United Kingdom Innovator Founder Visa

The applicant must have a viable, innovative, and scalable business idea, be at least 18, secure endorsement by an authorised body, and have sufficient funds both to establish and run the business from a legitimate source and to support themselves and their dependents.

They must meet the English language requirement at CEFR Level B2 (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and if outside the UK or in the UK for less than 12 months, hold at least £1,270 for themselves plus £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for a first child, and £200 for each additional child. They must also provide a criminal record certificate issued within the last six months confirming no convictions, not fall for refusal on general grounds, and provide a clear tuberculosis test result if required.

Applicants need a letter of endorsement from an endorsing body, and HLG helps secure it. To grant endorsement, the body assesses the business idea and confirms three things: that the applicant is a fit and proper person to be endorsed under the innovator founder route, that it has no concerns over the source of any funds invested in the business, and that it has no reason to believe the applicant or business may be the beneficiary of illicit or unexplained wealth. The visa is valid for 3 years and may be renewed for a further 3 years subject to continuing endorsement, and the applicant may be eligible to apply for permanent residence after 3 years of UK residence if advanced business performance criteria are met.

Yes. The applicant must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the visa period.

A degree-level academic qualification taught in English in the UK may be used as evidence of sufficient English language skills, depending on where it was taught.

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, or the USA. If you obtained citizenship by naturalization in any of those countries, that does not exempt you from proving your English language skills.

You must be tested at a Home Office-approved clinic if you are resident in one of a long list of specified countries. The list includes, among many others, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam, with several countries directed to test in a neighbouring country (for example, Benin tested in Nigeria, Lesotho tested in South Africa, and Macau tested in Hong Kong).

Before applying, the applicant must show they have held at least £1,270 in their bank account for at least 28 consecutive days. These funds cannot come from the investment funds or from money earned working illegally in the UK. When bringing dependents, the applicant must also show at least £285 for a partner, £315 for a first dependent child, and £200 for any additional dependent child.

All applicants and dependents applying for a UK residence visa of 6 months or longer must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is based on the number of years requested. It grants free access to NHS healthcare services, though residents still pay a contribution toward individual treatment costs such as prescriptions and dental treatment.

Typical grounds that make an applicant ineligible include prior criminal convictions, adverse immigration history, and making a false representation. The full list is published on the UK Government website.

To renew after the initial 3-year period, the applicant must continue to be endorsed by an approved endorsing body.

The applicant must work for the business specified in the visa application and may not work for any other entity.

The entire process typically takes 6 to 12 months.
-Step 1 is an eligibility assessment, where the applicant engages HLG, provides the required documentation, and HLG carries out eligibility, due diligence, and KYC checks before proceeding to the business plan stage.
-Step 2 is the business plan, where the applicant determines a suitable idea, prepares the plan, undertakes any required market research, and clarifies the source of business funds.
-Step 3 is endorsement, with an introduction to a suitable endorsing body that reviews the applicant's background, objectives, and business plan, possibly subject to the body's specific requirements.
-Step 4 is the visa application, where HLG prepares and submits the application to the Home Office after endorsement, the applicant attends a biometrics appointment, the Home Office invites the applicant to a genuineness interview, and the application is then processed and, if there are no further issues, granted.

No. The visa only allows the applicant to live and work in the UK.

HLG provides a range of business services to help get the UK company incorporated and operational, from making the application to Companies House to helping with VAT registration, obtaining a tax ID number, and arranging business insurance.

Approximately 2 weeks.

An applicant's UK tax treatment depends on their domicile status and residence status. Someone who is UK-resident but not domiciled in the UK can receive special tax treatment and can choose to be taxed on the remittance basis.

Yes. A spouse or life partner and children under 18 (including adopted children) who are financially dependent on the applicant can be included.

Yes.

Yes, but only if they are currently in the UK as a dependent. They must also live with the applicant (unless they can document that they are in full-time education at a boarding school, college, or university), not be married, in a civil partnership, or have children, and be financially dependent on the applicant.

Yes. Dependents are free to work or study in the UK.

There is no minimum investment sum, but at least GBP 50,000 is recommended, which may come from the applicant or a third party. Some applicants may need to invest significantly more depending on their business plan.

To maintain the visa, the applicant must keep the investment until permanent residence is granted.

Yes. The applicant is entirely free to make additional investments or other acquisitions, such as property.

The applicant is always free to sell their UK business while holding the Innovator Founder Visa, but doing so means the applicant and dependents lose their right to reside in the UK, since the business is no longer operating. Once the applicant has permanent residence, the business can be sold freely.

Holders, including dependents, may apply for permanent residence after 3 years if their business is considered successful, or after 5 years if their business continues to be endorsed.

If the applicant has lived in the UK for 5 years and held permanent residence for 12 months, they can then apply for citizenship.

Yes. There is no restriction on dual or multiple citizenship.