START-UP VISA

 The Start-up route is for new entrepreneurs seeking to establish a business in the UK for the first time. Applicants must have an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea that has been assessed and supported by an approved endorsing body. The endorsing body will provide a letter of endorsement after assessing the business plan, which is a mandatory requirement for the application. 

Applicants are only allowed a maximum of 2 years under this route. Leave previously held in the legacy Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route counts towards the maximum 2-year limit. This visa is not eligible for settlement but Start-up visa holders can switch to the Innovator route at the end of their stay, which can lead to settlement after a further 3 years.

All applicants must score a total of 70 points in order to be granted permission in the Start-up route.

25 points: Business is innovative, viable, and scalable

In order to qualify, an applicant must have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea. An approved endorsing body will check if your business plan meets the following criteria:

  • Innovation: You have a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage;

  • Viability: You have, or are actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness to successfully run the business;

  • Scalability: Your business plan has potential for job creation and growth into national markets.

25 points: The applicant has not previously established a business in the UK

To acquire points for this requirement, the applicant must not have previously established a business that has commenced trading in the UK, unless the business started trading during their last permission to stay under the following routes:

  • Start-up 

  • Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

  • Doctorate Extension Scheme   

   A business is considered to have “commenced trading” if it has made a sale or provided services, regardless of whether payment has been received for this.

10 points: English Language at level B2 

English language at least B2 level is needed to score 10 points. Applicants can demonstrate their English language if they

  • are nationals of a majority-English-speaking country

  • have a degree or degree level qualification taught or researched in English that equals or exceeds the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s degree; master’s degree or doctorate

  • pass an approved English language test to the required level in the two years before the date of application.

10 points: Financial requirement

If an applicant applies for the Start-up visa from outside of the UK or switches from another visa to this route from inside of the UK but has not already been in the UK for at least the 12 months before their application, then they must prove that they have enough funds to establish and maintain themselves and any dependants.

The relevant levels for Start-up applicants are: 

  • £1,270 for the main applicant 

  • £285 for a dependant partner 

  • £315 for a first child 

  • £200 for each subsequent child

The funds need to be held in the form of cash funds in a personal account for a consecutive 28 day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance on the statement, ending no more than 31 days before the date of the application).  Additionally, the endorsing body needs to confirm in the endorsement letter that it has awarded the appropriate amount of maintenance funding to the applicant. 

FAQs

Can I apply for Start-up visa as part of a team?

Yes. Applicants do not need to be the sole founder of the business and may be a member of an entrepreneurial team and share the same business idea and plan as another Start-up team member. However, each member of the Start-up team must be issued their own individual endorsement and meet all the requirements of the route in their own right.

Can I work for another company on my Start-up Visa? 

Yes. Start-up visa holders can work in another job while working for the start-up business, but they must spend the majority of their time developing their business ventures. 

Do I need to invest a certain amount of money to apply for the Start-up visa?

No. One big advantage of the Start-up visa is that no investment funds are needed at the application stage. Besides, the £50,000 investment funds requirement for an Innovator visa is waived if the applicants switch from the Start-up category.