Start Up Visa UK for International Entrepreneurs
The UK startup visa replaced the Tier 1 graduate entrepreneur visa on 6 July, 2019 and is reserved for early-stage, high-potential international entrepreneurs starting a business in Britain for the first time. The UK is a hotspot for business startups, with 672,890 founded in the 2018-19 tax year, alone.
How Our Specialist UK Startup Visa Lawyers Can Help
Our specialist UK startup visa lawyers will provide step-by-step help with your application to ensure that it’s error-free and accompanied by the necessary documentation. This will give your application the best possible chance of being approved.
Additionally, we will review and advise you on your business plan to ensure that it complies with startup business visa requirements. Plus, we can assist with getting the necessary endorsement you will need to start a business in the UK.
In most cases, we can submit your application to the Home Office on the same day – talk to a UK startup visa lawyer, now – call +44 (0)207 629 3633 for a consultation.
Start Up Business Visa UK Eligibility
The UK visa startup route is a Tier 1 category immigration program that is part the UK immigration points-based system. You’re eligible for this visa if:
- You live outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
- You want to set up a business in the UK*. To set up a business in Britain you must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either a UK higher education institution or a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs.
The earliest that you can apply for a UK startup visa is three months before you travel. It can take a minimum of three weeks to receive a decision on your visa application.
*Unlike the Tier 1 innovator visa, you do not need to invest funds at this stage. However, you must not have previously set up a business in the UK.
Business Start Up Visa Requirements
UK immigration rules specify the following, minimum requirements to apply for the UK startup visa:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Your business or business idea must undergo an assessment by an approved body
- You must meet English language requirements
- You must provide evidence of personal savings to support yourself during your time in the UK
Applying for a Start Up Visa UK
You can only apply for the UK startup visa, online**. In addition, you will need to have your fingerprints and a photograph taken at a UK visa application centre in the country from which you are applying. You must do this to get a biometric residence permit, which is needed as part of your start up visa UK application.
**If you live in North Korea, you cannot apply online. Contact Ash Norton Solicitors for more information on how to apply for the UK startup visa.
UK Startup Visa ideas for endorsement
To support your application, you must provide a business plan and supporting documents for endorsement. Most UK universities are endorsing bodies, along with the following business sponsors:
- The Bakery
- Seed Camp
- Invest Northern Ireland
- Zinc
- Deep Science Ventures
- Wayra
- Ignite
- Bethnal Green Ventures
- Codebase
- Capital Enterprise
- Cylon
- Tech X
- Seed Haus’
- Med City
- Scottish Edge
- Royal Society Edinburgh
- Tech Nation
- NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator
- Royal Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Accelerator
- Ulster Bank Entrepreneur Accelerator
- Set Squared Bristol
- Set Squared Exeter
- Set Squared Southampton
- Set Squared Surrey
Those endorsing your startup business UK visa application must be ‘reasonably satisfied that you will spend much of your working time in Britain developing your business venture,’ in accordance with UK immigration rules.
Your Stay in the UK
You can stay in the UK for two years on a startup business visa and you can bring family members, including a spouse or partner and children under the age of 18. You will spend the majority of your time in the UK developing your business, but you can work outside your business to support yourself.
Extension options for Start Up Visa in UK
There is no option to extend your UK startup visa after two years, but you can switch to the innovator visa to extend your stay in the UK and develop your business. The innovator visa is valid for three years, with the option to extend when it is due to expire.
After five years in the UK, you could be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (UK settlement).
UK Immigration Health Surcharge
When you apply for a startup visa, you will have to pay a UK Immigration Health Surcharge. For help calculating the surcharge amount you have to pay, contact our specialist immigration solicitors.
Get Help with Your Start Up Visa UK Application
If you’re considering setting up a business in the UK for the first time, then speak to our specialist UK visa startup solicitors. Our London immigration lawyers are regularly sought out to advise and assist business people and entrepreneurs in navigating the UK immigration system, competently and efficiently.
Partner with the best immigration lawyers in London, now. Call us on +44 (0)207 629 3633 or click here to get in touch.