Innovator Visa UK (Legacy Route)

The Innovator Visa was a key UK business immigration route designed for experienced entrepreneurs looking to establish and run an innovative business in the UK. Introduced in March 2019, it replaced the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa as part of a wider Home Office reform to attract high-calibre business founders with innovative, viable and scalable business ideas. However, from 13 April 2023, the Innovator Visa was closed to new applications and replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa, a revised route with more flexible requirements.

What this article is about
This guide explains the legacy Innovator Visa route, its eligibility criteria and conditions prior to closure, and the implications for existing visa holders. It also looks at the key differences between the Innovator Visa and its successor, the Innovator Founder Visa, and outlines the options available to those who continue to hold Innovator Visas under transitional provisions. Employers, entrepreneurs and immigration advisers will find this article useful for understanding both the legacy requirements and the steps needed to plan for future immigration status.

Section A: Overview of the Innovator Visa (Legacy Route)

The Innovator Visa was designed to encourage experienced entrepreneurs to bring innovative, viable, and scalable business ideas to the UK. The route required applicants to secure endorsement from an approved body, ensuring that only high-potential ventures received approval. It replaced the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa in 2019, reflecting the Home Office’s shift towards a more tightly controlled business migration system with a stronger focus on genuine innovation.

1. Purpose and Background

The Innovator Visa’s primary aim was to attract entrepreneurs capable of contributing to the UK economy through pioneering business models and growth potential. Applicants were required to present a business plan demonstrating a unique market offering, supported by research and evidence of commercial viability. The endorsement requirement placed responsibility on specialist bodies to assess each business for innovation, viability, and scalability.

This route provided a pathway to settlement for those whose business ventures achieved measurable success. Compared to its predecessor, the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa, the Innovator Visa introduced more stringent entry criteria, effectively targeting high-quality applicants rather than a broad base of business migrants.

2. Closure of the Route

On 13 April 2023, the Innovator Visa was formally closed to new applications and replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa. Among the headline changes, the new route removed the previous £50,000 minimum investment requirement and introduced scope for secondary skilled employment alongside the endorsed business.

3. Impact on Current Visa Holders

Holders of an Innovator Visa granted before the closure date remain entitled to live and work in the UK under their existing visa conditions until expiry. They may still apply for extensions or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the pre-closure rules, provided they continue to meet the business performance and endorsement requirements. Those who prefer to take advantage of the new Innovator Founder Visa terms may consider switching routes, subject to eligibility. However, switching mid-route may impact settlement timelines, so applicants should carefully consider the implications before changing visa category.

Section Summary
The Innovator Visa played a critical role in shaping the UK’s post-Tier 1 business migration policy. Although now closed to new applicants, it continues to operate for existing visa holders under transitional arrangements, preserving their rights to extend or settle in the UK. The route’s closure and replacement with the Innovator Founder Visa marked a shift towards a more flexible and accessible system, while retaining a strong emphasis on innovation and economic impact.

Section B: Innovator Visa Eligibility (Pre‑Closure Rules)

Before its closure in April 2023, the Innovator Visa had strict eligibility requirements designed to ensure that only genuine, high‑potential entrepreneurs were granted entry. These criteria were intended to protect the integrity of the route and maximise its economic benefits to the UK.

1. Endorsement Requirement

Applicants were required to secure an endorsement from an approved endorsing body before applying to the Home Office. Endorsing bodies included business incubators, accelerators, and other organisations with proven expertise in identifying and supporting innovative ventures.

To secure endorsement, applicants needed to satisfy the “innovation, viability, and scalability” test:

• Innovation – the business idea had to be genuinely original and different from anything else on the market, offering a competitive advantage.
• Viability – applicants had to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness necessary to make the business a success.
• Scalability – the business needed clear potential for growth and job creation in the UK and potentially for expansion into international markets.

Applicants were required to submit a detailed business plan, evidencing market research, operational strategy, and financial projections. Endorsements were not granted without a rigorous review process, and endorsing bodies could withdraw their support if they no longer believed the business was meeting agreed milestones.

