89 Bickersteth Road

London SW17 9SH

0203 490 1221

Client Support

Innovator Visa

      Type of Fee:

  • Agreed/Fixed Fee

        Costs:

  • Average cost from £2000 (plus VAT at 20%)

       Who Will Carry Out the Work?

  • Director assisted by a solicitor
  • Solicitor/Director assisted by a paralegal
  • All work supervised by the Director

       Estimated Time:

  • On average, 15 hours to complete

The exact time required depends on the specifics of your case, such as:

  • The amount of supporting evidence needed
  • Your language(s)
  • Whether you are applying with dependants
  • Complexities like past refusals, criminal convictions, or adverse immigration history

Providing sufficient evidence at our first meeting and clearly meeting the applicable Immigration Rules may result in lower costs.

      Services Included:

  • Initial consultation to consider options and assess the most appropriate application
  • Advising on immigration rules/guidance and required evidence
  • Advising on submission methods (priority, premium, standard)
  • Assessing and advising on supporting evidence
  • Assisting with obtaining further evidence, including engaging with third parties (medical experts, banks, employers)
  • Preparing the application with supporting evidence
  • Preparing detailed representations with an index and finalising the application
  • Submitting the application and providing updates on progress
  • Advising on the outcome of the application, implications of status, and next steps

         Exclusions:

  • Home Office fees for making the application, which you will pay directly. Find the updated list of Home Office Fees.
  • Other expenses such as VAT and disbursements for medical/expert evidence or barristers.
  • Advice and assistance with appeals or reconsiderations if your application is refused.

We will notify you promptly and before incurring any such fees if they are applicable.

         Home Office’s application fees

Each application to the Home Office, attracts a specific Home Office’s fee.

For the current fee for your application , please click the following link Uk Home Office’s current application fees

    Our timescale to Submit your application:

  • Applications typically take six to eight weeks from instruction, depending on the complexity of the applicant’s immigration history. We will inform you as soon as possible if it is likely to take longer.We’ll ensure that your application is  submitted on time before your existing leave to remain or leave to enter expires.
 

       The  Home Office’s  current timescale for  Processing your  application:

  • We cannot guarantee the Home Office’s processing time.  However, the currently  Home Office’s processing time is between 4 to 6 months in avarage.
 

Please note that the estimated hours and fees are based on the provided information. All applications vary, and we can provide a more accurate estimate once we have more details about your specific case.

 

The Innovator Founder Visa, launched in April 2023, allows non-UK residents to come to the UK to establish a business. It replaces the Innovator and Start-up visas, becoming the primary visa category for foreign entrepreneurs aiming to set up a business in the UK.

Key Benefits:

  • No £50,000 minimum investment requirement
  • Reduced ‘check-in’ requirement with endorsing body (only two, down from three under the Start-up rules)
  • Secondary employment permitted under certain conditions
  • Path to UK settlement – time spent in the UK under this visa can count towards the indefinite leave to remain (ILR) residence requirement

To be eligible, the business must be endorsed by proving it is based on an innovative, viable, and scalable idea that the applicant has either generated or significantly contributed to.

What Does the Innovator Founder Visa Allow?

The Innovator Founder Visa allows successful applicants to come to the UK to implement their business plans. As a visa holder, you’ll be permitted to work for the business you established and undertake additional employment, provided the role requires a skill level of at least RQF Level 3, equivalent to UK A Levels. You can also pursue a course of studies alongside running your business.

Innovator founders are initially granted permission to live and work in the UK for up to 3 years. At the end of this period, if you meet the relevant requirements, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Your immediate relatives can accompany you or join you later under a dependant visa, including your partner and any dependent children. Family members will be permitted to undertake any type of work, including self-employment and voluntary work, except as a sportsperson or coach. They can also pursue any studies.

Innovator Founder Endorsement

The first stage of the application process is securing an endorsement from an authorised body. Only organisations authorised by the Home Office can provide the required endorsement. These organisations, listed on the Home Office website, include:

  • Envestors Limited
  • UK Endorsing Services
  • Innovator International
  • The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

Innovator Founder Visa Requirements

To be granted an Innovator Founder Visa, the applicant must score 70 points, with 50 points awarded under the new or same business criteria, and the remaining 20 points for meeting the English language and financial requirements.

Costs

The Innovator Founder Visa involves a fixed Home Office application fee and an immigration health surcharge per year of stay. This allows applicants to access the UK’s National Health Service. The Innovator Founder route leads to settlement, as time spent in the UK under this route counts towards the ILR residence requirement.

What If Your Innovator Application Is Refused?

Applications can be refused for various reasons. Understanding the grounds for refusal is crucial for determining your next steps. If your application is denied, either at the endorsement or Home Office stage, we can advise on your options.

Need Assistance with an Innovator Founder Application? We Can Help!

 
 

 

Immigration

Contact Our Legal Team

We are specialist in our areas of law and pride in ourselves for having one of the best teams of specialist Solicitors with wealth of knowledge and experience to deal with all types of matters. Our top-rated Solicitors have successfully helped thousands of clients with all types matters in our areas of specialisation.

We can represent you at all levels of the Court, from the Tribunal, County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court as well before the European Court of Human Rights. Our Solicitors work in collaboration with very experienced and professional Barristers, who together present a formidable team.