At First Law Solicitors, we provide expert legal advice to founders, investors, and business innovators seeking to establish and grow their ventures in the United Kingdom under the Innovator Founder Visa route.
This category is designed for experienced entrepreneurs who can demonstrate a genuine, viable, and scalable business concept that will make a measurable contribution to the UK economy. Our solicitors deliver complete legal and strategic oversight, guiding clients through every phase from endorsement to settlement with precision and commercial insight.
The Innovator Founder route replaced the Innovator and Start-up visas and has become the central pathway for entrepreneurs seeking long-term residence in the UK.
Applicants must secure an endorsement from a Home Office approved endorsing body that has verified the business idea against three legal standards:
Unlike the previous Innovator Visa, there is no fixed minimum investment amount. However, the business plan and financial projections must demonstrate realistic funding, credibility, and operational sustainability.
The endorsement framework underwent significant reform in 2025, following the Innovation Governance Review.
As of 2026, all endorsements are processed through the Innovator Digital Portal, which allows endorsing bodies, the Home Office, and professional advisers such as solicitors to collaborate securely on document submission and progress tracking.
Each endorsement must include a digital confirmation statement from the endorsing body verifying compliance with Appendix Innovator Founder and the new 2026 Business Plan Integrity Standards.
We assist clients by preparing detailed, legally compliant business documentation, ensuring that every financial, structural, and strategic element aligns with endorsement criteria.
Applicants must satisfy both general and route-specific eligibility criteria, including:
Endorsement: Confirmation from an approved endorsing body that the business meets all three criteria.
English Language: Proficiency at level B2 or above on the Common European Framework.
Financial Maintenance: Proof of sufficient personal funds to support living costs during the initial establishment period.
Investment Source: Transparent evidence of the origin and lawful transfer of any investment funds, particularly where third-party or overseas capital is involved.
Our solicitors conduct a full pre-assessment to ensure that the business structure, funding, and ownership model are compliant before submission, preventing avoidable delays or refusals.
The Innovator Founder Visa offers a clear route to settlement.
After three years, successful entrepreneurs may apply for indefinite leave to remain if their business meets the continuation and success criteria, including sustained endorsement, financial growth, and job creation.
We monitor your compliance obligations throughout this period and manage renewal or extension of endorsements to maintain continuous lawful residence.
Following the implementation of the Data Use and Access Act 2025, the Innovator Founder route now operates entirely through the Home Office’s Digital Immigration Platform.
Physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been phased out. All applicants receive digital immigration status (eVisa), linked to their passport and verified through a UKVI digital account.
We ensure full compliance with these digital standards by using secure identity verification and qualified electronic signatures (QES) during all submissions.
Home Office endorsing bodies and compliance officers now apply advanced due diligence on all financial and business claims.
We assist clients by:
Our goal is to ensure that your business concept is not only approved but positioned for real commercial success within the UK market.
Challenge: Endorsement withdrawal or non-compliance review.
Solution: We manage liaison with the endorsing body and Home Office, preparing corrective evidence or alternative endorsement pathways.
Challenge: Investment verification from overseas sources.
Solution: We compile detailed source-of-funds documentation compliant with UK AML regulations and the Money Laundering Regulations as amended 2025.
Challenge: Timing the settlement application.
Solution: We manage ongoing endorsement validity and financial audit preparation to ensure seamless progression to indefinite leave to remain.
Strategic Oversight: Every Innovator Founder case is managed by a senior solicitor with over twenty years of business immigration experience.
Commercial Expertise: We understand both the legal and financial mechanics of start-up and scale-up ventures, ensuring compliance and investment readiness.
Digital Precision: Our processes comply fully with the Data Use and Access Act 2025 and the digital endorsement portal system.
Future-Proof Planning: We design immigration and corporate strategies that align with long-term settlement, expansion, and exit goals.
At First Law Solicitors, we go beyond visa preparation. We build the legal and commercial foundations for your enterprise to succeed in the United Kingdom.
If you are planning to establish or expand a business in the UK, contact First Law Solicitors today for strategic advice and representation.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
Complete our secure online enquiry form to arrange a confidential consultation with a solicitor.
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