UK Start-up vs Innovator Founder Visa: What Changed
Updated 25 October 2026. This page was written when the UK Start-up and Innovator visas were separate routes. The Start-up visa is closed to new applications, and the Innovator visa has been replaced by the Innovator Founder visa. The old comparison, including a blanket £50,000 investment rule and a ban on all work outside the business, is not a reliable guide for a new application.
Which route applies now?
New applicants seeking to establish and run an innovative UK business should review the current Innovator Founder route. A proposed new business must be new, innovative, viable and scalable, and an approved endorsing body must assess the business idea. The applicant must also meet the other eligibility requirements. Someone who already holds a Start-up visa may have a different switching option; check the official switching guidance before their permission expires.
Funding and work permissions
Current GOV.UK guidance does not set a universal £50,000 initial investment minimum for every Innovator Founder applicant. A person setting up a new business must show the endorsing body enough funding for that business and explain its source; personal savings for living costs are assessed separately. The current route overview also allows some work outside the founder’s business where the job needs at least a level 3 qualification. The precise conditions attached to a person’s permission and their proposed work should be checked against current official guidance.
Length of stay and settlement
Innovator Founder permission is normally granted for three years. An extension requires a further application and business assessment. Settlement is a separate application: a person may be eligible after at least three years with Innovator Founder or Innovator permission if they meet the other rules and receive a new endorsement. Time spent on a Start-up visa does not count toward that three-year qualifying period. Neither endorsement nor paid business preparation guarantees a visa or settlement decision.
UK Startup Visa can assist with founder-led business plans and commercial evidence. For advice about an individual’s immigration position, use an appropriately authorised immigration adviser.
