United Kingdom – Innovator Founder Visa

Introduction

The United Kingdom (UK) is a highly connected country and a sought-after destination for private clients. London serves as the cultural and business hub of the United Kingdom, drawing individuals from all corners of the world, and boasts an unparalleled financial and commercial reach. Furthermore, an attractive tax regime for residents and non-domiciled persons has bolstered a reputation for a secure investment environment.

Despite the changes brought about by Brexit, the UK’s influence in areas such as finance, culture, education, and innovation has not waned, as the country continues to maintain its position as a global leader in these areas.

The UK serves as a vital link between Europe and the Americas, boasting numerous daily flights to New York, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires, in addition to its well-established connections to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Its time zone, strategically situated between the US and Asia, is ideally suited for international business.

Requirements/Investment Options

The UK Innovator Founder Visa launched in April 2023, replacing the previous Innovator and Start-Up visa routes. It requires an applicant to establish an innovative business endorsed by an Endorsing body. The business idea must be innovative, viable, and scalable.

The applicant must be 18 or older and meet the English language requirement. A spouse/partner and children under 18 may also be included in the application.

To be approved for permanent residency, the applicant needs to demonstrate that the business has satisfied at least two out of the following seven achievements by the end of the third year of business activity:

At least £50,000 has been invested into the business and actively spent furthering the business plan outlined in the applicant’s previous endorsement.
The business has engaged in significant research and development activity and has applied for intellectual property (IP) protection in the UK.
The business has generated a minimum annual revenue of £1 million.
The business has generated a minimum annual revenue of £500,000, with at least £100,000 from exporting overseas.
The business has created at least ten full-time jobs.
The business has created at least five full-time jobs that have a gross annual salary of at least £25,000 a year (gross pay, excluding any expenses)
The number of the business’ customers has at least doubled within the most recent three years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable products or services.

With respect to physical presence requirements, permanent residence requires the applicant to spend the majority of time in the UK.

Once permanent residence has been granted, it is possible to apply for British Citizenship. The status of permanent residence must have been held for 12 months before applying. Citizenship is only granted if no more than 450 days were spent outside the UK over the previous five years (with no more than 90 days of absence in the final year preceding the citizenship application).

Qualifying Dependants

As the main applicant, you must demonstrate you have enough funds to maintain yourself and your family in the UK and possess knowledge of the English language equivalent to IELTS level 5.5. You can add your spouse as a dependant. Like you, they must be over 18 years of age, have no criminal record or prosecution, and no serious illnesses. You can also include children under the age of 18.