United Kingdom entrepreneur startup route
1 current source-backed entrepreneur startup pathway. Verify the responsible authority before applying.
This page contains 1 current route for this destination, with the available eligibility, requirements and duration details.
Source-backed legal route · Checked 2026-07-15
Current route records
| Route | Conditions | Effective or checked | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Founder | The Innovator Founder route is for an innovative, viable and scalable UK business with endorsement; the founder needs a key day-to-day role, 70 points including B2 English and financial requirements, and permission can last up to three years. | 2026-07-15 | Official source |
Can you work on this route?
Route-specific work rights and conditions stay separate from shortage-list status and individual eligibility.
| Route | Published work answer | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Innovator Founder | The exact official route source states route conditions including: glish You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply. If you’re not eligible for an Innovator Founder visa You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK . How long you can stay You can stay for 3 years if you either: come to the UK on an Innovator Founder visa switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK You’ll need to meet with your endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show you’re making progress with your business. Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires. If you want to stay longer in the UK You can apply to extend your stay for another 3 years when your visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend. You may be able to apply for settlement once you’ve been in the UK for 3 years. How to apply You must apply online. How you apply depends on whether you’re: outside the UK and are coming to the UK inside the UK and exten | Official source |
| Innovator Founder | The exact official route source states: edge of English You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply. If you’re not eligible for an Innovator Founder visa You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK . How long you can stay You can stay for 3 years if you either: come to the UK on an Innovator Founder visa switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK You’ll need to meet with your endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show you’re making progress with your business. Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires. If you want to stay longer in the UK You can apply to extend your stay for another 3 years when your visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend. You may be able to apply for settlement once you’ve been in the UK for 3 years. How to apply You must apply online. How you apply depends on whether you’re: outside the UK and are coming to the UK inside the UK | Official source |
Official sources
ImmigrationDB does not provide immigration services, legal advice or application handling, and it does not assess anyone's eligibility. This section publishes links to the responsible official authority and short quotations from that authority's own published text, so the rule can be read at its source and checked there before acting.