Start-up Visa

Start-up visa holders are eligible to stay in the UK for a maximum of two years.

After this time, the visa holder may curtail their stay or apply to switch to another UK visa. Start-up visa holders typically apply to switch to the Innovator visa, which extends their stay in the UK for a further three years. After this time, visa holders may be eligible to apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain and ultimately British citizenship.

The investment funds requirement for an Innovator visa is waived for applicants switching from the Start-up category to pursue the same business venture under the Innovator visa.  To be eligible to switch to an Innovator visa, applicants need to have demonstrated significant achievements judged against their business plan.

In order to apply for the Start-up visa applicants must meet the following criteria:

• You are at least 18 years old;
• You have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body that has positively assessed your business idea for innovation, viability and scalability and is satisfied that you will spend the majority of your time in the UK on developing your business venture;
• You have not previously established a business in the UK;
• Your endorsement letter was issued not more than 3 months before the date of your Start-up visa application;
• You genuinely intend to undertake, and are capable of undertaking, any work or business activity in the UK stated in your application;
• You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B2 (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking);
• If you are outside the UK or have been in the UK for less than 12 months then you have at least £1270 to support yourself, plus £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for a first child and £200 for each additional child.

Applicants for the Start-up visa do not need to demonstrate any investment funds, however endorsing bodies consider it compelling to see that funding is available or, where this is not possible, that the applicant has a clear and structured fundraising strategy. Applicants that wish to demonstrate investment funds may rely on money of their own or funding provided by their endorsing body.

Some endorsing bodies require a minimum level of funding as a condition of endorsement.

In order for your business proposal to be endorsed, you will need to receive a letter of endorsement from a UK Government-approved endorsing body. Endorsing bodies are selected UK higher education institution or business organisations with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs. An approved endorsing body will need to be satisfied that your business idea meets all of the following criteria:

• Innovation: You have a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage;

• Viability: You have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run the business;
• Scalability: Your business plan shows evidence of structured planning and potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

Read the full list of endorsing bodies.

The endorsing body will also need to be satisfied that you will spend the majority of your working time in the UK on developing business ventures.

Our multi-lingual business consultancy team is highly experienced in helping international individuals, students and entrepreneurs to develop Start-up visa-compliant business plans that meet the criteria of being innovative, viable and scalable, and are highly optimised for the UK market.

In addition, our visa consultancy team can help you with all the necessary documentation to apply to a range of suitable endorsing bodies and subsequently make a visa application to the UK Home Office.

Our team has helped over 50 entrepreneurs to successfully obtain Start-up or Innovator visa endorsement and Entry Clearance into the UK. We have a track-record of success in helping our clients to successfully obtaining an endorsement and Start-up visa.