The UK Innovator visa category is for experienced business people who want to start a firm in the United Kingdom. In most situations, you’ll need at least £50,000 to invest in your firm, or you’ll need to have previously invested £50,000, but there are certain exclusions. You’ll also need an authorizing body’s approval and support for an original, practical, and profitable company concept.

Settlement  in the UK as a UK Investor

Your initial UK Investor visa will be valid for either 3 years and 4 months (if applying from outside the UK) or 3 years and 4 months (if applying from the UK) (if applying from within the UK). Within three months of entering the category, you must invest at least £2 million in actively trading UK firms. After that, you’ll have to keep up with your investment.

As a UK Investor visa holder, you will be able to extend your stay for another two years before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) after five years. After 3 years (if you spend at least £5 million) or 2 years (if you invest at least £10 million).

To settle in the UK as a UK Investor, you must spend no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period and have a sufficient understanding of the English language and life in the UK, unless you are 65 or older.

What are the eligibility criteria for an Investor Visa in the UK?

To be eligible for a UK Innovator visa, according to UK Visas and Immigration:

• You must be at least 18 years old;
• You have at least £50,000 to invest in your UK company, or you have previously invested £50,000 in your UK company (This criterion is eliminated if you are moving from Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur or Start-up to pursue the same business endeavour, or extending as an existing Innovator to pursue the same business venture, and you have demonstrated substantial successes against your business plan in both circumstances);
• If you are applying to start a new business venture, you have been sponsored by a certified UK endorsing body that has strongly investigated your business idea for innovation, usefulness, and reliability and is happy and content that you will spend all your time working hours in the UK on continuing to develop your business idea;
• If you are applying to resume the same business endeavor as your prior application, you have been authorized by the accredited UK endorsing body that is convinced that you have demonstrated substantial accomplishments as compared to the business plan that was examined in your previous recommendation;
• Your recommendation letter was sent out no more than three months prior to the submission of your Start-up visa application;
• You really plan to engage in any employment or commercial activity in the United Kingdom that you mention in your application, and you are competent of doing so;
• You have at least CEFR Level B2 English language proficiency, which is equal to IELTS 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking;