Innovator Founder Visa
At Advantage Solicitors, we recognise that applying for an Innovator Founder Visa requires a strong business idea and endorsement from an approved UK body. Our experienced immigration solicitors provide expert guidance throughout the process to ensure your application is accurately prepared and submitted for the best chance of success.
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Innovator Founder Visa
The Innovator Founder Visa is not limited to those already established and experienced businesspersons, rather it also provides start-up entrepreneurs the opportunity to demonstrate, setup and work on their new and distinct business plans. If an applicant wishes to set up and run a business in the UK, the idea for this business must be innovative and different from those already existing in the market. Additionally, this business or business idea must be endorsed by an endorsing body, which includes:
- Innovator International
- Envestors Limited
- UK Endorsing Services
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)
Eligibility Criteria
Let it be noted that those applying for this visa must have their business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body. If they find your business viable you will be provided with a letter of endorsement.
If you wish to apply for this visa you must be aged 18 or above, meet the English Language requirement, and prove that you have the funds to support yourself when in the UK. These are the baseline requirements, upon which the next set of criteria (listed below) will be built on.
To be accepted onto this visa it is required that you demonstrate that your business is new, innovative, viable and scalable.
- New- An applicant cannot join a business that is already trading as this visa category requires an introduction of new and distinct business ideas.
- Innovative – This must be a unique business idea which distinctly differs from the potential competition in the business market.
- Viable- The idea must be well considered to the extent that it is understood as having potential for growth in upcoming years.
- Scalable- An applicant must give evidence of a model of planning the business. This should include the notion that this particular business will produce more jobs in the market as well as displaying the trajectory for growth into national and international markets.
UK Innovator Founder Visa: Endorsing Body Related Requirements
The endorsing body must confirm the following:
- You are a fit and appropriate individual to obtain endorsement under the Innovator Founder visa route
- That they have no concerns about the funds invested into the business and believe they have been through legal channels
- That there are no reasons to believe that you or your business may be the beneficiary of illicit or unexplained wealth.
English Proficiency Requirements
An applicant must prove their English understanding including reading, writing and speaking to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
Your Partner and Children
A successful application for your partner and children (known as ‘dependents’ in this case) coming to the UK will be contingent on their eligibility. Typically, their visa will end akin to yours.
Only those listed below would be eligible to enter the UK as your dependents:
- A husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
- Your child under 18
- Your child over 18 (who must be unmarried), providing that they have permission to be in the UK under the title of your dependent
Financial Requirements
In terms of finances, to ensure a successful application, you need to have had at least £1,270 in your back account for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, prior to either:
- Apply for an Innovator Founder visa
- Apply for an extension of or a switch to the Innovator Founder visa in the case that you have been in the UK for less than a year.
Finances for dependants are calculated in a different way. They must each possess a certain amount of money to ensure they are supported throughout their period of stay in the UK.
In summation with the necessary £1,270 to support yourself, there is a requirement that you also have:
>£285 for your partner
>£315 for your first child
>£200 for each additional child
These funds should too have been in the bank account of either yourself or the dependent for at least 28 days before application.
Documents Required for Applications
All applicants should provide the following:
- Valid passport/document that proves your identity and nationality
- Bank Statements for proof of funds
- Evidence that you meet the English proficiency requirements
- Test Results for Tuberculosis (TB) if you are from a country where this is necessary
For those applying from outside the UK you will also be asked to provide extra proof of identity. How this should be done will depend on where you are from and what type of passport you have.
You will either:
- Need to get a biometric residence permit, in which case you will have both your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document
For an applicant’s dependants, the following documents will be required:
- Evidence of a dependant’s relationship to the applicant (whether this be, in the partner’s case, proof of marriage, proof of living together for at least 2 years, or proof that you have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but CANNOT live together)
- Where an applicant has a child they must provide evidence of their address
- Proof of funds to support the dependant(s)
Dependants applying from outside the UK will need the addition of:
- Your application number (which you receive once you have applied)
- A biometric residence permit wherein they will have both their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre
What you can or cannot do under this visa
You can
With an Innovator Founder visa, a successful applicant will be allowed to partake in the below mentioned activities:
- Set up a business or multiple businesses
- Work for your business- as a director, self-employed as a member of business partnership
- Take on work outside of your business. This is conditional as the work taken on should only be ‘skilled work’ or a job that requires at least a level 3 qualification
- Alongside yourself bring any dependents (such as your partner or children) so long as they are eligible
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
- Apply to settle permanently in the UK through Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) once you’ve both lived in the UK for 3 years and meet other eligibility requirements.
You cannot
An Innovator Founder visa does not allow an applicant to do following activities:
- Work as a professional sportsperson i.e. sports coach
- Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State pension
How long an applicant can stay in the UK?
A successful applicant can stay for up to 3 years in the UK, either:
- By entering the UK on an Innovator Founder visa
- By switching to this visa from another visa while in the UK
In order to demonstrate progress within the business successful applicants will be required to meet with the endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months. An Innovator Founder visa may be cut short if the endorsing body chooses to withdraw their prior endorsement. Thus, if an applicant wishes to remain for longer in the UK, they must re-apply with a new endorsement before the expiration of the current visa.
If you wish to stay longer
An applicant can apply to extend their stay in the UK for another 3 years after the expiry date of the current visa. There are no restrictions for the number of times one can apply for this visa.
You can reapply where you still meet the eligibility requirements and you are still running a business within the UK or wish to set up a new one. However, the visas of your dependants will not extend automatically if you extend yours. They must individually extend each visa if they too wish to continue to stay in the UK.
This visa can become a gateway to permanent settlement in the UK, where an applicant has completed a stay of 3 years in the UK.
Applying for an Innovator Founder Visa?
If you have an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea and endorsement from an approved UK body, our experienced immigration solicitors are here to assist. Please fill in the form below and a member of our team will contact you shortly to guide you through the process.
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