The UK Start-up visa is for new entrepreneurs who want to start a business in the United Kingdom for the first time. You are not required to have a college degree or initial funding. However, you must have an innovative, viable, and scalable business concept that has been accepted by an endorsement organisation

Startup visas are one-time visas valid for two years and do not lead directly to the agreement in the United Kingdom. However, those with a Start-up visa may extend their stay in the Innovator visa category and become eligible for ILR three years later. Applicants for a startup visa may bring their spouse and children below the age of 18 to the United Kingdom.

Overview Of UK Startup Visa

You are eligible to apply for a Startup visa if:

• You wish to establish an inventive business in the United Kingdom; however, it must be unlike everything else on the market.
• You satisfy the remaining eligibility requirements

Endorsement Criteria For A UK Start-up Visa

You must be approved by one of the following authorised bodies:

• A British academic institution
• A business group with a historical past of assisting British entrepreneurs

You must demonstrate that your business concept is:

• You cannot join an industry that is already in operation.
• You must have an official business concept that is distinct from everything else on the market.
• Viable – it has growth potential

How Long Can You Stay On UK Startup Visa

You may remain for two years if you:

• Enter the country on a Start-up visa.
• Change to this visa while in the UK from another visa.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot apply for a visa extension.

If you established an industry while on a Beginning visa and meet the following conditions, you may be eligible to switch to an Originator visa:

• Your certifying body evaluated and approved it
• It is dynamic, commercial, and sustainable.
• You are actively involved on a daily basis.

If your endorsement is withdrawn

Your visa may be terminated if your affirmation is revoked by the endorsing organisation. If you wish to extend your stay, you must reapply with a new affirmation before the expiration of your current visa.

Even if you are awarded a new passport with a new endorsement, you may only stay for a total of 2 years.

How To Apply For UK Startup Visa

You must apply online.

How you apply will depend on whether:

• outside the UK and entering the UK
• within the United Kingdom and changing from a temporary visa

Your spouse and children may also apply to remain in the United Kingdom if they qualify. They will be required to submit separate applications.

How Long It Takes To Complete The Application For UK Startup Visa

As part of your application, you will be required to provide proof of your identity and your documents.

If you need a nomination to complete this, you may need to allot additional time. When you submit an application, you’ll find out if one is required.

Getting a decision

After applying online, proving your identity, and submitting your documents, you will typically receive a visa decision within:

• 3 months, if you are not a UK resident.
• 8 weeks, if you’re in the United Kingdom

Currently, it takes longer to receive a judgement on Start-up visas when applying from outside the United Kingdom.

If you have an interview, you may have the option to pay for a quicker decision. This procedure differs depending on whether you are inside or outside the United Kingdom.

What Is The Fees For UK Startup Visa

The cost of a Start-up visa depends on the applicant’s circumstances and country of application.

You must pay the tourist tax for each individual who applies alongside you or later to attend you in the United Kingdom.

Healthcare surcharge

You must also include the healthcare surcharge with your application.

If you’re applying to switch in the UK

The collection of your biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) is free of charge.

Who you’re applying for	Apply (outside the UK)	Switch (in the UK)
Yourself	£378	£508
Your partner and children	£378 each person	£508 each person

What You Can And Cannot Do

A Startup visa allows you to:

• Bring your spouse and children with you if they qualify as “dependents”
• Work a second job in addition to your business
• Traveling overseas and come back to the UK

Additionally, you can switch to this visa from other visa categories.

You cannot:

• Apply for the majority of public benefits or the Government Pension
• Perform as a professional athlete, such as a sports coach
• Reside in the United Kingdom with this visa

If your application is approved, you will be provided with a comprehensive list of what you are able do and cannot do with a Start-up visa.

Eligibility For UK Startup Visa

Before applying, you must have your business or business idea evaluated by an accrediting body.

If your business is viable, they will send you a letter of support.

To be eligible for a Start-up visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas and Mass migration that:

• You are at least 18 years old;
• You have not implements a business in the UK (unless you previously held leave as a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur)
• You have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body that has assessed your business idea for innovation, viability, and efficiency and is satisfied that you will spend the majority of your working time in the UK on creating your business venture
• Your endorsement letter was issued no more than three months prior to your application
• Your endorsement If you are outside the United Kingdom or have been in the United Kingdom for less than a year
• you must have at least £1,270 to support yourself, plus £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for a first child, and £200 for each additional child.

Supporting yourself

You must have had at least £1,270 in your checking account for 28 consecutive days prior to applying for this visa, unless you have been in the UK for less than a year and are switching to this visa.

Investment Funds Requirement For A Start-up Visa

Applicants for a startup visa do not need funds to invest in their business. However, the obligation to have a “viable” and “scalable” business idea may necessitate the availability of investment capital. Some endorsing organisations require a minimum amount of funds as a prerequisite for endorsement.

