The Innovator Founder visa category is for foreign nationals wishing to set up a business in the UK.

To qualify for a visa in either category, applicants must first obtain an endorsement, in the form of an endorsement letter, from an approved endorsing body.

Who you are?

The category is for people setting up a new business in the UK which is innovative, viable and scalable.

The ultimate aim is that the business idea has the potential to become fully integrated and a contributing part of the UK economy.

Applicants can be:

• Working on their own as a sole founder, or working together as part of an entrepreneurial team

• Presenting a new business idea – the business may or may not already exist, but should not yet have fully started trading

• Presenting an idea in any sector – there are no restrictions providing the business idea is sufficiently innovative, viable and scalable

• Developing other businesses as well as their central idea

Who you are NOT?

The categories are not designed for people who are:

• Establishing a business which is not innovative, viable and scalable

• Joining an already trading company – the GBMS route may be more appropriate

• Seeking to invest in an already trading business

What is an Endorsement?

The endorsement is based on the principle that it is the endorsing body, rather than the Home Office, who are best placed to assess and identify innovative, viable and scalable business ideas and talent.

In the Innovator Founder category, we are available to provide the support for business planning, and the presentation and application of the proposed business model to an endorsing body. We are NOT an Endorsing Body or an OISC registered immigration legal services firm.

What we Offer

1. Usually, an applicant will contact an OISC registered immigration legal services firm in the UK directly; under these circumstances, we will work with the firm to provide the business planning and endorsing body application form support.

2. When an applicant contacts us directly, they will be provided with the option of a recommended OISC registered legal services firm in the UK.

3. We will work directly with applicants under certain circumstances; however, it is recommended that the applicant contacts an OISC registered legal services firm in the UK.

4. We will work with that firm to provide business planning and endorsement applicant form support throughout the endorsing body application process.

5. We may also provide ongoing support to applicants or their appointed legal services firm in the endorsement process and during the endorsing bodies assessment of the applicants’ business ideas and their viability.

6. It is the responsibility of the endorsing body to stay in contact with the endorsed applicants who have received a UK visa at checkpoints after 6, 12 and (in the Innovator category) 24 months, and inform the Home Office on progress. Under these circumstances, we are also available to provide the ongoing support to endorsed applicants by delivering the necessary responses to the endorsing body at each checkpoint, unless there is any reason to believe an endorsed applicant is working in breach of their visa conditions.
   

Please CONTACT US for more details.