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Skip to content Entrepreneurs from around the world can come to the UK on an entry-level visa called a “UK Startup visa” and launch a new, ground-breaking firm without raising capital.
To discuss your business startup visa UK, call our UK immigration lawyers at 02033844389 for a free consultation or fill out our contact form.
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Please be informed that upon July 13, 2023, all new applications for the Start-Up visa route will be closed. Any applications sent in before that date must have a stamp of approval from a recognised group given before April 13, 2023. Alternatively, you can apply for the Innovator Founder visa, which is now called the Innovator Visa, if you want to immigrate to the UK to start a firm.
Talented foreign nationals with an entrepreneurial spirit can get a helping hand in the UK with the Start-Up Visa.
Applying for this visa does not necessitate either a degree or the availability of finances.
Companies that are still in their early stages yet show promise fall under this category. Even if a person has already set up their business, it shouldn’t have started doing business yet (with a few cases).
With the introduction of the Start-up and Innovator Visa programs, the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa is no longer available.
The visa is valid for one-time use only and cannot be renewed. At the end of the two-year visa term, qualifying persons may be able to convert to the Innovator Visa category.
You can apply for permanent residency (sometimes called indefinite permission to remain, or ILR) in the UK for the duration of this high-value visa.
One of the main requirements for the Start-Up Visa is that candidates must have a letter of support from a recognised organisation.
Aside from being innovative, the idea also needs to be viable and scalable.
Keep reading to find out who can apply for a Start-Up Visa, what documents are required, and how our immigration attorneys can assist you.
As a popular visa category, the Start-Up Visa has a high eligibility criterion. This means you should be ready to give a lot of proof to show that you are qualified.
In accordance with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the following groups of people are eligible to submit an application:
You may be considered if you are:
Additional documentation may be required by the Home Office to confirm a visa applicant’s eligibility, depending on their specific situation.
To ensure you submit the most compelling application possible, you should seek the advice of an expert immigration attorney.
There are several requirements for this path, and you need to make sure that you fulfil them before submitting your application.
The endorsement requirement is a key component of this visa, along with the eligibility criteria that have already been mentioned.
This is the current list of supporting bodies. Your business idea must be approved by at least one of these groups before it can be used to help you get a visa.
The Home Office states that companies are free to determine for themselves what they consider to be an authentic, novel business concept that meets current or future consumer demands.
You can attach a letter endorsing your proposal to your visa application once it has been accepted. After six, twelve, and twenty-four months, the company will check in with you to assess how well you’re doing in relation to your business objectives.
Endorsing bodies will evaluate your company proposal based on the following criteria:
The company can operate in any industry; what’s important is that you’re well-versed in the field and have a good grasp of the market so you can grow it.
If you’re sure you’ll have enough time to grow the business, the endorsing body can let you keep working on other projects alongside your core idea.
For expert advice, call 02033844389.
It can be hard to figure out which endorsing group is best. If you hire UK Startup Visa Solicitors, we can help you get in touch with the company that best fits your business idea and situation.
You can’t get help from the Home Office with choosing an endorsing group.
A company can apply to the Home Office to become an endorsing body. They must have a history of helping UK business owners and giving them advice on how to grow their ideas.
A lot of the groups that are endorsing are universities, investment firms, innovation hubs, business incubators, accelerators, or services that help companies.
You should look at the information given about each endorsing body and do some research to find the best organisation.
The visa does not give you the right to stay in the country indefinitely (ILR). On the other hand, it can be used with the Innovator Visa.
If you apply for and get the Innovator Visa after having the visa for two years, you may be able to apply for ILR at this point if you meet the standards. If you have ILR for a year, you might be able to apply for British citizenship.
However, after having a Start-Up or Innovator Visa, some things must be done in order to get ILR. These include keeping in touch with the group that backed you and showing proof that your business effort is moving forward.
Connect with our expert team to explore UK living, working, or studying options. Call now at 0203 484 4389.
Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a Start-up visa:
You might be able to ask for an official review of the decision if your application for a Start-up Visa is turned down, but it is usually not possible to get the decision changed.
If your Start-up Visa is turned down, here are the steps you should take (please keep in mind that you should always talk to an experienced lawyer about your specific case):
Your visa can be refused due to
Startup Visas can be hard to understand, so it’s advisable to work with a specialised immigration adviser to improve your chances of being accepted and lower your chances of being rejected.
It is not possible to renew the Start-up Visa because it is only given out once. On the other hand, you might be able to switch to the Innovator Visa instead.
The Home Office will want to see proof that you had at least £1,270 in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row before you applied for or switched to this visa.
If you meet certain requirements, you might be able to get other Innovator applicants to work with you.
