test, start preparing and book your slot early.
Also ensure the required funds are held in your account for at least 28 days before applying.
Because the endorsement is valid for only 3 months from the date of issue, and you must submit your visa application within that window, it’s wise to have both the English test and the financial requirement arranged well in advance.
After Visa Approval: Checkpoints, Progress Monitoring, and Endorsement Compliance
Getting your visa isn’t the end – it’s the start of a 3-year accountability cycle. Once you’re in the UK, your endorsing body stays involved. You’ll need to prove that your business is still aligned with the plan you submitted – and that it’s growing in the right direction.
Mandatory Check-Ins
You’ll have two formal checkpoints during the visa period:
At each stage, your endorsing body will assess whether you’re still meeting the core criteria: innovation, viability, and scalability.
What You’ll Need to Show
That your business is active and trading (UK bank account, contracts, invoices, etc.)
That the innovative element is being built, launched, or commercialised
That you’re running the business day-to-day, not just overseeing it
That the business is financially sustainable
That it continues to show scaling potential (new hires, market growth, product evolution)
Endorsing bodies aren’t looking for perfection, but they are looking for proof of progress. If you fall behind and can’t justify it, your endorsement can be withdrawn – and so can your visa.
Progressing against your submitted business plan
Endorsing bodies will assess your progress:
- Product: The innovative element has been designed, built, and/or released – with clear proof of usage, testing, or adoption
- Operations: The business is active and trading, with financial activity and UK-based infrastructure in place
- Traction: You’ve achieved or are closing in on the traction, user numbers, revenue, or partnerships you forecasted
- Hiring: If you outlined plans to hire, you’ve already made key hires or started building the team
- Scaling: You’ve taken real steps toward scaling – through systems, customer acquisition, entering new markets – as described in your roadmap
Deviations from the original plan aren’t critical, but they must be explained and justified. Missed targets with no context = risk.
Path to ILR (Permanent Residency) on the Innovator Founder Visa
After 3 years on an Innovator Founder visa, if you meet the requirements, you can apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), which can later be used to apply for British citizenship.
To qualify for ILR, you must:
Have lived in the UK for 3 years on an Innovator Founder or Innovator visa – time on any other visa cannot be counted.
Obtain a new endorsement confirming that you’ve met the requirements for growing your business.
Have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
Before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you must secure a new endorsement from an approved endorsing body. This endorsement proves that your business has grown and meets the settlement requirements.
Core Requirements
To qualify, you must:
Play an active key role in the day-to-day management and development of the business.
Ensure the company is registered with Companies House, with you listed as a director or member.
Demonstrate the business is currently trading and can continue for at least the next 12 months.
Business Growth Criteria
Your business must have achieved at least two of the following milestones:
Secured and spent £50,000 of investment on business development.
Doubled the customer base over the last 3 years, with a total above the sector average.
Applied for UK intellectual property (IP) protection.
Generated £1 million in revenue in the last full year of accounts.
Generated £500,000 in revenue in the last full year of accounts, with £100,000 from overseas exports.
Created the equivalent of 10 full-time jobs lasting at least 12 months.
Created the equivalent of 5 full-time jobs lasting at least 12 months, with an average salary of £25,000.
You may already have satisfied some of these benchmarks when you first obtained your Innovator Founder visa.
Job Creation Rules
If job creation is part of your qualifying criteria, each job must be for a settled worker – that is, someone who was, at the time of hire:
A British citizen.
An EEA citizen living and working in the UK by 31 December 2020.
A Commonwealth citizen with a UK Ancestry visa.
Someone holding indefinite leave to remain or settled status.
If more than one co-founder applies for ILR under the Innovator Founder visa for the same company, each founder must independently meet the endorsement criteria. The same business achievement cannot be counted twice. For example, if one co-founder relies on evidence of £50,000 investment, another co-founder cannot use the same £50,000. Instead, the company would need to have attracted at least £100,000 to cover both applications, or the second co-founder must qualify under a different criterion (such as revenue, job creation, etc.).
What if I don’t yet meet the endorsement requirements for ILR?
If 3 years have passed and you don’t yet meet the ILR endorsement criteria, you have a couple of potential paths to consider:
- Apply for an extension of your Innovator Founder visa
You can request an extension while you continue strengthening your business. You’ll need to show further progress and work toward meeting the required benchmarks (jobs, revenue, investment, etc.). - Switch to an alternative visa route – such as Global Talent or Skilled Worker
Time already spent on the Innovator Founder visa will not be lost; it can still count toward the residence period required for ILR after making such a switch.
