List of New Endorsing Bodies for UK Startup/Innovator Visa
The UK’s points-based immigration system offers various work routes designed to attract promising entrepreneurs and highly skilled workers. The Innovator Founder visa and the Scale-up Worker visa are examples of such routes. Launched in April 2023 and August 2022 respectively, both categories have strict eligibility criteria for applicants and businesses seeking to use these routes to work or sponsor workers in the UK.
Endorsing Bodies for UK Startup/Innovator Visa
To apply for an Innovator Founder visa, you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an approved endorsing body. These bodies verify that your business meets the requirements of the route. The endorsing body checks that your business is new, innovative, viable, and scalable. You must also prove that you have enough funding to set up your new business and provide evidence of planning that includes creating jobs and growing into national and international markets.
New Endorsing Bodies List
The government has updated the list of endorsing bodies for Innovator Founder visas and Scale-up licenses. The following organizations are currently authorized to issue endorsements:
- Envestors Ltd.: Provides endorsement services for Innovator Founder visas and Scale-up licenses.
- UK Endorsement: Offers endorsement services for Innovator Founder visas and Scale-up licenses.
- Innovator International: Provides endorsement services for Innovator Founder visas and Scale-up licenses.
- Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP): A government-run program for internationally mobile, tech-based entrepreneurs. GEP only provides visa endorsements for founders invited to participate in their program.
Legacy Endorsing Bodies
In addition to the new endorsing bodies, there are over 60 legacy endorsing bodies that are no longer accepting new Start-up/Innovator applications but are authorized to continue maintaining and monitoring their existing endorsed migrants. These bodies may only provide further endorsements for Innovator Founder applications where they have already previously endorsed the applicant under either the Innovator or Start-up visa routes prior to 13 April 2023.
Immigration Application Support
If you have successfully obtained an endorsement from one of the approved endorsing bodies and require support with the next steps in your application, you can seek assistance from qualified immigration advisors.
