Switching From An Innovator Visa To An Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder Visa route is a route to settlement for experienced entrepreneurs and business people who want to establish a business in the UK. It replaced the Innovator route on 13 April 2023. The Innovator Founder route is essentially a mix of two immigration routes, the Start-up Visa route which is now closed to new entrants without an endorsement issued before 13 April 2023 (it will close to all new applications on 13 July 2023) and the Innovator Visa route.

Innovators were able to extend their stay after an initial three year period, if they did not meet the Innovator requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain ("ILR"), however given that the Innovator route has been replaced, applicants will now need to apply to extend their stay in the UK as Innovator Founders instead. Applicants who would like to remain in the UK but not as an Innovator Founder might wish to consider switching into the Skilled Worker Visa route (which includes the possibility of self-