If you are an entrepreneur looking to start or expand your business abroad, the UK Innovator Founder Visa could be one of the most appealing pathways. The UK government welcomes innovative, scalable, and ambitious entrepreneurs, allowing you to establish a business in the UK, live with your family, and pursue permanent residency.
What is the Innovator Founder Visa?
The Innovator Founder Visa is a migration route to the UK for entrepreneurs who wish to launch or grow a business that is innovative, viable, and scalable. You must first have your business idea endorsed by an approved endorsing body. Once endorsed, you can apply for the visa, enter the UK, start your business, and potentially secure permanent residency after a few years.
Main Eligibility Requirements
Key conditions include:
- Age: Applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- Business Endorsement: Your business must be innovative, viable, and scalable, confirmed by an endorsing body.
- English Language: Typically B2 CEFR level in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
- Financial Requirement: Proof of £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days (unless exempt under specific conditions).
- Active Role: You must play a key role in the business, which must be genuinely operational (for renewals/extensions) or a new idea.
Benefits and Opportunities
This visa offers compelling advantages for entrepreneurs:
- Launch and manage your own business in the UK.
- Family inclusion: Spouse and children can join as dependants.
- Path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after ~3 years if business milestones are met.
- No fixed high investment amount (unlike legacy entrepreneur visas), but strong business plan and funding proof are critical.
Application Steps
For Iranian or international applicants, follow this process:
- Prepare Business Plan: A detailed, realistic plan proving innovation, viability, and scalability.
- Contact Endorsing Body: Select and engage with an approved endorsing body for evaluation.
- Obtain Endorsement Letter: Must be issued within 3 months of visa application.
- Apply for Visa: Submit online to UKVI with identity docs, financial proof, language results, business plan, etc.
- After Entry: Launch business, maintain active role, attend contact point meetings with endorsing body.
- Apply for ILR (if eligible): After ~3 years, if business shows progress, job creation, or economic benefit.
Key Tips for Iranian Applicants
As consultants, we highlight critical points for Iranian applicants:
- Your business plan must be genuinely innovative not a replication of existing UK businesses. Include market research and clear competitive advantage.
- Adequate funding (or access to it) with proof of lawful source is essential.
- Engage seriously with the endorsing body they monitor progress during the visa period.
- English language and financial maintenance are mandatory for you and family.
- Dependants must also meet general requirements.
- ILR is possible but not guaranteed your business must meet endorsed milestones (e.g., revenue, jobs).
- Consult a specialist immigration lawyer individual cases vary significantly.
Conclusion
The UK Innovator Founder Visa is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to launch an innovative, scalable business with real impact in the UK market. If you have a strong idea, funding, business plan, and commitment, this route can lead to permanent residency and a new life in the UK. At ITCiLand, we are ready to assist at every stage from business plan development to endorsing body selection, document preparation, and visa submission. Contact us today to take the next step together.
