Innovator Founder Visa Route Application Guide 2026: Requirements, Endorsement And Settlement

1. What Is the Innovator Founder Visa Route?

The Innovator and Start-up routes first opened in Spring 2019, with the view of replacing the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route. The introduction of these routes took the decision making power regarding the viability of a business away from the Home Office, instead giving it to business experts in the form of Endorsing Bodies, an approved list of organisations as decided by the Home Office. These routes have not been without criticism, so the news received on 09 March 2023, that the routes are to be replaced with one single route – the Innovator Founder Visa route – did not come as a huge surprise.

The Innovator Founder route opened on 13 April 2023 and is now the current route for endorsed innovative business founders. The Start-up route is closed to all new applications.