While there were over 50 endorsing bodies on the innovator visa, the new route has 4 approved endorsing bodies. These are listed below:

• Envestors Limited
• UK Endorsing Services
• Innovator International
• The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

The first three endorsing bodies are private sector organizations. Whereas the fourth endorsing body is a government programme run by the Department for Business and Trade. Further, UK Endorsing Services is a group consisting of at least six previous endorsing bodies for the now obsolete innovator visa.

The other notable requirements for the UK Innovator Founder Visa Plan are as follows:

Unlike the preceding innovator visa, the new Innovator Founder route does not require minimum capital. However, you still need to prove access to funds that are needed to set up your new business. These could vary from £10,000 to as much as £100,000 or more, depending upon the type of business you intend to set up.

You need to prove your proficiency in English to level B2 either through completing one of the approved English language tests (e.g., IELTS) or through verifying academic qualification through Ecctis. You may claim an exemption from proving your understanding of English if you are from certain English-speaking countries.

For a complete list of requirements, please read the official Home Office guidance for the Innovator Founder Visa category.

The Innovator Founder Visa is suitable for entrepreneurs who have innovative, viable and scalable business plans. The Innovator Founder visa applicants can be eligible either as a sole founder or together as part of a founding team on the same business plan. There is no cap on the founding team size. So, you can add as many co-founders as needed to launch, manage and grow the new business in the UK.

If you want to join an established business that meets the innovation, viability, and scalability criteria. You may still apply for innovative founder visa. It is prudent to ensure that the business has not started trading yet. You can join an incorporated company. But, joining a trading/operational business is not allowed under the new route. This visa is only granted to entrepreneurs, who would start a new business.

Innovator Founder visa applicants will also be required to prove their active involvement in the day-to-day management of the proposed business to qualify for the visa. The Innovator Founder visa applicants cannot be sleeping partners in any business.

To be eligible for the indefinite leave to remain. You shall fulfill the following mandatory criteria:

1. An authorized UK endorsing body has verified that you have made satisfactory progress based on the business plan that was evaluated in your previous endorsement application. At the time of making the ILR application, you must be registered with Companies House as either a Director or a Member of your business. Your business is functioning, trading, and appears to be viable for the next 12 months. You shall also prove your active involvement in the day-to-day management and growth of the business.

The following are optional requirements. You have to fulfill any two of them:

1. At least £50,000 has been invested into the business and used to help it grow.
2. The company has employed a minimum of 5 full-time workers with an average annual salary of no less than £25,000.
3. The company has employed a minimum of 10 full-time workers with no minimum salary requirement. However, the prevailing national minimum wage shall be complied with.
4. The number of customers has at least doubled within the most recent 3 years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable main products or services;
5. The company has carried out extensive research and development work and has applied for intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom.
6. The company has grossed at least £1 million in total income in the last year.
7. The company has grossed at least £500,000 in the last year with at least £100,000 contributed by overseas sales/exports.

We offer a five-step process to make your Innovator Founder visa application

Fill out our inquiry form and send us your basic information. Our consultant will get in touch with you to schedule an initial consultation to understand your case.

The next step will be to assess your business idea and verify whether it fulfills the endorsing body’s criteria for endorsement. It is an impartial assessment carried out by our experienced business research analyst to validate innovation, viability and scalability.

The assessment will identify how your product compares with the rivals and whether you have a strong competitive advantage. It will also help you understand the main strengths and weaknesses of your business idea along with practical suggestions to improve it.

After finalizing the business idea, the next step will be to commence the business plan development. A detailed business plan consisting of ~40 pages will be created with an active collaboration with you. We will also help you understand the business plan and answer any questions that you may have.

Our partnered immigration lawyers can review your business plan to ensure it is 100% Home Office-compliant and ready for endorsement. Further, they will submit your business plan to an appropriate endorsing body for review and communicate with it on your behalf. They will also handle any feedback that may be provided by the endorsing body on the business plan and relay it to us to process amendments. Eventually, they will secure you the visa endorsement letter that can be used to make your visa application.

After the endorsement letter is obtained from an approved body, the final step is to make your visa application. Our immigration lawyers will also help you to make the visa application for yourself and any dependents who will be traveling with you to the UK.