Innovator Founder Visa UK 2026: Endorsement, Costs and 3-Year Settlement

The UK Innovator Founder visa is for people who want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. Your business idea must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body as new, innovative, viable and scalable. There is no fixed minimum investment, the visa lasts 3 years and can be extended, and you may be able to apply for settlement after just 3 years.

Key points

• Endorsement from an approved body is the core requirement. It costs £1,000, plus £500 for each check-in meeting.
• There is no set minimum investment, but you must show enough funding for your business plan.
• The visa fee is £1,357 from outside the UK or £1,693 inside, plus the £1,035 a year health surcharge.
• You need B2 English and £1,270 in savings.
• Settlement is possible after 3 years if your business meets the criteria.

Who the Innovator Founder visa is for

The route replaced the old Innovator and Start-up visas in 2023. According to GOV.UK, your business or business idea must be:

• New: you cannot join a business that is already trading, unless it was endorsed for an earlier visa.
• Innovative: different from anything else on the market.
• Viable: with potential for growth and a realistic plan.
• Scalable: able to create jobs and grow into national and international markets.

You must be at least 18. The Statement of Changes HC 584 removed remaining provisions for Start-up main applicants and the legacy Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur routes, according to its explanatory memorandum, so Innovator Founder is now the main route for founders.

Endorsement

Your business must be assessed by an endorsing body approved by the Home Office. If they accept your plan, they issue an endorsement letter that you use in your visa application. GOV.UK links to the current list of endorsing bodies.

Costs and check-ins

Item	Cost
Endorsement application	£1,000
Each check-in meeting	£500
Minimum number of check-ins	2 (at 12 and 24 months)

At the check-ins you show progress against your business plan. If your endorsing body finds that you are not making reasonable progress, it can withdraw your endorsement, which can lead to your visa being cut short.

Funding: is there a minimum investment?

No fixed minimum investment appears on GOV.UK. The old Innovator visa required £50,000, but this was removed when the route was replaced. According to the eligibility page, for a new business you must show your endorsing body that you have enough funding and where it comes from. You do not need investment funds if your business is already established and was endorsed for an earlier visa.

In practice, your funding needs depend on your plan. A software business and a manufacturing business will need very different sums. Funding can come from your own savings, family, investors or loans, but you will need to show the source clearly. Endorsing bodies are likely to look closely at whether the amount is realistic for the plan you have set out, so a detailed budget and cash-flow forecast usually helps.

Other requirements

English

You must prove English at B2 level, according to the knowledge of English page. You can use a SELT, a UK degree, a non-UK degree taught in English with Ecctis confirmation, or a qualifying UK school qualification. Nationals of listed majority English-speaking countries are exempt.

Savings

You need at least £1,270 in your account for 28 consecutive days before you apply. Investment funds for your business, or money earned working illegally in the UK, cannot count. The savings requirement also applies if you are extending or switching and have been in the UK for less than a year.

Costs

Item	Cost (October 2026)
Visa fee, outside the UK	£1,357
Visa fee, inside the UK (extend or switch)	£1,693
Immigration Health Surcharge	£1,035 per person per year
Endorsement	£1,000
Check-ins (minimum 2)	£1,000 total

Fees are from the Home Office fees table.

Example: a single founder applying from outside the UK for 3 years would pay about £1,357 + £3,105 IHS + £1,000 endorsement + £1,000 check-ins = £6,462, before any business funding or professional fees.

Applying step by step

1. Develop your business plan. It should show clearly why the idea is new and innovative, how it will make money, and how it can grow and create jobs.
2. Choose an endorsing body from the GOV.UK list and apply for endorsement, paying £1,000.
3. Receive your endorsement letter if your plan is accepted.
4. Check English and savings. Book a SELT if needed and make sure the £1,270 has been in your account for 28 consecutive days.
5. Apply for the visa online, from outside the UK or by switching inside the UK if your current visa allows it. Pay the fee and the health surcharge.
6. Verify your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre.
7. Start trading and prepare for check-ins at 12 and 24 months.

What endorsing bodies look for

Endorsing bodies assess the three core criteria in detail:

• Innovation: a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs or creates a competitive advantage.
• Viability: whether you have, or are actively developing, the skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to run the business successfully.
• Scalability: evidence of structured planning and potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

A plan that copies an existing business model without a clear point of difference is unlikely to meet the innovation test. Equally, a highly original idea without a realistic route to market can fail on viability.

What you can do

• Run one or more businesses and work for them, including as a director or self-employed partner.
• Take other jobs that require at least an RQF level 3 qualification.
• Bring your partner and children if they qualify.

You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, and you cannot claim most public funds.

Length of stay and settlement

The visa lasts 3 years, whether you come from abroad or switch in the UK. You can extend for another 3 years, with no limit on extensions.

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 years. For settlement, your endorsing body has to confirm that your business meets the settlement criteria, which are set out in the Immigration Rules. The ILR fee is £3,226 as of October 2026.

The government’s earned settlement consultation proposed that Innovator Founder holders could still settle after about 3 years. That was a proposal only, and no new settlement rules had been laid as of 11 October 2026. Check our updates page for news.

Innovator Founder compared with Scale-up and Global Talent

	Innovator Founder	Scale-up	Global Talent
Who it suits	Founders with an innovative business	Employees of fast-growing companies	Recognised leaders in tech, arts or research
Job offer	No	Yes, for at least 6 months	No
Endorsement	Business endorsement	No (sponsor only)	Field endorsement or prize
Visa length	3 years	2 years initially	Up to 5 years
Settlement	3 years	5 years	3 or 5 years
Visa fee (outside UK)	£1,357	£937	£766

If you would rather join a growing company than start one, see UK Scale-up visa explained. If you already have a strong record in digital technology, the Global Talent visa may be cheaper and simpler.

What to do next

• Write a business plan that addresses innovation, viability and scalability directly.
• Compare endorsing bodies on GOV.UK, including their sectors and processing times.
• Book a SELT if you need B2 evidence.
• See the UK country hub for related guides.
• Consider advice from an OISC/IAA-regulated adviser or solicitor before applying for endorsement. This article is general information, not legal advice.