UK Start-Up Visa | Start-Up Visa
What is a UK start-up visa?
Babies who know a little about Tier 1 visas should have heard of entrepreneur and graduate entrepreneur visas, right? From March 29, 2019, these two visas were officially abolished, and the Start-Up visa and Innovator Visa, which were launched at the same time, were a bit like their “upgraded versions” and no longer belonged to Tier 1. There are two separate visa types. The dramatic reduction in funding requirements is one of the main reasons for the huge popularity of these two new visas. The UK start-up visa is valid for 2 years and cannot be renewed. After 2 years, it can be converted to an Innovator Visa .
Who can (fit) apply for a start-up visa?
The UK start-up visa is for applicants with “innovative business ideas”. The official definition of “innovative business idea” is: it must be different from the existing business types on the market, and it must reflect that this brand-new business idea has room for development. Once you have an idea, the most important thing is to get approval from an accredited body and to provide proof of sufficient savings to support your life in the UK. In addition to babies who apply for the first time in China, babies who are already in the UK and hold certain types of long-term visas also have the opportunity to directly convert to start-up visas. You can go to the Switch to Start-Up Visa page for more information on the requirements and operations for switching to a Start-Up Visa.
Application conditions
1. Must be at least 18 years old;
2. Your “innovative business idea” must be approved and recognized by the certification body ;
3. Meet the requirements of English proficiency *1 ;
4. Prove that you have sufficient savings *2 to support your daily life in the UK.
*1 English proficiency requirement
• Pass a recognized English proficiency test (such as our most common IELTS test) , at least CEFR B2 level in listening, speaking, reading and writing (equivalent to IELTS in listening, speaking, reading and writing at least obtained 5.5 points) ;
or
• passed GCSE, A Level or other equivalent examinations at a local UK school before the age of 18;
or
• Completion of the UK equivalent of a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate at an English-taught university recognised by UK NARIC .
Proof of English proficiency is not required if you are a citizen of the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , Trinidad and Tobago, United States.
*2 Sufficient deposit
The UK government’s current daily deposit requirement for applying for a start-up visa is: You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before submitting your application.
Application time
When can I start applying for a start-up visa?
Start-up visas can be applied for as early as 3 months in advance.
For example: if you plan to enter the UK on June 15, the earliest date you can lodge your visa is March 16.
How long does it take to get a visa?
According to the official website of the UK government: if you apply outside the UK, you will generally receive the success result within 3 weeks; if you apply in the UK, you will generally receive the result within 8 weeks. However, it is really hard to say when the visa will be approved. It is very likely that it will take longer to catch up with the peak season, so please be patient. Or you can politely ask the staff how long you need to wait when you hand over the signature. 【Reference source】
Visa validity period?
The start-up visa is valid for 2 years and cannot be renewed. After 2 years, if you meet the conditions, you can consider converting to an Innovator Visa .
Rights and restrictions on holding a start-up visa
you can:
• Family members can apply together (spouse or children) ;
• Working for your own business, you can also do another job;
• Travel abroad and return to the UK as normal.
You can not:
• access to public funds;
• Work related to professional athletes, such as sports coaches;
• Apply for UK settlement.
UK start-up visa materials | What materials do I need to provide when applying?
1. A valid passport or international travel document (the passport must have two blank pages and is valid during your travel to and from the UK, if you have an old passport, bring it with you);
2. A proof of deposit to cover your living expenses in the UK (there must be at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before submitting your application);
3. Proof of meeting the English proficiency requirements;
4. Test results of tuberculosis ;
5. The certification body has approved the endorsement letter of your business idea.
Note: If any of the above documents are not in English or Welsh, you need to find a recognized translation agency (such as a notary office, lawyer, etc.) to translate the documents, and clearly state “the content of the translation is the same as the original” and the translator Or the name, address, phone number and date of translation of the translation company.
Each applicant’s situation is different and additional materials may be required. When you are waiting for news, don’t panic if you are asked to submit additional materials, just submit them as required.
How to apply for a start-up visa?
