- Prepare evidence and lettersUsually the longest partWeeks to months
- Apply online to the Home OfficeEndorsement fee£561
- Endorsing body decidesDepends on the endorsing body2 to 8+ weeks
- Apply for the visa£205 visa fee plus healthcare surchargeWithin 3 months
We help with Stage 1 only
This guide sets out the published GOV.UK rules beyond Stage 1 so you can plan ahead. Our service covers the Stage 1 endorsement application. Figures and rules checked on GOV.UK on 12 November 2026. Fees can change, so confirm them on GOV.UK before you pay.
| Requirement | What GOV.UK says | Who checks it |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 or over | Home Office |
| Endorsement | From an approved endorsing body | Home Office |
| Business | New, innovative, viable and scalable | Endorsing body |
| Your own idea | You generated or significantly contributed to the plan | Endorsing body |
| Funding | Enough for the business, with its source shown; no fixed minimum | Endorsing body |
| English | B2 or above, or exempt | Home Office |
| Savings | At least £1,270 for 28 days in a row | Home Office |
Two sets of checks
Who checks what
The Innovator Founder visa has two stages. First, an endorsing body assesses your business idea and, if it meets the tests, issues an endorsement letter. Second, you apply to the Home Office, which checks your age, English, savings and the endorsement itself. You cannot apply for the visa without the endorsement.
GOV.UK: Innovator Founder visaThe endorsement
The four tests your business must pass
GOV.UK says the endorsing body will check that your business is new, innovative, viable and scalable. The Immigration Rules also require that you generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in your business plan, so the plan must be your own work.
Funding
Is there a minimum investment?
No fixed amount. The £50,000 minimum investment of the old Innovator visa was removed when the Innovator Founder visa replaced it in April 2023. You must still show your endorsing body that you have enough funding for your business and where it comes from. If your business is already established and was endorsed for an earlier visa, you do not need investment funds again.
We help with Stage 1, the endorsement application. Not endorsed yet? Talk to us about your evidence.
Book a free 30-minute callEnglish
The English language requirement
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference. Nationals of some countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, do not need to prove it.
- An approved Secure English Language Test at B2 or above.
- A GCSE, A level or Scottish Higher in English, taken while you were under 18 at school in the UK.
- A degree taught in English: from a UK institution, or from abroad with an Ecctis confirmation.
Savings
Money to support yourself
You need at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days in a row before you apply. You cannot count your business investment funds towards this. The same rule applies if you extend or switch inside the UK and have been here for less than 12 months.
GOV.UK: Innovator Founder visaAfter you arrive
Requirements that continue after the visa
Your endorsing body must meet you after 12 months and 24 months to check your progress, and each contact point meeting costs £500. Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn. The visa lasts 3 years, you can extend it for another 3 years with no limit, and you may be able to settle after 3 years if you meet the requirements.
GOV.UK: Innovator Founder visa See our Innovator Founder supportRelated guides
Keep reading
Guides applicants usually read next on this topic.
Innovative, viable, scalable: what Innovator Founder endorsing bodies test
Every Innovator Founder endorsement turns on four words. Here is what each one means, and the kinds of business idea that usually fail them.
Read related guideInnovator Founder business plan: what to include
The business plan is what the endorsing body reads first. Here is what it needs to show, section by section.
Read related guideInnovator Founder endorsing bodies in 2026: which accept new applications
Only three endorsing bodies take new Innovator Founder applications from anyone. Here is the current list from GOV.UK, and what each stage costs.
Read related guideApplying from outside the UK. Facts for founders checking the Innovator Founder visa requirements, checked against GOV.UK on 12 November 2026.
Article FAQ
Questions to settle before you spend time or money.
Use these answers to check the practical risks, documents, and decisions connected to this topic.
What are the requirements for the Innovator Founder visa?
You must be 18 or over, be endorsed by an approved endorsing body, prove your English at B2 level or above unless you are exempt, and have at least £1,270 in savings for 28 days in a row. Your business must be new, innovative, viable and scalable, and the idea must be yours.
How much money do I need for the Innovator Founder visa?
There is no fixed minimum investment. You must show your endorsing body that you have enough funding for the business and where it comes from, and you need at least £1,270 in personal savings. Fees are separate: £1,000 for the endorsement, £1,357 for the visa from outside the UK (£1,693 inside the UK), the healthcare surcharge, and £500 for each contact point meeting.
Do I need a degree for the Innovator Founder visa?
No. GOV.UK does not require a degree. A degree taught in English is one way to prove your English, and the endorsing body looks at whether you have, or are developing, the skills and experience to run the business.
Can I join an existing business on the Innovator Founder visa?
No, not for an initial application. The business must be new: you cannot join a business that is already trading.
Are the Innovator visa UK requirements the same as the Innovator Founder visa requirements?
The Innovator visa closed to new applicants in April 2023 and was replaced by the Innovator Founder visa. The main differences are that the £50,000 minimum investment was removed and you can take other skilled work alongside your business.
Who can help me meet the endorsement requirements?
Tier 1 Global Talent Visa, led by founder Mihir Thaker, works only on the endorsement stage. We test your idea against the four tests and help you build a business plan from your own idea, words and figures. We do not write the plan for you or give immigration advice. The first call is free and lasts 30 minutes.
Innovator Founder
Check your idea against the requirements
Book a free 30-minute call: we look at your idea against the four tests and tell you plainly what is missing.
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