Thuong tru Vuong quoc Anh (Nha dau tu)

Endorsing bodies assess three criteria: (1) Innovation — is the idea genuinely new, or a significant improvement over existing offerings? (2) Viability — is there a credible market and business model? (3) Scalability — does it have potential to grow significantly and create jobs?

The UK Home Office maintains a list of approved endorsing bodies. These include leading universities, startup incubators, and sector-specific business bodies. The right endorsing body depends on your industry.

No. The Innovator Founder Visa requires you to establish and actively lead a new UK business — you cannot simply invest in or buy an existing company under this route.

The UK Tier 1 Investor Visa (requiring £2M+) was closed in February 2022. The Innovator Founder Visa replaced the previous Innovator Visa in April 2023 as the primary entrepreneur route.

English language proficiency at B2 level (CEFR) is required — typically demonstrated through an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) or recognized English-medium degree.

Absences cannot exceed 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying period. This preserves the continuous residence needed for settlement (ILR).

After 3 years — faster than the standard 5-year route — provided all the qualifying time was accrued on Innovator Founder/Innovator leave only, you obtain a fresh endorsement confirming at least 2 of 7 specified business-growth criteria are met, and the business remains active and trading. Note: a November 2025 Home Office consultation proposed extending the standard settlement period to 10 years; Innovator Founder is expected to keep its 3-year route, but this has not yet been finalized into law.

You can apply 12 months after ILR is granted — roughly 4 years total from visa start. Beyond ILR, you'll need to pass the Life in the UK test, meet the English language requirement, and keep absences under 90 days in the 12 months before applying.