UK Startup Visa Application Tutorial
Start-up visas must be applied for online. First of all, you need to fill in the country where you submitted your application and where you are about to enter your biometric information. The committee members take China as an example. The optional visa center cities are as follows:
You must go to any of the cities on the list for your visa application (photographs and biometric information such as fingerprints will also be collected at the visa center of your choice). Once you have identified your city, you can start preparing to fill out the online application form.
This page will remind you again of the required materials and some additional information before you formally fill in the application. After a brief review, you can click “Apply Now” to enter the application.
Since members cannot fill in false application information, we can only give you a screenshot here. However, it can be clearly seen from the top of this page that there are 6 steps to apply: start (fill in your email and password to register a visa account), apply (fill in your basic information, such as name, contact number, home address, passport number, etc.) , relevant documents, declarations (you need to declare that the information provided is true and accurate), payment, download and print the application form.
The application process is not complicated, just bring the completed and printed application form and all relevant documents to the visa center for signature on time.
How much does it cost to apply for a start-up visa?
application fee
The fee for applying for a start-up visa outside the UK is £378.
The fee to transfer to a start-up visa within the UK is £508.
medical surcharge
According to the latest policy of the British government, from April 6, 2015, non-EEA citizens who apply to go to the UK to work, study or reunite with their families for more than 6 months will need to pay a medical surcharge . Applicants who have paid the surcharge have access to the same National Health Service (NHS) as UK permanent residents. The medical surcharge is £624 per annum (if there are accompanying dependents, it is usually the same as the main applicant). If your visa is refused, the medical surcharge you previously paid will be automatically refunded.
UK Innovator Visa | Innovator Visa
What is the Innovator Visa?
The Innovator Visa, as the name suggests, is for applicants with a “business idea”. In terms of capital requirements, the reduction from 200,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds is the first step for the innovator’s visa strength to “circle fans”! The innovator visa is valid for 3 years and can be renewed indefinitely (provided that you still meet the requirements of the visa), and you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after staying in the UK for 5 years!
Who can (fit) apply for the Innovator visa?
First of all, you must have a plan to start a business in the UK. After you have a plan, the most important thing is to be approved by an accredited institution , and you must have £50,000 from legal sources to invest in the company you are about to create. In addition to babies applying for the first time in China, babies who are already in the UK and hold the following visa types also have the opportunity to be directly converted to innovator visas:
• Start-Up Visa;
• Any type of work permit (Any Tier 2 Visa);
• Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa and Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa – if you got a visa before the abolition, you can then convert to an Innovator visa;
• Standard Visitor Visa – only: visitors who have received a supporting letter from an accredited body and come to the UK to receive funds.
If you hold a UK visa that is not in the above four categories, you need to leave the UK to apply for an innovator visa (for example, if you hold a Tier 4 student visa, you cannot directly convert to an innovator visa in the UK, you need to leave the UK reapply ). For more information on how to switch to the Innovator Visa, you can go to the Switch to Innovator Visa page .
Application conditions
1. Must be over 18 years old;
2. Your “business idea” must be approved and approved by the certification body ;
3. Hold investment funds of at least £50,000;
4. Meet the requirements of English proficiency *1 ;
5. Prove that you have sufficient savings *2 to support your daily life in the UK.
Special note: You can set up a team company with other innovator visa applicants, but the investment funds at the time of application cannot be half of one person. For example, if your team has two applicants for innovator visas, then you need to hold at least £100,000 in investment funds (£50,000 each) when you apply, and so on.
*1 English proficiency requirement
• Pass a recognized English proficiency test (such as our most common IELTS test) , at least CEFR B2 level in listening, speaking, reading and writing (equivalent to IELTS in listening, speaking, reading and writing at least obtained 5.5 points) ;
or
• Completion of the UK equivalent of a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate at an English-taught university recognised by UK NARIC .
Proof of English proficiency is not required if you are a citizen of the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States.
*2 Sufficient deposit
The UK government’s current daily deposit requirement for applying for an innovator visa is: You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before submitting your application. You can do the math for yourself. Members suggest that you should not stick to the borderline of the amount requirement, and try to exceed the amount requirement. The more you have, the better. It should be noted that this money should be separated from your investment capital of £50,000.
application time
When can I start applying for the Innovator visa?
