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The UK Visa For Innovative Founders

Start an innovative, scalable business in the UK. No minimum investment, a 3-year visa and a 3-year path to permanent residency.

No minimum investment required
Settlement (ILR) after 3 years
Family included with full work and study rights
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UK
Innovator Founder Visa
United Kingdom · Endorsement route
3YRS
Visa Length
Settlement
3YRS
To PR
No minimum investment
Family included · Full rights
Unlimited 3-year extensions
Endorsement-led, not job-offer-led
Our Endorsement Success 89%
For business plans we prepare end-to-end
A New, Accessible Route

Idea Based, Not Capital Based

The Innovator Founder visa replaced the old Innovator and Start-up routes in April 2023. The biggest change: there is no longer a £50,000 minimum investment. What matters now is an idea that is innovative, viable and scalable — approved by a Home Office endorsing body.

The Old Way · Closed

Tier 1 & Old Innovator

Required large upfront capital, which shut out most genuine founders.

£50k+
Min Investment
Closed
Since 2023
Innovator Founder · Open

Today's Route

No fixed capital requirement. Your endorsed business plan is what counts.

£0 min
Investment
3 yrs
To Settlement
Key Benefits

More Than A Visa, A Business Built

No Minimum Investment

The old £50,000 capital rule is gone. Fund your business at a level that fits your plan.

Settlement In 3 Years

Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after three years of running your endorsed business.

Family Included

Partner and children join you with full work, study and NHS access.

Supplementary Work Allowed

Take on a skilled side role up to 20 hours a week while you build your venture.

Unlimited Extensions

Extend in further 3-year periods with re-endorsement — no cap on time in the category.

Path To Citizenship

After settlement, British citizenship is typically available 12 months later.

Who Should Apply

Founders Who Typically Qualify

Tech & SaaS Founders

Building a product or platform with a novel approach and clear market need.

International Entrepreneurs

Experienced founders bringing an innovative venture into the UK market.

Healthtech & Deeptech

Science-led businesses in health, climate, AI or hardware with defensible IP.

Funded Startup Founders

Pre-seed or seed-stage founders with traction, pilots or early revenue.

Graduating Students

Recent UK graduates with a credible startup who can switch in-country.

Industry Operators

Senior professionals turning deep domain expertise into a scalable business.

Eligibility

What Endorsers Actually Assess

Your business must pass three core tests, and you must meet the personal requirements. Most applicants have a strong idea but an unstructured plan — that's the gap we close.

The Business · Meet All 3
Innovation — a genuinely original idea that meets a new or existing market need
Viability — realistic, with the skills, experience and funding to succeed
Scalability — clear potential for growth, job creation and national reach
The Applicant · Meet All
Endorsement from a Home Office approved body
English language at CEFR level B2 or above
Maintenance funds of £1,270 held for 28 days
An active, hands-on role in running the business
Plan Already Strong

You Are Ready To Get Endorsed

If your venture already has these, you can move to endorsement within weeks.

A clearly differentiated, innovative product
Early traction, pilots, users or revenue
A credible funding plan or backing secured
Relevant founder experience in the sector
Financial projections that hold up to scrutiny
A scalable model with a job-creation story
Endorsement-ready in 3–5 weeks We refine your plan, pick the right body and submit.
Idea, Not Yet A Plan?

We Shape Your Endorsable Plan

Strong idea and experience but no structured business plan, market research or financial model? That's most of our founders. We build it with you.

Sharpen your innovation and positioning
Build market research and competitor analysis
Construct realistic 3-year financial models
Frame a credible scalability and jobs story
Match you to the right endorsing body
Prepare you for the endorsement interview
This is what we do best. A clear, evidenced plan is what turns an idea into an endorsement.
Document Checklist

What You Will Need, Nothing More

Business Plan

Innovation, market, finances, scale

Endorsement Letter

From an approved endorsing body

English at B2

Test result or degree taught in English

Maintenance Funds

£1,270 held for 28 days

Passport & ID

Plus TB certificate if applicable

The Process

Your Journey, End To End

01

Idea & Strategy

Free eligibility check plus a strategy call to test your idea against the innovation, viability and scalability bar.

Week 1
02

Business Plan

We build your plan, market research, financial model and pick the right endorsing body for your sector.

Weeks 2–6
03

Endorsement

Submission to your endorsing body, including any interview or pitch. Decision typically in 4–8 weeks.

Weeks 6–14
04

Visa & Arrival

Biometrics, visa application and UK arrival. Decision around 3 weeks from outside the UK.

Weeks 14–17
Timeline & Cost

Transparent Numbers, No Surprises

Hover any card for a full breakdown.

