UK Innovator Founder Visa from Germany

The Innovator Founder visa is designed for German entrepreneurs who intend to enter the UK and set up a new business. As a German entrepreneur applying for this visa, you must prove that your business is innovative, scalable and viable.

To prove this, a Home Office-approved endorsing body must approve your well-detailed business plan that covers how you intend to set up and develop the business. The business you wish to establish in the UK must offer what is not already obtainable in the UK market.

The Innovator Founder visa is typically valid for 3 years after which you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK and live without immigration restrictions. Before you’re issued this visa you must meet some eligibility criteria.

Page Contents

• Innovator Founder Visa UK: Overview
• Who Is Eligible for a UK Innovator Visa?
• Requirements for Innovator Founder Visa
• How to Apply for an Innovator Founder Visa?
• Processing Time and Cost for Innovator Visa Application
• Endorsement Criteria for a UK Innovator Founder Visa
• Innovator Founder Visa Validity Period and Extension
• Indefinite Leave to Remain as an Innovator Founder
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

German entrepreneurs seeking the Innovator visa UK must meet the following eligibility requirements.

They include:

• You must meet the English language requirement by passing an approved English language test (or by qualifying for an exemption).
• You must be 18 years old or above
• You must meet the good character requirement, which generally means you should not have any serious or recent criminal convictions.
• Your business idea must be innovative, viable, and scalable.
• Your business idea must be new and not based on an already established or trading business in the UK.
• You must file your application within 3 months of getting an endorsement letter
• You must have held at least £1,270 in your bank account for a continuous period of 28 days before applying.

German entrepreneurs must meet certain Innovator visa UK requirements to obtain the visa. They include:

Age Requirement

You must be 18 years old or above before you will be considered for this visa.

Financial Requirements

You must show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account to cater for your needs when you enter the UK. This money must have been in your account for consecutive 28 days before your application.

Business Plan Requirements

You must create a comprehensive business plan showing your proposed business will be innovative, scalable and viable. You must have solely created your business idea or have largely contributed to its creation.

English Requirements

German entrepreneurs are required to pass the English proficiency test by having a degree taught in English. Alternatively, you must have an English language test to level B2 on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) scale.

German entrepreneurs seeking this visa must wait for up to 3 weeks to get a decision. However, it takes about 8 weeks for this visa to be processed if you want to switch to this visa or extend it from within the UK.

Cost of Innovator Founder Visa

The fees you will pay for the UK Innovator Founder visa include:

• £1,590 for applications made in the U.K
• £1,274 for applications made outside the U.K
• £19.20 for biometric information collection

As a German entrepreneur applying for an Innovator visa UK, you must convince the endorsing body that you are qualified to receive the endorsement under this visa. You must prove that your business is innovative, scalable and viable. You also need to prove that your business is not benefiting from illegal or inexplicable wealth by providing the source of funds invested in your business.

Additionally, you must submit a comprehensive business plan to the endorsing body and show that you solely created or significantly contributed to the business plan ideas. You must demonstrate that you’ll help in the daily management and development of the business.

You will also confirm that you’ll have 2 contact point meetings with your relevant endorsing body during your permitted period. For the endorsement of an already endorsed business under another visa, the endorsing body must endorse only that particular business.

German entrepreneurs who hold this visa are allowed to stay in the UK for up to 3 years. Before this visa expires, you can apply for an extension for an additional 3 years each time (subject to new endorsement per extension) as there’s no maximum amount of time in this visa category.

Note that the extension of your visa also depends on the success of your business. Alternatively, you can apply for ILR as an Innovator Founder after doing your business in the UK for 3 years.

German entrepreneurs can obtain ILR (settled status) via the Innovator Founder visa and be free from immigration restrictions in the UK.

After obtaining the ILR, you can stay in the UK for an additional 1 year and qualify to apply for British citizenship, provided you meet all requirements.