Innovator Founder visa
The Innovator Founder visa is the UK’s main founder-primary route for people establishing an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK. You must obtain an endorsement from a Home Office–approved endorsing body before applying. There is no fixed minimum investment amount (the former Innovator £50,000 capital threshold was removed). You must play a key day-to-day role in the business. English language requirements apply. Unless you have held UK immigration permission for 12 months or more, you normally need personal savings of at least £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days (verify current GOV.UK maintenance rules). Permission is typically granted for 3 years, with mandatory contact-point assessments with your endorsing body at around 12 and 24 months. Settlement (indefinite leave to remain) may be possible after 3 years if you meet published criteria. Application fees change — GOV.UK has listed outside-UK applications around £1,357 and in-UK extend/switch around £1,693 (verify-on-official-site at lodgement). Endorsement commonly involves a £1,000 endorsement fee and £500 per contact meeting (confirm with your endorsing body / GOV.UK publications). You may also do additional skilled work at RQF level 3 or above outside your own business, subject to visa conditions.
Min. capital
No fixed minimum investment (verify-on-official-site)
Best for: Pakistani founders with a genuinely innovative UK business plan who can secure endorsement and run the company day-to-day — not passive investors seeking a capital-for-visa product.
Unlike the old Innovator route, Innovator Founder does not publish a fixed £50,000 (or other) capital floor. Endorsing bodies still assess viability, including funding realism. Budget separately for endorsement fees (£1,000 endorsement; £500 per contact meeting — verify), Home Office application fees, Immigration Health Surcharge, and living costs. Always re-check gov.uk before remitting funds.
Investment options
- No prescribed “buy residency” investment product — capital must support the endorsed business plan
- Endorsement from a Home Office–approved endorsing body (see GOV.UK list)
- Optional additional skilled employment (RQF3+) outside your own business where conditions allow
- UK limited company formation via Companies House is separate from visa grant
Eligibility
- Endorsement letter from an approved Innovator Founder endorsing body
- Business idea must be innovative, viable, and scalable; you must have a key day-to-day role
- English language requirement as published on GOV.UK
- Maintenance funds: typically ≥ £1,270 for 28 consecutive days unless exempt (e.g. 12+ months prior UK leave) — verify-on-official-site
- Valid passport, tuberculosis test where required, and other GOV.UK document checks
Process timeline
-
1
Choose an endorsing body & prepare the pitch
Use the official GOV.UK list of Innovator Founder endorsing bodies. Budget endorsement and contact-meeting fees.
-
2
Secure endorsement
Pass assessment of innovation, viability, scalability, and your founder role. Keep the endorsement letter for the visa application.
-
3
Apply for the visa
Apply outside the UK or extend/switch in-country as eligible. Pay Home Office fees and Immigration Health Surcharge as listed at lodgement (amounts change).
-
4
Contact points, grow, then ILR
Meet endorsing-body contact points at ~12 and ~24 months. After 3 years, assess settlement (ILR) criteria on GOV.UK if pursuing permanent stay.
Family
Partners and dependent children can often be included when they meet GOV.UK dependent rules and maintenance requirements — confirm current dependent fees and funds on gov.uk before applying.
Work rights
You must work for your Innovator Founder business in the endorsed role. Additional skilled work at RQF level 3 or above outside your own business is generally permitted under published rules — verify conditions on your grant and GOV.UK.
Route to PR
Settlement (ILR) may be available after 3 years on the Innovator Founder route if you meet the published settlement criteria (including business progress expectations). This is not automatic — verify-on-official-site before assuming ILR.
Route to citizenship
British citizenship by naturalisation is separate after ILR and meeting residence / good character / knowledge requirements. Dual nationality implications for Pakistan need personal legal advice. Verify GOV.UK citizenship guidance.
Pros
- No fixed £50k (or similar) investment floor — focus is endorsement quality and founder role
- Clear 3-year permission with a published settlement pathway if criteria are met
- Ability to do additional RQF3+ skilled work alongside the business
- Mature ecosystem: Companies House, banking, and English-language market access
Watch-outs
- Endorsement is selective — innovative / viable / scalable is assessed rigorously
- Endorsement fees (£1,000 + £500 contact meetings) and Home Office fees change — verify before budgeting
- Contact points at 12 and 24 months are mandatory progress gates
- Company formation alone does not grant leave to remain
- Agent claims of “guaranteed endorsement” are red flags — rely on gov.uk