2. Applicant Requirements

In addition to endorsement, applicants had to meet the following requirements:

• Age – minimum age of 18 years.
• English language – proficiency at CEFR level B2 in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, proven by an approved test or qualification.
• Maintenance funds – evidence of sufficient personal savings to support themselves without recourse to public funds, typically £1,270 for the main applicant (with additional amounts for dependants).
• Business exclusivity – Innovator Visa holders were not permitted to take employment outside their endorsed business venture.

Applicants also needed to provide a credible explanation of their personal role in the business, confirming they would be actively involved in the day‑to‑day decision‑making and management of the enterprise.

3. Business Criteria

The Innovator Visa was primarily intended for new businesses. Applicants could join an existing business only if they were switching from the Start‑up Visa and their original endorsing body confirmed continued support for the same business idea.

Business ownership and operational control were critical requirements. The applicant had to be a founder or co‑founder and demonstrate meaningful influence over the strategic direction of the venture.

In most cases, a minimum investment of £50,000 was required unless the applicant was switching from the Start‑up Visa, in which case the funding requirement could be waived if the business was already established and endorsed.

Section Summary
The Innovator Visa set a high bar for entry, with its endorsement process serving as the central safeguard against low‑quality or speculative applications. Successful applicants had to demonstrate not only that their business idea was original but also that they possessed the capability and resources to execute it effectively. These stringent requirements ensured the route remained focused on attracting genuine entrepreneurial talent to the UK.

Section C: Conditions and Rights of Innovator Visa Holders

Holders of the Innovator Visa were granted specific rights and subject to clearly defined conditions that governed their stay in the UK. These rules were intended to ensure that visa holders concentrated on their endorsed businesses while still allowing a degree of flexibility in areas such as study and family life.

1. Length of Stay and Extensions

The Innovator Visa was typically granted for three years at the outset. Visa holders could apply for further three‑year extensions if they continued to meet the eligibility requirements, including holding a valid endorsement and demonstrating that their business remained innovative, viable, and scalable. There was no maximum limit on the number of extensions, provided the criteria were met. Time spent on an Innovator Visa counted towards settlement, enabling eligible applicants to qualify for ILR after three years if they met the business performance requirements.

2. Work and Study Rights

Innovator Visa holders were permitted to:

• Establish and work for their endorsed business(es) as approved in their endorsement letter.
• Bring dependants (spouse/partner and children under 18) who could work or study without restriction.
• Study in the UK, provided the course did not interfere with the running of their business.

Restrictions applied:

• No employment outside the endorsed business (no secondary jobs under the legacy Innovator rules).
• No work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.
• No access to public funds.

3. Settlement (ILR) under Innovator Visa

A key advantage of the Innovator Visa was the accelerated settlement route. Eligible holders could apply for ILR after three continuous years in the UK if they satisfied their endorsing body and the Home Office that at least two of the following success criteria were met:

• At least £50,000 has been invested into the business and actively spent furthering the business plan.
• The number of the business’s customers has at least doubled within the most recent 3 years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for comparable UK businesses.
• The business has engaged in significant R&D and has applied for IP protection in the UK.
• The business has generated minimum annual gross revenue of £1,000,000 in the last full year covered by its accounts.
• The business is generating minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000, with at least £100,000 from exporting overseas.
• The business has created the equivalent of at least 10 full‑time jobs for settled workers.
• The business has created the equivalent of at least 5 full‑time jobs for settled workers, each with a mean salary of at least £25,000 (gross, excluding expenses).

Applicants also had to meet the general settlement requirements, including passing the Life in the UK test and meeting the English language requirement at ILR stage.

Section Summary
The Innovator Visa provided meaningful rights and a clear, accelerated route to settlement for entrepreneurs capable of delivering measurable business success. Strict conditions limited activities outside the endorsed business, keeping the route focused on fostering genuine innovation and economic impact in the UK.

