UK Innovator Visa for Irish Residents

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.

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.

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.

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:

• have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre so you can get your biometric residence permit
• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document

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.

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.

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.

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.