Startup Visa

The UK Start-up visa is for entrepreneurs who wish to start a business in the United Kingdom for the first time. You don’t have to be a graduate or have any upfront financing. You must, although, have a feasible, sustainable, and creative company plan that has been recognized by an accrediting authority.

What are the Prerequisites for a Start-up Visa in the United Kingdom?

To be eligible for a UK Start-up visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration that:

  • You must be at least eighteen years old;
  • Unless you’ve already had leave as a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, you haven’t previously launched a business in the UK;
  • You have been recognized by the UK endorsing authority that has evaluated your company concept for creativity, feasibility, and sustainability, and is satisfied that you will spend a great deal of your working time in the UK establishing your business venture;
  • 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;
Funds requirement for a Start-up visa

Applicants for a start-up visa are not required to invest any money in their firm. However, because you must have a “viable” and “scalable” company plan, you may need to have cash ready to invest in practice. As a condition of endorsement, some endorsing organizations demand a specific quantity of the financing.

Obtaining ILR and prolonging a UK Start-up visa

A UK Start-up visa cannot be extended, and UK Start-up visa holders are not eligible for settlement. However, at the conclusion of the two-year period, you will be able to request further leave to stay in the Innovator category and continue to build your company. After another three years, the Innovator category may lead to settlement.