Knowledge Of English

You will typically be required to demonstrate your English proficiency when applying for a visa, unless you have already done so in a recent successful passport application.

Level of English

You must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Language groups (CEFR) scale.

You can demonstrate your English proficiency by:

• Successfully completing a Secure English Knowledge Test (SELT) from an authorised provider.
• Possessing a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Certification level 4 or 5, Scottish Greater or Advanced Higher in English from a UK school that you began when you were under the age of 18
• Having a degree-level educational degree that was taught in English – if you studied abroad, you must apply to Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD.

Who Does Not Need To Prove Their Knowledge Of English

If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, you are exempt from proving your English proficiency:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• the Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States of America

Documents You Will Need To Apply For UK Startup Visa

When applying, you must submit a “endorsement letter” to demonstrate that an endorsing body has evaluated your business.

Additionally, you must provide:

• A valid passport or other written statement proving your identity and nationality
• Bank statements demonstrating that you have had at least £1270 in savings for 28 consecutive days prior to applying
• Evidence that you meet the English language requirement
• Your tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where the test is required.

If your documents are not written in English or Welsh, you must also submit a certified translation.

For your visa, you will need a blank page in your passport if you are:

• Outside of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
• Are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein but lack a biometric passport with an embedded chip

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to submit additional paperwork.

Apply From Outside The UK

You must submit an online application for a Startup visa.

Check the documents required for application (mentioned above)

Your spouse or children must submit separate applications.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

As a requirement of your application, you will be required to provide identification. This depends on your country of origin and the type of passport you possess.

You’ll either:

• Have your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre to obtain a biometric residence permit.
• Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document.
• Create or sign into your UK Visas and Mass migration () account.

UKVI

When you apply, you’ll be informed of the necessary steps.

If you need an appointment, please:

• the centre may need to hold your passport and other documents while it processes your application;
• you may need to travel to reach the visa application centre closest to you (this could be in another country)

How long it takes to get a decision

After applying online, proving your identity, and submitting your documents, you will typically receive a decision within three weeks.

Currently, it takes longer to receive a decision on Start-up visas when applying from outside the United Kingdom.

Determine visa decision waiting periods.

You will be contacted if your deployment requires additional time, for instance:

• If you are applying with a female relative who requires an appointment but you do not;
• If your supporting documentation need to be verified;
• If you need to attend an interview.
• Due to your personal circumstances, such as a criminal conviction;

Find out if you can pay for a faster decision if you’ve applied through a visa application; this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

If you need to make a change to your application after it has been submitted, please contact UK Visas and Urbanization (UKVI).

You can request to withdraw your application. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not begun processing your application.

You will receive an email or letter with the application decision. This will explain the next steps you must take.

Switch To This Visa

If you’re already in the United Kingdom on various types of visas, you may be eligible to apply to switch to a Start-up visa.

Your spouse or children must submit a separate application to change their visa status. They may apply at the exact time as you, or at any period before the expiration of their current visa.

You should relate before the expiration of your current visa.

Eligibility

You may apply for a change to this visa if you meet the requirements (mentioned above)

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

If you hold one of the following, you could indeed switch to this visa:

• a visit visa
• a temporary student visa
• A Student Visa for Parents
• a seasonal worker visa
• a visa for a domestic servant in a single household
• immigration bail
• permission to remain outside of immigration regulations, such as for compassionate reasons

If you hold a different type of visa, you must leave the country and submit your application from abroad.

How long you can stay

A Start-up visa allows you to remain in the United Kingdom for two years. Any time spent in the United Kingdom on a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa counts toward the 2-year limit.

How much it costs

Check the application fees for visas.

If you’ve been in the United Kingdom for less than a year, you must also demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

As a requirement for your application, you will be required to provide identification. This depends on your country of origin and the type of travel document you possess.

You’ll either:

• Have your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre to obtain a biometric residence permit.
• Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document. – Generate or sign in to your UK Visas and Urbanization () account.
• Generate or sign in to your UK Visas and Urbanization () account.

UKVI

When you apply, you’ll be informed of the necessary steps.

If you need an appointment, please:

• the centre may need to hold your passport and other documents while it processes your application;
• you may need to travel to reach the visa application centre closest to you (this could be in another country)

How long it takes to get a decision.

After applying online, proving your identity, and submitting your documents, you will typically receive a decision within three weeks.

You will be contacted if your application requires additional time, for instance:

• If you are applying with a family member who requires an appointment but you do not;
• If your relevant documentation need to be verified;
• If you need to attend an interview;
• Due to your personal circumstances, such as a criminal conviction;

Find out if you can pay for a faster decision if you’ve applied through a visa application centre; this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply.

If you need to make a change to your application after it has been submitted, please contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can request to withdraw your application. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not begun processing your application.

You will receive an email or letter with the application decision. This will explain the next steps you must take.

If you submitted your application before your previous visa expired, you may remain in the United Kingdom until a decision is made.