← All articlesGlobal markets
UK Innovator Founder visa: what founders need for endorsement
Moving your startup to the UK? The endorsement criteria, what evidence helps, and why a working MVP strengthens your case.
The UK Innovator Founder visa is for founders starting an innovative business in the UK. It requires endorsement from an approved endorsing body.
The three tests
- Innovative: a genuinely new idea, not a copy of something already on the market
- Viable: a realistic business plan and the skills to deliver it
- Scalable: potential to grow, create jobs and reach new markets
Evidence that helps
- A working product or MVP
- Early customers, pilots or letters of intent
- A clear business plan and financial model
- Market research on the UK opportunity
Building from the UAE
Many founders build and validate their MVP in the UAE first, then use that traction to support international expansion.
Immigration rules change. Speak to a regulated UK immigration adviser.
Have an idea or a business ready to grow?
