Innovator Founder Visa

Bring your business idea to the UK with an Innovator Founder visa

You can apply for an Innovator Founder visa if you want to set up and run an innovative new business in the UK. This visa used to be called the Innovator visa and is an opportunity for non-UK resident entrepreneurs to launch their business in the UK. As you would expect there are eligibility requirements and restrictions, but if granted you can normally stay for three years and this may, in some circumstances, be extended.

For starts ups and entrepreneurs

The Innovator Founder visa opened in April 2023. It is designed for entrepreneurs who want to launch a business in the UK. It replaces the Innovator route and Start up visa, and is now the main visa route for foreign entrepreneurs looking to set up a business in the UK. Applicants must have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea, supported by a business plan, which has been approved by a recognised endorsing body. This visa route does not require a specific amount of investment funds.

Benefits of the Innovator Founder visa

There are a number of benefits that come with this type of visa that include the applicant being able to work on the proposed business but it may also permit them to take up other employment that requires a skill level of not less than UK A levels. Visa holders are also permitted to study while managing the business. The time spent in the UK with an Innovator Founder visa can be counted towards the Indefinite Leave to Remain residence requirement.

Get in touch for more information

Our experienced team is on hand to assist with your Innovator Founder visa, or where it is not the suitable immigration route, we can advise on the appropriate visa route for you. Our experienced team help you complete and submit your application. Our immigration team has considerable experience of all types of visa applications across a variety of sectors.

If you require advice or assistance with any aspect of your visa application, contact us today.

Or visit Immigration Services for more information.

Solicitors in

Nighat Sahi

Partner

Nighat has been superb, very thorough and a very nice person too, I couldn’t recommend her highly enough. I am confident that I am safe in her hands.

Some advice to everyone out there is make sure that you have Nighat Sahi of RSW Law on your contact list, so you have someone to contact immediately if you need help. In over 30 years of running Interface Financial Planning I have never had to suffer a malicious court action before and I made the initial mistake of trying to deal with it myself. If I had passed this to Nighat on the day of receipt it would have saved a lot of stress and time.

Alan Moran, B.Sc. M.Soc.Sc. Cert.Ed. FPFS FSWW IMC CFPCM RLP® Chartered Financial Planner – Chartered FCSI, Interface Financial Planning Limited

Nighat Sahi

Partner

Nighat is an experienced solicitor who advises and represents both companies and individuals. She is a founding partner at RSW Law. With over 18 years of experience, she specialises in all key areas of employment law, business and in bound immigration work. She has been involved in numerous complex, high value and multi-faceted matters including complex injunctions, damages claims and high value negotiations in contractual disputes and severance packages.

Nighat’s experience includes litigation and representation at Employment or Immigration Tribunal level right through to the Court of Appeal, advice on best practice, procedures and policies, drafting key employment documents, managing grievances, disciplinary action and performance related concerns and lawful dismissals. Also an experienced immigration solicitor, Nighat has extensive knowledge of business immigration, placing employees across UK companies in addition to dealing with the Global Mobility Routes and selective family visas.

Clients value Nighat’s approach and find her highly organised, knowledgeable, and extremely personable. She takes a proactive approach, working to avoid problems in the first place. If the worst does happen, she works hard to resolve things in the most cost effective and timely way possible and you’ll find her down to earth and hands on.

Nighat is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, is the Current Chair of Kiran Support Services (a Charity – supporting the needs of women and children from the Indian sub-continent experiencing domestic violence and abuse) and acts for The Black-E (a Charity Education, Enthusiasm, Energy, Connecting artists and communities) on a pro bono basis.

Nighat has recently achieved a victory for a client in a speedy trial. The full Judgment can be read here: https://www.civillitigationbrief.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cheshire-v-Blanchfield.pdf

Outside of work, Nighat is a gym enthusiast, foody, loves her films, travelling and spends her time with her ten nephews and nieces.

Innovator Founder Visa

Bring your business idea to the UK with an Innovator Founder visa

For starts ups and entrepreneurs

Benefits of the Innovator Founder visa

Get in touch for more information

Our services

Solicitors in

Nighat Sahi