On 13 April 2023, the Innovator and Start-Up routes will close to new applicants and replace with the “Innovator Founder” route.
Beginning on April 13, 2023, the new Innovator Founder visa route will be available. This date also marks the conclusion of the Start-Up visa programme.
There will only be three Home Office-approved Endorsing bodies going forward, and the Innovator Founder path will replace the former Innovator route. New applicants will need to seek an endorsement with one of the three new Endorsing Bodies approved for the Innovator Founder route moving forward (if they do not already have one).
For the Innovator Founder visa route, three new endorsing bodies have been authorised. These are:
- Geminus Innovation
- Envestors
- UK Endorsement Services
Under the Innovator Founder approach, the obligation to demonstrate that the business concept is Innovative, sustainable, and scalable remains crucial. You are welcome to apply with a fresh company idea. If you previously received approval as an Innovator Founder, Innovator, Start-up, or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) and were evaluated in a prior application utilizing the same business concept, you may apply under the same business category. The revised route offers some pleasant adjustments here, even though it is very similar to the prior plan.
No Requirement For a Minimum Investment Of £50,000 GBP
Minimum Two Contact Points
Permission Of Secondary Employment
Formerly, the restriction that Innovators could only work for the company they had founded in the UK applied. Currently, innovator founders are permitted to work in secondary jobs as long as the position requires at least RQF level 3, which is the same as an A-level or a high school diploma. This is a positive shift because it’s customary for entrepreneurs to launch their new ventures while working for other companies. This captures the realities of real, complex entrepreneurs. Additionally, it would assist those who want to live and work in the UK up until the point at which their firm no longer requires them to make money from a secondary job.
Can I Apply a Letter Of Recommendation From a Legacy Endorsing Body Under The New Scheme?
- If you are submitting an application based on a new business, you may utilise an endorsement letter from the Legacy Endorsing body as long as the letter's date is before April 13, 2023. Alternately, if the Legacy Endorsing body previously approved your application as a Start-up applicant, it may also approve your application for the Innovator Founder path.
- You can only rely on the endorsement from a Legacy Endorsing body if you previously obtained your first endorsement letter with that same Legacy Endorsing body before April 13, 2023, and subsequently applied on the Innovator Founder visa route after April 13, 2023. If you are applying under the same business category.
This revised category (Indefinite Leave to Remain/permanent residency) does not change UK settlement requirements.
We await announcements on whether the list of endorsing bodies will change on 13 April 2023. Also awaited is revised category guidance.
Contact Muhammad Ahmad Zubairi, Waseem Anwar, or another immigration team member for more information.
