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Transparent pricing, from start to finishGet the support you need, when you need itTrusted lawyers, clear expectations
Transparent pricing, from start to finishGet the support you need, when you need itTrusted lawyers, clear expectations
Amazing experience
After placing an enquiry, I received a call 20 minutes later, and then 2 hours later, I had a solicitor assigned to me. They were absolutely incredible right from the word go - amazing and very prompt with replies, answering all my questions and keeping the process moving. We finally completed today and I am so unbelievably happy. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Lawhive again in the future if needed.
Lily
First class service
I initially made an online enquiry about a tricky conveyancing matter and received an immediate call back. They understood straight away what was needed and gave me a quote that was very reasonable. It was such a pleasure to find someone who was cheerful, professional and completely reassuring as I’d been getting quite anxious about the sale of my house. The service Lawhive has provided is absolutely first class and I cannot recommend them enough.
Charles
Empathetic, professional and efficient
I am an executor, selling my mother's home. I found the assistance I received from Lawhive first rate - empathetic, professional and efficient.
Mark
Great service from Lawhive
We used Lawhive for our conveyancing needs and our solicitor was very helpful, patient and informative. She helped us with our needs with prompt responses and provided a very efficient service.
Kelvin
Great service when you need clarity and calm
Our solicitor was warm, friendly and provided crystal clear communication. A lot of conveyancers assume customers know everything about the process already, so it was really appreciated to hear each stage included in the price given.
Em
Quick and efficient
We used Lawhive for a transfer of property and conveyancing. Our solicitor was so helpful and thorough with the whole process. He responded quickly and efficiently to any questions or requests that we had and explained some of the more complicated issues regarding the process clearly.
Geri
Fantastic service and experience with Lawhive
I had the pleasure of working with Lawhive doing a transfer of equity on a property. Our solicitor’s service was amazing, she responded quickly to any questions or concerns and kept me updated throughout the process. I can strongly recommend her for any conveyancing work that you may need. Fantastic service all round.
Jane
Amazing experience
After placing an enquiry, I received a call 20 minutes later, and then 2 hours later, I had a solicitor assigned to me. They were absolutely incredible right from the word go - amazing and very prompt with replies, answering all my questions and keeping the process moving. We finally completed today and I am so unbelievably happy. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Lawhive again in the future if needed.
Lily
First class service
I initially made an online enquiry about a tricky conveyancing matter and received an immediate call back. They understood straight away what was needed and gave me a quote that was very reasonable. It was such a pleasure to find someone who was cheerful, professional and completely reassuring as I’d been getting quite anxious about the sale of my house. The service Lawhive has provided is absolutely first class and I cannot recommend them enough.
Charles
Empathetic, professional and efficient
I am an executor, selling my mother's home. I found the assistance I received from Lawhive first rate - empathetic, professional and efficient.
Mark
Great service from Lawhive
We used Lawhive for our conveyancing needs and our solicitor was very helpful, patient and informative. She helped us with our needs with prompt responses and provided a very efficient service.
Kelvin
Great service when you need clarity and calm
Our solicitor was warm, friendly and provided crystal clear communication. A lot of conveyancers assume customers know everything about the process already, so it was really appreciated to hear each stage included in the price given.
Em
Quick and efficient
We used Lawhive for a transfer of property and conveyancing. Our solicitor was so helpful and thorough with the whole process. He responded quickly and efficiently to any questions or requests that we had and explained some of the more complicated issues regarding the process clearly.
Geri
Fantastic service and experience with Lawhive
I had the pleasure of working with Lawhive doing a transfer of equity on a property. Our solicitor’s service was amazing, she responded quickly to any questions or concerns and kept me updated throughout the process. I can strongly recommend her for any conveyancing work that you may need. Fantastic service all round.
Jane
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01 overview
The Innovator Founder Visa is a fairly new immigration route introduced by the UK Government in 2023. This visa replaces the Innovator and Start-up Visas and is the primary visa for entrepreneurs from overseas who want to move their business to the UK or set up a new business.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a business in the UK an innovator founder visa is the primary route available to you. Our network of specialist immigration lawyers can help guide you through this process using their expertise to boost your chances of a successful application.
