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United Kingdom · Entrepreneur residence

Innovator Founder visa

The United Kingdom's Innovator Founder route requires endorsement for an innovative, viable and scalable business and can lead to settlement if the separate settlement criteria are met.

Published by World Investment Migration Association in policy release WIMA-POL-2026-10-02.

WIMA is not a government authority and does not issue visas, residence permits or citizenship. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authorities before acting.

Accountable publisher and responsible body
World Investment Migration Association
Recorded pre-publication checks
Required fields, source links and claim citations checked for this release; no external peer-review claim is made.
Separate substantive reviewer
None appointed or claimed for this release
Published
2 October 2026
Last verified
2 October 2026

Status at the release cut-off

Three separate status dimensions

Legal status, intake status and operational status answer different questions and should not be combined into a single label.

legal

In force

Appendix Innovator Founder remains in the Immigration Rules. [1]

intake

Accepting applications

The government route service accepts applications subject to endorsement and eligibility. [2]

operational

Operating

Current application, extension and settlement guidance is published. [2] , [3]

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be at least 18, meet English at level B2, obtain an endorsement, and score 70 points under the route rules. [1]
  • The business proposal must be innovative, viable and scalable, and the applicant must play a key role in day-to-day management and development. [1]

Investment or income mechanism

  • No fixed minimum investment amount is stated. The endorsing body assesses whether the applicant has sufficient funding and a credible source of funds for the business plan. [1]
  • An applicant entering the route, or present in the United Kingdom for less than 12 months, normally needs GBP 1,270 in personal funds held for 28 days. [1]

Residence and family conditions

Family
A partner and dependent children may apply subject to the dependant rules. [4]
Work
The holder may work for the endorsed business and may take other employment at RQF level 3 or above, subject to route conditions. [1]
Presence
For settlement, absences must not exceed 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying three years. [3]
Duration
Up to three years per grant. [2]
Renewal
Further three-year extensions are available without a stated numerical limit if the requirements continue to be met. [2]
Later outcome
Settlement may be available after three years with a fresh endorsement and satisfaction of the settlement criteria; it is not automatic. [3]

Limitations and cautions

  • Endorsement is a separate assessment by an approved endorsing body.
  • This record does not reproduce the full points or settlement criteria.

This record is descriptive, not legal, tax or investment advice. Confirm the current position with the responsible authorities.

Official sources

  1. Immigration Rules Appendix Innovator Founder Home Office Accessed 2 October 2026 Evidence tier A1
  2. Innovator Founder visa UK Visas and Immigration Accessed 2 October 2026 Evidence tier B1
  3. Indefinite leave to remain if you have an Innovator Founder visa UK Visas and Immigration Accessed 2 October 2026 Evidence tier B1
  4. Innovator Founder visa: your partner and children UK Visas and Immigration Accessed 2 October 2026 Evidence tier B1