Section D: Transition to the Innovator Founder Visa

The closure of the Innovator Visa to new applicants on 13 April 2023 marked a structural shift in the UK’s business immigration landscape. The Innovator Founder Visa was introduced to retain the focus on high‑quality entrepreneurs while making the route more flexible and attractive to global talent. For existing Innovator Visa holders, the transition period offers choices that can significantly affect both business operations and long‑term immigration planning.

1. Differences Between Innovator and Innovator Founder Visas

While the Innovator Founder Visa retains the core endorsement requirement and the innovation, viability, and scalability assessment, several material changes distinguish it from the legacy Innovator route:

• No minimum investment threshold – the former £50,000 requirement has been removed.
• Secondary skilled employment permitted – holders may take additional work at RQF Level 3 or above alongside running the endorsed business, subject to the visa conditions.
• Continued endorsement oversight – endorsing bodies remain central to compliance, with ongoing monitoring against milestones under the Innovator Founder framework.

2. Options for Innovator Visa Holders

Under transitional arrangements, existing Innovator Visa holders broadly have three pathways:

• Remain on the Innovator route until expiry, seeking extension or ILR under legacy rules where eligible.
• Switch to the Innovator Founder Visa to access the new flexibilities (for example, secondary skilled employment), noting potential impacts on the settlement clock.
• Apply directly for ILR after three years if the Innovator success criteria are met and endorsement remains valid.

3. Impact on Business and Immigration Planning

Switching to the Innovator Founder route can provide operational flexibility where a venture benefits from supplementary skilled employment income or where the removal of an upfront funding threshold aligns better with growth plans. Conversely, remaining on the Innovator route may preserve accelerated ILR eligibility without resetting the qualifying period. In all cases, endorsement continuity and compliance remain central; founders should confirm that their endorsing body maintains approval under the applicable framework and that business milestones are being met.

Section Summary
The move from Innovator to Innovator Founder presents both opportunities and trade‑offs. Greater flexibility comes with potential effects on settlement timelines. A deliberate assessment of immigration goals, endorsement status, and business performance will guide whether to remain on the legacy path, switch, or proceed directly to ILR.

FAQs

What happened to the Innovator Visa?

The Innovator Visa closed to new applications on 13 April 2023 and was replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa. The successor route retains endorsement and the innovation, viability, and scalability assessment while removing the fixed £50,000 investment threshold and allowing certain skilled secondary employment.

Can I still apply for the Innovator Visa?

No. The route is closed to new applicants. Only existing Innovator Visa holders can continue under legacy conditions, apply to extend, or apply for settlement where they meet the criteria.

What are my options if I hold an Innovator Visa?

You can remain on the Innovator route to extend or apply for ILR, or switch to the Innovator Founder Visa if eligible. Switching may affect your settlement timeline, so weigh flexibility against the ILR clock before deciding.

How is the Innovator Founder Visa different from the Innovator Visa?

Key changes include the removal of the minimum investment requirement and permission to undertake skilled secondary employment (RQF Level 3 or above) alongside the endorsed business, with endorsement oversight continuing under the new framework.

Can I get ILR under the Innovator Visa?

Yes. Innovator holders may qualify for ILR after three continuous years if they meet at least two published business success criteria (for example revenue, exports, job creation, investment spent, or significant R&D with IP), and satisfy the general settlement requirements, including Life in the UK and English language.

Conclusion

Although the Innovator Visa is now a closed route, it remains relevant for those who secured it before 13 April 2023. Existing holders can continue under the original terms, extend their visa, or apply for settlement, provided they maintain endorsement and meet the business performance benchmarks set out by the Home Office.

For some, switching to the Innovator Founder Visa offers greater flexibility, especially with the removal of the minimum investment threshold and the ability to take skilled secondary employment. However, this choice can also affect settlement timelines, making it vital to assess the trade-offs before moving to the new route.

Given the complexity of both the legacy and new rules, Innovator Visa holders should review their status, endorsement position, and business progress in detail. Seeking professional immigration advice can help ensure they select the route that best aligns with their long-term business and immigration objectives.

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Gill Laing

Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law. Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.

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