Contact us today to discuss your application in a free case assessment.
Eligible businesses for this visa route must be new, innovative, and scalable.
You also must:
Applicants must also have at least £1,270 in their bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying for an Innovator Founder Visa. Further, if you want to bring dependents with you, you will need to meet extra financial thresholds to do so.
If your business has already been endorsed for a previous visa, you don’t need investment funds. You also don’t need investment funds if you have changed your business and confirmed this with your endorsing body.
The Innovator Founder Visa allows holders to remain in the UK for up to three years. After 12 months and 24 months, holders meet with their endorsing body to show their progress and consider an extension.
When the initial three-year period has expired, holders of an Innovator Founder Visa can apply for an extension of three years.
There’s no limit on how many times you can extend your visa and it is possible for holders to apply for permanent settlement when the initial three-year period has expired.
This is a very attractive benefit to the innovator founder visa, and what makes it an alluring visa – usually it takes 5 years to be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
You must provide biometric information and identity verification to verify your identity and evidence that you qualify for the financial requirements, through bank statements.
You should also have a valid endorsement letter from an endorsing body dated no more than 3 months before the date of application.
If you are outside of the UK, you can apply for an Innovator Founder visa online.
As part of the application process, you'll be asked to prove your identity either by having your fingerprints or photograph taken at a visa application centre, or by using the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
If you're already in the UK and looking to extend your Innovator Founder Visa or switch to this visa type, the process is slightly different but you can still apply online.
Once you've submitted your application, you can't travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. If you do, your application will be withdrawn.
Our network of immigration solicitors are specialists in helping to support entrepreneurs and business people from overseas looking to secure an innovator founder visa and start a business in the UK.
The length of time it will take to get a decision is 3 weeks if you are outside the UK and 8 weeks if you are in the UK.
Applications for dependants are processed within 8 weeks.
Your decision could take longer if the Home Office requires verification for any of your supporting documents.
Endorsing Bodies issue endorsements for the Innovator Founder visa route
Each body has expertise in specific sectors and will assess the suitability of the applicant’s business plan and their ability to make a success of their business in the UK.
It costs £1,000 per person to apply for an endorsement, which is payable directly to the endorsing body.
It's important to note that an organisation can only give an endorsement if it is included on the Business Endorsing Bodies list.
On an Innovator Founder visa, you can work full-time for your business and supplement your income with part-time work that meets the minimum skill level.
It’s important to remember that you must continue to make progress with your business, otherwise, your endorsement can be removed and you may lose your right to stay in the UK.
Innovator Founder visas are difficult to secure. Barriers to entry are high and application is a lengthy process that includes finding an endorsing body to approve your business plan.
Securing an endorsement is not easy and there is no guarantee your application will be successful even when you have been endorsed.
It’s difficult to assess the success rate of applications for Innovator Founder visas as they are so new.
For the UK Innovator visa, which was replaced by the Innovator Founder visa, the average success rate between 2019-2022 was 87.8%.
It’s important to clarify that the innovator visa has now been replaced and had different requirements, so these numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Ultimately, the majority of successful innovator founder visa applications are supported by expert immigration lawyers.
You can no longer apply for a start-up visa, it has been replaced by the Innovator Founder visa, which is now the primary immigration route for overseas entrepreneurs and business people who want to set up a business in the UK.
The cost of applying for an innovator founder visa depends on where you make your application from.
There’s also a healthcare surcharge to consider, paying this is essential and gives you access to NHS healthcare.
If you meet the eligibility requirements for the innovator Founder visa, you may be able to switch to it if you’re already in the UK on another visa.
Your partner and child’s visa won’t automatically switch. If they don’t change their visa, or you don’t register them on your Innovator Founder visa it will expire at its original end date. They can apply at the same time as you, or any time before their current visa ends.
If you are a founder, our network of experienced immigration lawyers can help you secure a visa to bring your business to the UK.
Contact us for a free case evaluation today to discuss your application and get a no-obligation fixed-fee quote for the services of a specialist immigration lawyer.
With straightforward pricing - so you know exactly what to expect at every step.
