UK Innovator Visa for Irish Residents

The UK innovator visa allows experienced entrepreneurs to come to the UK to set up an innovative business.

For immigration advice and support, contact Total Law for assistance with your innovator visa application. Speak to one of our expert immigration advisers today. Call  (+353) 061 518 025 or use the online contact form to get in touch.

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    What is the UK innovator visa?

    The Innovator visa is made for seasoned entrepreneurs who want to establish a new business in the UK.  Before applying for this visa, applicants must demonstrate that they have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea approved by an endorsing body. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have access to at least £50,000 to invest in their business.

    The innovator visa is valid for up to three years, with holders having the option to extend their stay for another three years after their initial innovator visa expires. Innovator visa holders may apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years of staying in the UK and for British citizenship after six years of staying in the UK.

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    What can you do with the Innovator Visa?

    As an innovator visa holder in the UK, you are allowed to:

    • set up a business or several businesses as outlined in your business proposal
    • work for your business, either as a director or a self-employed member of a business partnership
    • bring your eligible family members with you as dependants
    • travel outside and return to the UK
    • apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ if you’ve lived in the UK for 3 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

    However, you are not allowed to:

    • do any work outside your business, for example, be employed by another business
    • work as a professional sportsperson
    • access public funds or the State Pension

    Who needs to apply for the innovator visa?

    Based on the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements, Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa to enter the UK to conduct business. Even after Brexit, Irish citizens will be permitted to enter the UK freely to set up and conduct business.

    EU citizens who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 may be able to apply for the free EU Settlement Scheme. This scheme guarantees that these EU citizens can live, work and conduct business freely without a visa in the UK following Brexit. EU citizens who were not able to apply for the Settlement Scheme by the deadline on 30 June 2021, unless in exceptional cases, will need a visa to enter the UK and conduct business.

    Non-EEA citizens, even those from visa-exempt countries, must apply for a visa to stay in the UK for more than three months.

    Eligibility Criteria for Innovator Visas

    To apply for an innovator visa, you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

    • You are over 18 years old.
    • You don’t have a criminal record.
    • You have proof of your good health and that of dependents included in the innovator visa application. Individuals from certain countries have to take tuberculosis (TB) tests.
    • The investment funds are demonstrably yours and earned lawfully.
    • You invest £50,000 or more in the chosen venture with adequate financing for dependents without relying on public benefits.
    • Your English language proficiency level is B2 and higher on the European classification standards scale.
    • You are experienced and educated in developing business ventures.
    • You have a viable and scalable business plan.
    • The innovation is viable and scalable.

    Innovator Visa Endorsement Criteria

    The Innovator visa is for entrepreneurs who want to establish a new business in the UK. The business should not already exist in the UK.  However, where it does, it should not yet have fully started trading.

    When applying for an innovator visa, you must have your business plan assessed by an endorsing body. Your business idea must fulfil the following criteria:

    • Innovation: You must not be undertaking the same business venture already existing in the UK market. Your business idea must be innovative to meet new or existing market needs and creates a competitive advantage.
    • Viability: You must demonstrate that you have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to run the business successfully;
    • Scalability: Your business plan must demonstrate evidence of structured planning. The business should have the potential for job creation and expansion into national and international markets.

    You will need to apply for a different type of visa if you want to join an existing trading business.

    Contact our expert immigration lawyers for a UK innovator visa. Contact Us

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      The application process for the innovator visa

      You can apply for the innovator visa from inside or outside the UK. All applications must be made online.

      As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity as part of your application. To do this, you will either:

      You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents on the application portal.

      If you are in the UK on a different visa, you may be eligible to switch to a startup visa. You must meet the eligibility requirements and must not have operated a business in the UK if you wish to switch to this visa.

      Supporting documents for innovator visa application

      When applying for a UK innovator visa, you must provide the following documents:

      • a valid passport or other identity documents
      • bank statements showing you’ve had at least £1,270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply
      • proof of English language proficiency
      • evidence that you meet the investment funds requirement
      • your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
      • an endorsement letter to show that an endorsing body has assessed your business idea.

      You must provide certified translations of all documents not in English or Welsh.

      Application fee and processing times

      Currently, it costs £1,036 to apply for the innovator visa from outside the UK and £1,292 to apply from within the UK. If you are applying with dependants, each dependant must make a separate application and pay the full application fee.
      Once you have submitted your application, it takes the UK Home Office three weeks to send you a decision on your application if you applied from outside the UK. However, innovator visa applicants who apply from within the UK will get a decision within eight weeks.

      UK Innovator Visa Validity and Extension

      Innovator visa holders can initially stay in the UK for up to three years. Holders who abide by UK laws and their visa conditions may apply for an extension upon the expiry of their initial visa.

      An innovator can apply for as many extensions as they would like as long as they continue to live lawfully in the UK and meet the requirements when they apply. Alternatively, the Innovator could apply for settlement and then citizenship after spending the mandated amount of time and meeting the requirements for settlement and citizenship.

      Get started with obtaining a UK Innovator visa. Contact us today. Contact Us

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        How Total Law Can Help

        Total Law can help you navigate through the rigours of applying for an innovator visa and increase your chances of being successful. We have an excellent team of seasoned immigration lawyers who know the ins and outs of the UK immigration process. We have helped many visa applicants achieve their immigration dreams for various purposes and are ever-willing to replicate the same with you.

        We are available every day of the week to take phone calls and respond to your online chat inquiries. Simply contact us now at (+353) 061 518 025 for more information on how we can help you with your visa application.

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                  FAQs

                  The Innovator visa expires three years after the issue date. Applicants are encouraged to apply for an extension (should they want one) before the expiry date to avoid being in the country illegally when the visa’s time runs out and violating the immigration rules.

                  After the initial three years and meeting the eligibility requirement, applicants can apply for permanent residence (indefinite leave to remain ) if they want to stay for long and would like to avoid the hassle of applying repeatedly.

                  The cost depends on where you are applying from. Here are the fees:

                  Apply (from abroad)Extend or switch (in the UK)
                  The applicant£1,021£1,277
                  The applicant’s partner and children£1,021 each£1,277 each

                  The Innovator visa allows applicants to bring their families into the UK. The spouse must be legally married to the applicant, while the children must be minors. If the children aren’t minors, then they have to be provably dependent on the applicant to be included.

                  Adopted children are also covered under the terms of this visa.

                  A minimum of £50,000. The amount can be paid by innovator visa applicants or a third party, as long as everything is done legally.

                  Applicants granted the Innovator visa have the right to make investments within the UK and can even acquire and own property legally.

                  In a word, yes! However, since they would no longer be maintaining an innovative, viable and scalable business, the applicants and dependents lose the right to live in the UK under the innovator visa.

                  The silver lining is that an innovator can run the business for three years and then apply for permanent residence. At this point, they can apply for permanent residence, sell their innovation and continue staying under a different visa that is not tied to the innovation.