You must be able to show that your business idea is:
• new – you cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading
• innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
• viable, with potential for growth

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Example You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

You can stay for 3 years if you:
• come to the UK on an Innovator visa
• switch to this visa from another visa
You can apply to extend for another 3 years when your visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend.
You may be able to apply for settlement (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) once you’ve been in the UK for 3 years.

Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires.

You can:
• set up a business or several businesses
• work for your business – this includes being employed as a director, or self-employed as a member of a business partnership
• bring family members with you
You cannot:
• do any work outside your business, for example work where you’re employed by another business
• work as a doctor or dentist in training
• work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach
• get public funds

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an approved body.
They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is viable.
You must also:
• meet the English language requirement
• be at least 18 years old
• be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK

You must have at least £50,000 in investment funds to apply for an Innovator visa if you want to set up a new business.
Your funding can come from any source.
You do not need any investment funds if either:
• your business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa
• you’ve changed your business and already agreed it with your endorsing body.

You need to have had at least £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply.
You cannot use either of the following to support yourself:
• money from your investment funds
• money earned while working in the UK illegally

You can form a team with other Innovator applicants, but you cannot share the same investment funds.
Your team must have £50,000 for each Innovator applicant. For example, if you have 2 Innovator applicants, your team must have £100,000 to invest.

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.
You can prove your knowledge of English by either:
• passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
• having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve already proved it to be level B2 or above in an earlier successful application.
Exceptions
You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• the Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• USA

You may be able to extend your Innovator visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
You can apply to extend your visa if both of the following apply:
• you meet the eligibility requirements
• you’re still running a business in the UK or want to set up a new one
You must have £50,000 in investment funds if you want to set up a new business. You do not need funds if either:
• your business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa
• you’ve changed your business and already agreed it with your endorsing body
You need to have your business or business idea assessed by an approved body when you extend your visa.
You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend – including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re already in the UK on one of the following visas:
• Start-up visa
• Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
• any Tier 2 visa
• Standard Visitor visa – if you came to the UK to get funding and had a supporting letter from an endorsing body
You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re here on a different type of visa.

How long you can stay
You can stay for 3 years after switching to an Innovator visa.
There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend your visa.

Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. Your family members must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
• your partner
• your child under 18
• your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant

Savings
You must have £630 for each dependant in addition to the £945 you need to support yourself. This is to show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.
You need proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.
ExampleYou must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and 1 child with you to the UK: £945 to support yourself + £630 for your partner + £630 for your child.
Dependants applying in the UK on their own
Your dependants can apply to extend or switch their visas to stay with you if they’re already in the UK.
Family members cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.