UK Innovator Founder Visa from Germany
German entrepreneurs who want to establish an innovative business in the United Kingdom can obtain the UK Innovator Founder visa. You must play a crucial role in the management and development of the business you intend to set up in the UK.
Talk with one of our professional immigration lawyers at Total Law should you need more insights about setting up a business in the UK, the requirements you must meet or how we can help you obtain the visa. Call us at Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or complete our online enquiry form for immediate assistance.
Innovator Founder Visa UK: Overview
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
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Who Is Eligible for a UK Innovator Visa?
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.
Requirements for Innovator Founder Visa
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.
How to Apply for an Innovator Founder Visa?
German entrepreneurs seeking the UK Innovator Founder visa can apply by taking the steps below:
Qualify for the Visa
You must first be eligible for the Innovator Founder visa before you apply for it. Our immigration lawyers at Total Law can help to assess your situation and know whether you meet all the necessary criteria needed for the visa.
Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online for a quick response.
Get an Endorsement Letter
After qualifying for the visa you must submit your business plan to a relevant endorsing body.
Once the endorsing body is satisfied that your business is innovative, viable, and scalable and has met all criteria they will approve it and issue you an endorsement letter.
Submit Your Application
After gathering all the required documents, you must send your application to the Home Office using the UK Innovator Founder visa application form.
Pay Visa Application Fee
You must pay all the required fees needed for your application to be processed, such as your visa application fees, biometric information fees, and document translation fees among others. You may be required to pay via your debit or credit card (whichever is better for you).
Get a Decision
You will be issued your Innovator Founder visa once it’s ready and you’ll be allowed to establish and run your business in the UK for 3 years.
Processing Time and Cost for Innovator Visa Application
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:
- £1,693 for applications made in the U.K
- £1,357 for applications made outside the U.K
- £19.20 for biometric information collection
Endorsement Criteria for a UK Innovator Founder Visa
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.
Innovator Founder Visa Validity Period and Extension
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.
Indefinite Leave to Remain as an Innovator Founder
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.
How Can Total Law Help?
As a German entrepreneur, applying for an Innovator visa UK from Germany, you may be overwhelmed if you’re applying for the first time. This visa requires you to meet several eligibility criteria and need you to provide certain documents that must be up to standard as required for this visa; most especially the business plan. You may not know how to create a comprehensive business plan that will satisfy the requirements of your relevant endorsing body.
Our professional immigration lawyers at Total Law can help navigate the application process for this visa on your behalf. We can also help you craft a compelling comprehensive business plan to help you get this visa.
Our immigration lawyers can also advise you on the best steps to take in establishing your business in the UK without breaking the immigration rules. This is what we have done for several German entrepreneurs in the past, let us do the same for you. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or complete our online contact form for a quick response.
Advice Package
Get clear, expert advice on your visa options, eligibility and application before you commit to applying.
Application Package
Let our immigration lawyers prepare, check and manage your application so you can apply with confidence.
Fast Track Package
Need to apply quickly? Get priority handling by our immigration lawyers from preparation to submission.
Appeal Package
Been refused or received an unfavourable decision? Get expert legal help to challenge it or determine your next step.
The Advice Package
During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Innovator Founder visa is valid for 3 years whereas the Startup visa is valid for 2 years.
According to statistics, it is expected that the success rate for the Innovator Founder visa in 2024 will be around 65%.
Yes, you can apply for settlement under the Innovator Founder visa after doing business in the UK for 3 years, provided you meet all requirements.
