For founders actively building an endorsed innovative, viable and scalable UK business; not a passive investment or company-purchase residence route.
Route overview
Typical timeline / duration: Three years per grant; extension needs a fresh qualifying endorsement. Settlement after three years requires separate business achievements and residence conditions.
Important notes
Have an approved body assess your own innovative, viable and scalable business proposal and your active role. New initial applications must use a current Business Endorsing Body; legacy bodies are restricted to their specified existing endorsees.
Provide credible business funding and its source to the endorser. There is no universal fixed entry-investment amount, but that does not mean an unfunded proposal qualifies. This is not permission to buy passive residence.
Meet B2 English through accepted evidence unless exempt. Unless the applicable in-country exemption applies, hold at least £1,270 for 28 consecutive days; business investment funds cannot double as personal maintenance.
Prepare a current endorsement, passport, financial/English evidence, applicable TB and translated documents, then use the correct outside-UK or extension/switching process and pay the visa/health charges.
Budget the £1,000 endorsement charge and at least two £500 contact meetings, separately from the outside-UK visa fee of £1,357 and health surcharge. The 8 October 2026 schedule shows these fees unchanged and lists endorsement/contact charges excluding VAT.
Contact meetings are required at 12 and 24 months. Withdrawal of endorsement can shorten permission; extensions require a new endorsement rather than simply paying for another three years.
Three-year settlement requires an active key management role, a viable trading business and at least two specified achievement criteria. £50,000 spent investment is one possible achievement, not a universal entry-visa minimum or enough on its own.
Other employment must satisfy the route's RQF level 3 skill rule. Operating through your own company does not remove the restrictions on hiring out your labour to another business.
Preparation checklist
Check that the chosen endorser can accept your type of new or existing-business application.
Prepare the original business plan, active-role evidence, funding and source records.
Obtain accepted B2 English evidence and separate personal-maintenance records.
Secure the endorsement, then complete the appropriate visa application and identity steps.
Budget visa/health charges, endorsement and both contact meetings separately.
Retain progress and trading records for the 12/24-month reviews and any later settlement assessment.