Why Work with CSMPLT
The Innovator Founder visa isn't just a set of forms to fill out – it's a strategic set of business documents that must satisfy not only formal requirements, but most importantly – business logic.
Most applicants treat this like a standard business plan. We treat it like what it actually is: a high-stakes case where you must convince experienced evaluators that your business is innovative, viable, and scalable enough to warrant UK endorsement. We engineer applications that meet both immigration standards and business credibility.
Here’s how we support you at every step:
Business Logic First – We ensure your plan passes the "smart investor test" before worrying about immigration formatting. If it doesn't make business sense, it won't convince endorsers.
Gap Analysis – We assess your current plan, financials, and traction against Innovator Founder criteria, highlighting gaps in growth, investment, or market validation that could block endorsement.
Innovation Positioning – We identify and articulate what makes your business truly innovative in the UK context, going beyond features to demonstrate genuine differentiation at the business model level.
Market & Competitive Intelligence – We research UK market data, competitor landscape, and industry trends to build a credible foundation for your viability and scalability arguments.
Financial Modeling & Projections – We develop realistic 3-5 year financial projections with proper unit economics, showing clear paths to profitability and scale without over-promising.
Evidence Package Assembly – We compile and structure all supporting materials—prototypes, technical documentation, letters of intent, CVs, market research—into a professional appendices section that reinforces credibility.
Investor & Traction Validation – We help you present investments, partnerships, and customer growth in the most compelling way, aligned with the endorsement checklist.
Co-founder Alignment – Where multiple founders apply, we ensure criteria are distributed strategically so that each has a qualifying case without duplication.
Case Stress-Testing – Senior reviewers simulate evaluator scrutiny, flagging weak points and strengthening the narrative before submission.
Endorsing Body Selection – We help you choose the right endorsing body based on your business type, stage, and strengths, as each has different priorities and assessment approaches.
Full-Service Management – We handle coordination across documents, translations, financial statements, and timelines, ensuring you can focus on running your business while we manage the process.
The CSMPLT Difference:
Business Logic First – We ensure your plan passes the "smart investor test" before worrying about immigration formatting. If it doesn't make business sense, it won't convince endorsers.
Founder Story Integration – We connect your background, skills, and track record to your business concept, proving you're the right person to execute this specific idea.
Risk Anticipation – We identify potential weaknesses in your case (market crowding, execution gaps, scalability concerns) and address them proactively with evidence and mitigation strategies.
End-to-End Process Management – From initial strategy sessions to final submission, we coordinate every moving part: document drafts, financial models, evidence gathering, and endorsing body liaison.
Can you do it yourself? Of course! Should you? That's another question entirely.
Over the years, we've handled this process multiple times and have gathered proven best practices and refined approaches. We've witnessed numerous successful cases, rejections, and rejections that were ultimately turned into successes through strategic appeals or subsequent applications.
We bring deep expertise, specialized know-how, and established best practices that help avoid common pitfalls while maximizing your chances of building the strongest possible case.
We invest 200-400 person-hours from multiple team members on each project – time that we save you from spending on learning the intricacies of this complex process and going through this hardly pleasant journey alone.
This is a painful process. While we cannot alleviate the related pain completely (e.g., you probably won't allow us to search your computer archive for that document you remembered you have), we do everything humanly possible and are ready to take on all related assignments to make it easier for you (e.g., researching, analyzing, and compiling evidence from publicly available materials). Simply put: if any aspect of this process can be delegated, delegate it to us. We'll handle everything we possibly can so you can focus on what only you can do.
Finally, this is our job – we work full-time on your case while you work full-time on your job. The result: higher quality outcomes, delivered much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need a minimum investment amount?
No. Unlike the previous Innovator visa, the Innovator Founder visa does not require a minimum £50,000 investment. However, you must demonstrate that you (or your founding team) have sufficient funds to bootstrap and develop the business to a viable stage.
What if we're a team of co-founders?
You can apply individually or as a co-founding team, but each founder must submit a separate application and be actively involved in building the business. Endorsing bodies will assess each applicant’s personal role, skill set, and contribution, not just the overall company’s potential.
Can I apply if I haven’t launched my product yet?
Yes, but you must show that the business is more than an idea. MVPs, prototypes, technical validation, or market research can all help. The key is demonstrating that you’ve started building, testing, and gathering evidence of demand.
How do I choose the right endorsing body?
Choosing the right one is part of the strategy. We will help you chose during the planning stage.
What happens at the 12- and 24-month check-ins?
Your endorsing body will assess whether your business is progressing against the original plan across innovation, viability, and scalability. You’ll need to provide evidence of traction, product development, founder involvement, and overall momentum. Weak performance or missed milestones without justification can lead to losing your endorsement.