Innovator visas can be applied for as early as 3 months in advance.
For example: if you plan to enter the UK on June 15, the earliest date you can lodge your visa is March 16.
How long does it take to get a visa?
The UK government’s official website says: You should receive your results within 3 weeks. However, it is really hard to say when the visa will be approved. There is a good chance that it will exceed 3 weeks in the peak season, so please be patient. Or you can politely ask the staff how long you need to wait when you hand over the signature. 【Reference source】
Visa validity period?
The innovator visa is valid for 3 years and can be renewed indefinitely (provided that you still meet the requirements of the visa), and you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after staying in the UK for 5 years.
Innovator visa rights and restrictions
you can:
• establish one or more of their own businesses;
• work for your company;
• Family members can apply together (spouse or children under 18).
You can not:
• work for any company outside your business;
• work as a trainee or trainee dentist;
• Work related to professional athletes, such as sports coaches;
• Access to public funds.
UK Innovator Visa Documents | What documents do I need to provide when applying?
1. A valid passport or international travel document (the passport must have two blank pages and is valid during your travel to and from the UK, if you have an old passport, bring it with you);
2. A proof of deposit to cover your living expenses in the UK (you must have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before submitting your application);
3. Proof of meeting the English proficiency requirements;
4. Proof of investment funds (£50,000);
5. Test results of tuberculosis ;
6. The certification body has approved the endorsement letter of your business idea.
Note: If any of the above documents are not in English, you need to find a recognized translation agency (such as a notary office, lawyer, etc.) to translate the documents, and clearly state “the content of the translation is the same as the original” and the translator or translation company. name, address, phone number and date of translation.
The situation of each applicant is different, and it may be required to provide more materials. If you are asked to submit additional materials when you are waiting for news, don’t panic, just submit them as required.
How do I apply for an Innovator visa?
The Innovator visa requires an online application . First of all, you need to fill in the country where you submitted your application and where you are about to enter your biometric information. The committee members take China as an example. After filling in the form, click “Next” and the following page will appear:
You must go to any city in the list to submit the visa (photos and biometric information such as fingerprints will also be collected at the visa center of your choice), check the first option and click “Next”.
This page will remind you of the required materials and some additional information before you formally fill in the application. You can simply click “Apply Now” to enter the application.
Since members cannot fill in false application information, we can only give you a screenshot here. However, it can be clearly seen from the top of this page that there are 6 steps to apply: start (fill in your email and password to register a visa account), apply (fill in your basic information, such as name, contact number, home address, passport number, etc.) , relevant documents, declarations (you need to declare that the information provided is true and accurate), payment, download and print the application form.
The application process is not complicated, just bring the completed and printed application form and all relevant documents to the visa center for signature on time.
How much does it cost to apply for an Innovator visa?
application fee
The cost of applying for an Innovator visa outside the UK is £1,036.
The fee to renew or transfer to an Innovator visa within the UK is £1,292.
medical surcharge
According to the latest policy of the British government, from April 6, 2015, non-EEA citizens who apply to go to the UK to work, study or reunite with their families for more than 6 months will need to pay a medical surcharge . Applicants who have paid the surcharge have access to the same National Health Service (NHS) as UK permanent residents. The medical surcharge is £624 per annum (if there are accompanying dependents, it is usually the same as the main applicant). If your visa is refused, the medical surcharge you previously paid will be automatically refunded.
Renewal related issues
When can I apply to renew my Innovator visa?
The official website of the British government does not give a time limit, only that “you can apply for a renewal before your current visa is about to expire”. The visa can be renewed indefinitely, provided that the visa requirements are met. If your business has already been established, you do not need to provide proof of investment capital of 50,000 pounds again when renewing your visa, you only need to be recognized by the certification body. If you want to set up a new company when you renew, in this case you still need to provide proof of funds of 50,000 pounds and a letter of approval from the certification body. For more information on renewals, you can visit the official website . 【Reference source】
