At First Law Solicitors, we deliver precise, commercially minded advice for clients who originally entered the United Kingdom under the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa and now wish to continue, extend, or transition their business status within the UK’s modern immigration framework.
Although this category closed to new applicants, many former graduate entrepreneurs remain active under transitional protection or are preparing to transfer into the Innovator Founder route. Our solicitors ensure that your endorsement, business operations, and immigration status remain compliant while securing the most efficient pathway toward long-term residence.
The Graduate Entrepreneur Visa was designed for graduates endorsed by a UK university or the Department for International Trade who could demonstrate a credible, innovative business concept.
While the route formally ended several years ago, existing visa holders and those whose businesses originated from it continue to benefit from recognition under Home Office transitional policy. We provide end-to-end legal support to preserve continuity, manage endorsements, and structure your immigration progression toward permanent settlement.
Until recently, graduates were often forced to leave the UK to move from a Student or Graduate visa into an entrepreneur-based category. That barrier was removed on 25 November 2025.
Applicants can now switch directly in-country from a Student or Graduate Visa to the Innovator Founder route without leaving the UK. Even more significantly, graduates who have secured endorsement can begin legitimate entrepreneurial activity immediately after completing their studies while their Innovator Founder application is pending.
Our solicitors use this flexibility to design strategic, uninterrupted transitions that protect your lawful status and your business momentum.
The Innovator Founder Visa now serves as the definitive pathway for entrepreneurial graduates who wish to establish or grow a UK-based venture.
We guide clients through the full transition process by preparing endorsement applications, revising business plans, and ensuring compliance with the stricter 2026 eligibility standards. This includes the new B2 English-language threshold introduced on 8 January 2026, which applies to all new Innovator Founder applications.
Our approach is both legal and strategic: we ensure your business plan meets the “innovation, viability, and scalability” criteria while aligning your corporate structure with the latest Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2026 rules that now verify whether founders are performing genuine director-level functions.
From 2026, endorsement bodies must confirm three statutory conditions before granting settlement under the Innovator Founder route:
We prepare detailed submissions demonstrating each of these benchmarks, ensuring a smooth endorsement renewal and a credible settlement application at the three-year stage.
All legacy and successor entrepreneur routes now operate entirely through the Home Office Digital Immigration Platform. Physical Biometric Residence Permits have been replaced by digital eVisas linked to the applicant’s UKVI account.
Our firm uses Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and encrypted document exchanges that comply with the Data Use and Access Act 2025, guaranteeing complete accuracy, confidentiality, and authenticity across all filings.
Former Graduate Entrepreneur visa holders often encounter issues such as:
Legacy Expertise: Our solicitors have managed every iteration of the UK’s entrepreneur visa framework, from Graduate Entrepreneur to Start-up to Innovator Founder.
Strategic Foresight: We interpret every policy change from the November 2025 switching reform to the 2026 SOC updates, ensuring your immigration plan remains future-proof.
Business Integration: We collaborate with accountants, investors, and tax specialists to align your immigration objectives with your corporate growth strategy.
Digital Compliance: Every case meets the advanced security and verification standards required under the Data Use and Access Act 2025.
At First Law Solicitors, we combine legal precision with commercial intelligence, transforming your post-graduate innovation into a secure and scalable UK enterprise.
If you originally entered under the Graduate Entrepreneur scheme or intend to transition into the Innovator Founder route, contact First Law Solicitors for a private consultation.
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