Innovator Founder

The Innovator Founder visa is designed for experienced entrepreneurs who want to build a business in the UK. Unlike the Skilled Worker route, you don't need an employer, you need an idea. Specifically, a business idea that an approved endorsing body considers innovative (genuinely new), viable (realistic and achievable), and scalable (with potential to grow and create jobs).

To apply, you first get your business plan endorsed. The endorsing body assesses whether your idea meets the criteria and, if approved, issues an endorsement letter. You then use that letter to apply for the visa itself. You'll get 3 years initially, and can extend for another 3 years or apply for settlement (ILR) after just 3 years, making it one of the fastest routes to permanent residence in the UK.

For Concord clients, the Innovator Founder route works best if you have genuine entrepreneurial experience and a business concept that's differentiated from what's already in the UK market. We work closely with endorsing bodies to help position your application and make sure your business plan tells the right story.

The Innovator Founder visa is built for entrepreneurs who want to start and scale a business in the UK. You don't need to be a first-time founder, in fact, prior experience is an advantage. But your business idea does need to be genuinely new. You can't use this visa to join an existing business that's already trading.

It's particularly well-suited for tech founders, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and anyone building a product or service with international growth potential. If you've been running a business elsewhere and want to expand into the UK market, or relocate entirely, this is the route to consider. We also see founders pair it with other visas: running the UK business on an Innovator Founder visa while maintaining ties to a US or Australian entity.