Residence on the UK Innovator Founder Visa

Innovator Founder visa (residence and extensions)

Permission on this route is granted for a maximum of 3 years, both for arrivals from abroad and for people switching from another visa inside the UK. Holders may extend for further 3-year periods as often as they wish, provided each extension is supported by a new endorsement. The founder may work in their own company and in other employment skilled to RQF Level 3 or above, but has no access to most public funds. Partners and children under 18 can come as dependants. Their permission usually ends on the same date as the founder's, they may work except as professional sportspeople or coaches, and they may study.

Grant length

Up to 3 years per application

Extensions

No limit; a new endorsement is needed each time

Extension fee

GBP 1,693 per person when applying inside the UK

Maintenance funds

GBP 1,270 main applicant; GBP 285 partner; GBP 315 first child

Health surcharge

GBP 1,035 per adult per year; GBP 776 for under-18s

Public funds

Not available to the founder or dependants

Partner work rights

Any work except professional sport or sports coaching

Requirements

• A new endorsement letter from an approved endorsing body for each extension.
• Continued involvement in running the endorsed business, with progress reviewed at the 12-month and 24-month meetings.
• Maintenance funds held for 28 days if the applicant has been in the UK for less than 12 months.
• GBP 200 in maintenance for each additional child after the first, alongside the partner and first-child amounts.
• Dependent children must be under 18 at first grant, unmarried and living with the founder unless studying away.

How to apply

1. Ask the endorsing body for a fresh endorsement well before the current permission ends.
2. Apply online to extend before expiry and pay GBP 1,693 per person plus the health surcharge.
3. Include dependants in the same timeframe so their permission continues alongside the founder's.
4. Stay in the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until a decision arrives.

Investor visa (Tier 1)

Status: Closed to all new applicants from 4pm on 17 February 2022

Tier 1 (Investor) was the UK's residence-by-investment route for people placing substantial sums in UK assets. The Home Office shut it to new applicants of every nationality from 4pm on 17 February 2022, citing security concerns, and switching into the category from other visas ended at the same time. Under the closing rules, extension applications had to be made before 17 February 2026, and existing investors must apply for indefinite leave to remain before 17 February 2028. Family members can still join current holders, so the route now serves only investors already in it. Founders who want to put their own capital into a UK company now look at the Innovator Founder route instead.

Status

Closed to new applicants since 17 February 2022

Settlement deadline

ILR applications must be made before 17 February 2028

Family

Family members can still join existing investors

Switching in

Not permitted from any other visa category

Requirements

• No new applications or switches into the route have been accepted since 4pm on 17 February 2022.

How to apply

1. Existing holders check the Tier 1 (Investor) settlement guidance on GOV.UK before their permission ends.