Start Up

From 13 April 2023 this route is only available to those who hold a valid Start-up endorsement issued before the 13th April 2023. From 13 July 2023 the Start-up route will be closed to all new applications.

The Start-up visa is for those, who are at their early stage of career and wish to establish a business in the United Kingdom for the first time. The applicant must have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea which is supported by the approved by the Home Office’ endorsing body.

A dependent partner and children can apply under this route. Start-up visa does not lead to settlement in the United Kingdom.

Switching to the Start-up visa route is allowed within the UK from the eligible visa categories.

Mandatory criteria to be met when applying for Start-up visa are split into validity, suitability, eligibility, financial, English language and endorsement requirements.

In order to be eligible to apply under the Start-up visa route, the applicant must be aged 18 or over and needs to score 70 mandatory points from the following:

• Business is innovative, viable and scalable. This requirement will be met by providing a letter from one of the approved by the Home Office endorsing bodies (25 points)
• The applicant has not previously established a business in the UK (25 points)
• English Language requirement at level B2 (intermediate) in all 4 components (10 points)
• Financial requirement (10 points)

When applying for permission to stay in the United Kingdom and having resided in the UK with permission for 12 months, the applicant will automatically meet the financial requirement. If not, the applicant must have held the funds of at least £1,270 for a 28-day period preceding the application.

The applicant can be granted permission to enter/remain in the UK for a maximum period of 2 years.

For further information about Start-up visa and for the tailored advice to a specific case scenario please do not hesitate to contact our Immigration Team.

Our regulated advisers have had many years of experience assisting applicants and their family members with their relocation to the United Kingdom.