Residence in the United Kingdom: The Innovator Founder Visa

You want to build a business in the UK and keep a route to settlement. The UK route on this site is the Innovator Founder visa, a business route: an endorsement from an approved body, a 3-year stay with no limit on extensions, and settlement after 3 years if you meet the growth test.

We work with qualified local partners in each country, who file your application. We stay your point of contact.

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Why the UK route is not a cheque

The UK Innovator Founder visa asks you to have a business idea assessed and endorsed before you apply. We read each official page and date it, so you can see how current a figure is.

The route in brief

	Innovator Founder visa
Type	Business route
Money	No fixed investment; visa fee GBP 1,357 from outside the UK, endorsement GBP 1,000, GBP 1,270 in maintenance funds
Key rule	An endorsement letter first; meetings with the endorsing body at 12 and 24 months
Page	UK Innovator Founder visa

The old UK investor visa is not covered here; every route we list is checked on an official page.

Is the UK Innovator Founder Visa right for you?

An honest answer before you move funds.

A good fit if	Consider another route if
You have an innovative, viable and scalable business or idea an endorsing body can assess	You want a passive investment route with no business: this is not one
You can show GBP 1,270 in your account for 28 consecutive days	You cannot find an endorsing body for your idea
You are at least 18 and can meet the English language requirement	You want to work as a professional sportsperson: the visa does not allow it
You can show where your business funding comes from	You cannot meet the endorsing body at 12 and 24 months

Not sure United Kingdom is the best fit? Compare all European routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.

What you need

You need an endorsement letter, maintenance funds, English language ability and to be at least 18. The GOV.UK pages set the rules, and the Immigration Rules appendix holds the detail.

Full details, with the official source for each rule, are on the UK Innovator Founder Visa page.

What it costs, and what waiting costs

You pay government fees and endorsement fees, not an investment. Set them against the cost of a wrong start: a refused endorsement or a visa that cannot be extended.

Fee	Amount
Visa application from outside the UK, per person	GBP 1,357
Visa application to extend or switch in the UK, per person	GBP 1,693
Endorsement, paid to your endorsing body	GBP 1,000
Each meeting with your endorsing body (at least two)	GBP 500 per meeting
Settlement application, per person	GBP 3,226
Maintenance funds to show	GBP 1,270 for 28 consecutive days

Source: GOV.UK Innovator Founder visa and settlement pages. The healthcare surcharge amount sits on a separate GOV.UK page, so it is not shown. Professional fees are agreed with the local partner.

Status: what changed and when

Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: GOV.UK Innovator Founder visa and settlement pages.

Visa fee: GBP 1,357 from outside the UK; GBP 1,693 to extend or switch in the UK
Settlement: after 3 years, GBP 3,226, decision within 6 months
Endorsement: GBP 1,000 plus GBP 500 per meeting

After you have the visa

You keep the visa by running the business and meeting your endorsing body. You meet the endorsing body after 12 and 24 months, and you can extend for another 3 years with no limit on how many times.

Full details, with the official source for each rule, are on the UK Innovator Founder Visa page.

How the United Kingdom compares with other routes

These are the closest alternatives to the the United Kingdom route. The money column shows the lowest qualifying route, in the currency of each programme, so it does not move with exchange rates. Use the family cost calculator for your household.

Programme	Money you need	Type	In one line
UK Innovator Founder Visa (this page)	No set investment; GBP 1,270 in maintenance funds held for 28 days	Work or founder	The Innovator Founder visa lets you stay for 3 years, extend with no limit, and apply to settle after 3 years if you meet the growth test.
Portugal Golden Visa	EUR 250,000 (culture and heritage route); other routes start at EUR 500,000	Investment	The Portugal Golden Visa is a temporary residence permit that starts at EUR 250,000 in a qualifying investment.
Singapore Global Investor Programme	SGD 10,000,000 in a business; other options are higher	Investment	The Global Investor Programme (GIP) grants Singapore permanent residence through three options: S$10 million in a business, S$25 million in a fund, or a family office with S$200 million in assets.
UAE Golden Residence	AED 2,000,000 in property or a public investment	Investment	The Golden Residence for investors starts at AED 2,000,000, and the Dubai Land Department says a Dubai property of that value gives a 10-year renewable permit.

Which route fits your family?

Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.

Find my residency See the family cost

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Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates

35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.