Innovator Founder Visa
built around the business.
A founder route for entrepreneurs building an innovative, viable and scalable business in the United Kingdom—supported by an authorised endorsing body.
↓What is the Innovator Founder programme?
The Innovator Founder visa is designed for entrepreneurs who want to establish and run an innovative business in the UK. It is not a general self-employment route: the proposed venture must be endorsed as new, innovative, viable and scalable by an organisation authorised by the UK Home Office.
The programme separates business assessment from the immigration decision. An endorsing body first evaluates the founder and venture. With a valid endorsement letter, the founder applies to UK Visas and Immigration and must also satisfy the personal, English-language, financial and suitability requirements.
What the endorsing body needs to believe.
Endorsement is not a formality. The founder, business plan and available resources must tell one credible story.
New
For a new-business application, the founder cannot simply join an already trading business. The founder must have generated or significantly contributed to the business plan.
Innovative
The plan must be genuine and original, meet a new or existing market need or create a clear competitive advantage.
Viable
The plan must be realistic and achievable in light of the founder’s skills, experience, market knowledge and available resources.
Scalable
The venture must show structured planning for job creation and growth into national and international markets.
From business idea to UK operation.
The route has two connected decisions: first an authorised body assesses the venture; then UK Visas and Immigration decides the visa application.
Test the route
Assess whether the founder, innovation, UK market logic, resources and proposed operating model can credibly meet the programme.
Build the endorsement case
Prepare the business plan, market evidence, innovation argument, financial model, founder profile and implementation roadmap.
Apply for endorsement
Submit to an authorised endorsing body. The body assesses the venture, founder credibility and sources of business funding before deciding whether to endorse.
Submit the visa application
Apply online within the validity of the endorsement letter, prove identity and provide the required immigration documents, English evidence and financial evidence where applicable.
Build and report progress
After approval, establish and actively develop the business. Mandatory contact-point meetings normally take place after 12 and 24 months.
Built for founders
with a market to enter.
Founders developing a genuinely innovative business for the UK market
International entrepreneurs preparing for endorsement by an authorised body
Existing founders assessing whether the UK route fits their venture and growth plans
One connected
preparation strategy.
Strategic eligibility assessment
We test the venture, founder profile and UK opportunity against the route’s core expectations before major work begins.
Endorsement-ready business case
We strengthen the innovation logic, market evidence, viability, scalability and founder’s essential role.
Execution roadmap
We connect endorsement preparation to milestones, UK establishment and the commercial priorities after arrival.
Assess.
Prepare.
Establish.
Assess
Evaluate route fit, innovation strength, founder credibility and the UK market case.
Build
Develop the business narrative, evidence package, financial logic and endorsement preparation.
Establish
Coordinate the next steps toward application, company setup and operating progress.