What if my business pivots after endorsement?
Pivots are allowed, but only if they’re clearly documented, justified, and still aligned with the original intent and criteria of the visa. You’ll need to show why the change was necessary, how the business continues to meet the innovation, viability, and scalability requirements, and what progress has been made under the new direction. If your pivot isn’t explained or backed by evidence, it may raise concerns during your 12- or 24-month check-ins.
Can I apply with an idea I’ve already started outside the UK?
Yes, but only if the business was launched recently (e.g. around 6 months ago), has no or minimum revenue and hasn’t yet entered the UK market. Your idea must still be seen as new and original. If you’ve already launched or tested it in another country, make sure your application explains how you’re adapting or evolving the model specifically for the UK.
You'll need to demonstrate that:
- The business brings something new to the UK market (not just marketing existing products to your home country)
- There's a genuine need in the UK market that isn't already being fulfilled
- You have validation that UK customers want this product or service
Simply having an existing business overseas doesn't disqualify you, but your UK application must show genuine UK market innovation and demand.
Do I need a UK company already registered when applying?
No. You don't need to have a UK company registered before applying. However, if you do register a company before applying, it must not have started trading yet. The business must be "new" according to Home Office requirements.
Do I need a UK company already registered when applying?
No. You don't need to have a UK company registered before applying. However, if you do register a company before applying, it must not have started trading yet. The business must be "new" according to Home Office requirements.
What does "new business" actually mean?
"New" means the business has not commenced trading. You can join a business after it was registered with Companies House, providing the business had not already started trading. Pre-trading activities like product development, market research, or building prototypes are acceptable. Once the business has customers, revenue, or active contracts, it's considered "trading."
Do I need a job offer or UK sponsor?
No. The Innovator Founder visa does not require a job offer or sponsorship from a UK employer. You'll be working for your own company.
Can I be employed elsewhere while on this visa?
No. You must be working full-time on developing and running your endorsed business. You cannot be employed by another company, though you can have advisors, consultants, or employees working for your business.
What if I'm currently employed full-time?
You'll need to plan your transition carefully. While preparing your application, you can remain employed, but once your visa is approved and you move to the UK, you must commit full-time to your business.
Can I bring my family or partner?
Yes. Your spouse or unmarried partner and children under 18 can apply as dependents. They'll receive visas with the same validity period as yours. Your partner will have full work rights in the UK and can work for an employer or be self-employed. Dependent children can study in the UK.
Do I need an English language test?
Yes. You must demonstrate English proficiency at B2 CEFR level or higher through an approved English test, or by having a degree taught in English.
How much do the government fees cost?
- Endorsement fee: £1000 (non-refundable)
- Visa application fee: £1,274 (outside UK) or £1,590 (inside UK)
- Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 per year per person (e.g., £3,105 for 3 years)
- Dependent fees: £1,274 or £1,590 per dependent, plus their healthcare surcharge
- Check-in fee: £500 for each meeting with your endorsing body (at least two meetings during the three year period are required)
What if my endorsement application is rejected?
You have several options:
- Request a review: You can ask the endorsing body to review their decision at no additional cost. However, you cannot submit new evidence – only explain why you believe the assessment was incorrect.
- Reapply: You can revise your business plan and resubmit, but this requires paying a new endorsement fee. There is no waiting period or limit on the number of attempts.
- Apply for another visa: You may choose to apply for a Global Talent or Skilled Worker visa instead.
When can I apply for permanent residence (ILR)?
After 3 years on the Innovator Founder visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you:
- Obtain a new endorsement confirming business growth
- Spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period
- Meet at least 2 of 7 specific business growth benchmarks (such as £50K investment secured, doubled customer base, 10 jobs created, £1M revenue, or UK IP protection obtained)
- Meet other requirements (such as passing the Life in the UK test)
What if my business fails before the 3-year mark?
Business failure is a risk the Home Office acknowledges. However, if your business fails, you may lose your visa status. This is why demonstrating genuine viability and having contingency plans in your business plan is crucial. The check-ins at 12 and 24 months are designed to catch issues early.
Do I need professional help with my application?
You can prepare your application yourself – the process is technically open to anyone. However, the requirements are strict and highly specific. The business plan must satisfy both immigration criteria and genuine business logic. Many applicants underestimate the complexity and depth required.
We've seen strong business ideas rejected because the business plan didn't articulate innovation properly, lacked sufficient market validation, or failed to demonstrate scalability convincingly.
We invest hundreds of hours developing business plans and other documents that satisfy endorsing body requirements while maintaining investor-grade quality. This is our full-time job – we work full-time on your case while you focus on your business.