Total Timeline
4–6 months
Kickoff to UK arrival
End-to-end breakdown Business plan: 4–6 weeks · Endorsement decision: 4–8 weeks · Visa application: about 3 weeks from outside the UK. Roughly 4–6 months from signup to arrival.
Visa Length
3 years
Extendable, no cap
Three years, then extend Granted for 3 years. Extend in further 3-year periods with re-endorsement — there is no limit on the number of extensions. Family receive the same duration.
Path To PR
3 years
Settlement (ILR)
Settlement after three years You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 3 years if your business shows genuine progress and you meet the settlement criteria. Citizenship usually 12 months after ILR.
Government Fees
£1,274 + £1,000
Visa + endorsement
Indicative government & body fees Visa £1,274 from outside the UK (£1,590 inside) · Endorsement £1,000 · Immigration Health Surcharge £1,035/year (£3,105 over 3 years) · Contact-point meetings around £500 each at 12 and 24 months. Always confirm current figures on GOV.UK.
What Actually Gets Approvals

The Difference Between Approved And Refused

Side by side: what endorsers reject, what they reward.

Refused

What endorsers reject
"Me too" idea with no real innovation
Vague market with no research or sizing
Unrealistic or unexplained financials
A lifestyle business with no scale potential
Founder with no relevant role or expertise
Unclear or unexplained source of funds

Approved

What endorsers reward
A clear, genuinely new or differentiated idea
Evidenced market research and target customers
Credible, well-explained financial projections
A real scalability and job-creation story
A founder clearly able to deliver the plan
Transparent, well-documented funding
Common Mistakes

Why Strong Profiles Get Refused

01
Confusing "New To Me" With Innovative

Endorsers want a genuine market edge, not a copy of an existing business.

02
Thin Market Research

No customer evidence or competitor analysis sinks otherwise good ideas.

03
Fantasy Financials

Hockey-stick projections with no basis fail the viability test.

04
No Scalability Story

A small local service rarely meets the growth and jobs bar.

05
Wrong Endorsing Body

Each body has a sector focus. The wrong fit costs time and fees.

06
Unexplained Funding

Bodies must be satisfied your funds are legitimate and traceable.

Why Migrizo

A Boutique Firm, Not A Visa Factory

89%
Endorsement Success

Plans That Get Through

For business plans we prepare and submit end-to-end with our founders.

1:1
Senior Ratio

Expert Access

You work directly with the senior advisor, not a junior caseworker.

E2E
Full Journey

Plan To Arrival

Business plan, endorsement, visa, arrival and settling-in support included.

UK
London Based

On-Ground Expertise

Physically in London with current UK startup and endorsement knowledge.

FAQ

Questions We Hear Every Week

Do I really not need any minimum investment?+
Correct. The old £50,000 requirement was removed in April 2023. There is no fixed minimum, but you must show your business is funded realistically and that you can support yourself with £1,270 held for 28 days.
What counts as "innovative"?+
Your business must offer something genuinely new or clearly differentiated — a new product, service or way of meeting a market need. It cannot be a copy of an existing business or a job in disguise. We help you frame and evidence this for your endorsing body.
Does my business have to be in tech?+
No. It just needs to be innovative, viable and scalable. We see strong cases in health, climate, fintech, education, consumer and deeptech. Tech is common but not required.
What is the endorsing body and why does it matter?+
Before you can apply, a Home Office approved endorsing body must approve your business against the innovation, viability and scalability tests. As of early 2026 the active bodies include Envestors, UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and the Global Entrepreneurs Programme. Choosing the right one matters — we match you to the best fit.
How long until I can settle permanently?+
You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 3 years if your business shows genuine progress and you attend the required contact-point meetings. British citizenship is usually available 12 months after settlement.
Can my family come with me?+
Yes. Your partner and children under 18 can join as dependants with the right to work, study and access the NHS.
Can I take a job alongside my business?+
Yes, within limits. You can take supplementary skilled work of up to 20 hours per week, but running your endorsed business must remain your main focus.
What does the whole process cost and take?+
Government and body fees are roughly: £1,000 endorsement, £1,274 visa from outside the UK (£1,590 inside), £1,035/year health surcharge, plus about £500 per contact-point meeting. End-to-end it usually takes 4–6 months. Always confirm current figures on GOV.UK before you apply.
Free · No signup · 3 minutes

Check If You Qualify In 3 Minutes

Answer a few quick questions and get an honest read on whether your business fits the Innovator Founder route — and what to strengthen before you apply.

Free forever
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Instant result
Honest advice
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