Start-up visa

You can apply for a Start-up visa if:

you want to set up a business in the UK
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you meet the other eligibility requirements

Getting endorsed

You must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:

a UK higher education institution
a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs

You must be able to show that your business idea is:

a new idea – you cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading
innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
viable, with potential for growth

Getting endorsed

You must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:

a UK higher education institution
a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs

You must be able to show that your business idea is:

a new idea – you cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading
innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
viable, with potential for growth

How long it takes to get a visa

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Example

You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Fees

How much you pay for a Start-up visa depends on your situation and where you apply from.

Who you’re applying for	Apply (outside the UK)	Switch (in the UK)
You	£363	£493
You (if you’re from Turkey or Macedonia)	£308	£438
All dependants	£363 each person	£493 each person

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years on a Start-up visa. You cannot apply to extend this visa.

You may be able to switch to a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if you’ve:

completed your second year on a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa
switched from a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa to a Start-up visa for your second year

If your endorsement is withdrawn

Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires.

You can only stay for a total of 2 years even if you’re granted a new visa with a new endorsement.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

bring family members with you
switch to this visa from some other visa categories
work in another job, as well as working for your business

You cannot:

get public funds
work as a doctor or dentist in training
work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach
settle in the UK on this visa

Eligibility

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an approved body.

They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is viable.

You must also:

be at least 18 years old
meet the English language requirement
be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK.

Supporting yourself

You need to have had at least £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply.

Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve already proved it to be level B2 or above in an earlier successful application.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
the Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
USA

Documents you must provide

When you apply you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ from an authorised body.

You’ll also need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification
bank statements showing you’ve had at least £945 in savings in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply
your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
proof that you have knowledge of the English language

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Family members

Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. Your family members must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:

your husband, wife or partner
your child under 18
your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant

Savings

You must have £630 for each dependant in addition to the £945 you need to support yourself. This is to show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.

You need proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.

Example You must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and 1 child with you to the UK: £945 to support yourself + £630 for your partner + £630 for your child.

Start-up endorsing bodies

The below is the list of authorised endorsing bodies that can issue endorsements for Start-up visas:

Business endorsing bodies

The Bakery

The Bakery endorses bona-fide entrepreneurs who qualify for their corporate innovation programmes.

Bethnal Green Ventures

BGV is an early stage investor in tech for good companies who only endorse start-up entrepreneurs accepted onto their support programme.

Blue Orchid

Blue Orchid will only endorse high growth start-ups who are working within their client base across England’s North West and West Midlands.

Capital Enterprise

Capital Enterprise will only be endorsing founders within their community. Check back as this may change with time.

Communities and Business Partners (CBP)

CBP are an award-winning business development organisation, supporting highly innovative, skilled individuals to help realise their entrepreneurial growth ambitions. Selected endorsements are considered for high-growth business opportunities across the UK.

CyLon

CyLon is interested in hearing from emerging cyber security companies or entrepreneurs planning on setting up an innovative cyber start-up.

Deep Science Ventures

Apply if you are a scientist or engineer determined to start a deep science company. Please apply through the current opportunities page.

DRS Business Solutions

DRS will only consider applications for endorsement from those individuals who they are working with in their client base.

Emerge Education

Emerge Education invests in and supports the growth of early stage education startups.

Emsworth Corporate Planning (ECP)

ECP providing business implementation and mentoring services for dynamic and disruptive companies looking to establish themselves in the UK. They are fully prepared to review a sector-agnostic range of business opportunities. Please visit the ECP website.

Envestors Limited

Envestors is an award-winning corporate finance advisor that endorses international innovators wanting to build a business in the UK and fundraise through their digital platform technology.

First Corporate Finance

They offer an open invitation to entrepreneurs worldwide with innovative business ideas to register in their Business Support Program, with future potential endorsement. Contact them now.

Fortunis Capital Ltd

Fortunis Capital works with motivated individuals and teams who have innovative and scalable proposals that aim to have a positive impact on wider society. They actively manage their entire portfolio.

Founders Factory

Founders Factory is an award-winning tech startup accelerator and incubator. They endorse entrepreneurs joining one their programmes.

Ignite

They only endorse applicants who are successful in applying for one of their accelerator programmes.

Innovate Britain

Innovate Britain focus on vital enterprise sectors including Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Consumer and Infrastructure. Applications are accepted through their website.

Innovator International (powered by Geminus)

Geminus can provide endorsements to clients on their “Innovator International” business support programme, available across the UK.

International Innovation Hub Ltd

An award-winning team who work with highly innovative and skilled individuals to realise their growth aspirations. Located in the north, particularly the Manchester and Liverpool region, with expertise in green and renewable energy, engineering, manufacturing, digital and tech.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest NI endorses entities for Start-up/Innovator visas through participation on its accelerator program or requests from client companies only.

Kollider

Kollider is a high growth business incubator. They endorse members with innovative ideas in the creative, digital and tech sectors expected to scale in their markets within 24 months.

Level 39

Level39 only endorses those involved in FinTech, cyber security, smart cities, retail tech and other globally ambitious tech business.

MDR LAB

MDR LAB is an accelerator for tech start-ups in the legal space. They only endorse migrants accepted onto their 10-week May-July programme.

MedCity

MedCitysupports collaboration, investment, entrepreneurship and industry within the life sciences across Greater South-East of England.

NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator

RebelBio

RebelBio specialises in pre-seed investments in Biotech, Healthtech, Life Sciences, Future of Food, Agtech and Biomaterials. They invest broadly in science-based, tech-enabled early-stage start-ups.

Royal Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Accelerator

The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh only provide endorsement to their awardees who have received an RSE Enterprise Fellowship. Unfortunately they cannot support any individual who does not fall under this category.

Sapphire Capital Partners LLP

Sapphire is a multi-award winning venture capital firm located in London and Belfast. Sapphire seeks to identify and assist bonafide entrepreneurs who will qualify for further investment through Sapphire’s numerous startup venture capital funds.

Scottish EDGE

Scottish EDGE can endorse winners of its bi-annual funding competition for innovative, high-growth potential Scottish businesses. Approximately 6% of applicants win.

Seedcamp

Seedcamp invest early in world-class founders attacking large, global markets and solving real problems using technology. Please visit their website for more information and FAQs.

SETsquared Bristol

SETsquared Bristol incubator will only endorse technology start-ups meeting entry criteria to their incubator and looking to establish an office in Bristol.

Startup Funding Club

Startup Funding Club invests in early stage ventures from across all sectors, leading their first funding round, supporting growth and taking them to the next stage.

The Start-up Race

The Start-up Race are a global accelerator that supports world-class entrepreneurs and start-ups who want to create disruptive and innovative businesses. They only consider applications for Start-up and Innovator visa endorsements from individuals supported through their programmes and communities.

Tech Nation

Tech Nation focuses on entrepreneurs of product-led digital technology businesses and are developing an initiative to identify and support Tech Nation applicants. They aim to begin endorsing applications by April 2020 or sooner if possible. Please visit their website for future updates.

Techstars London

Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. They can only endorse Techstars backed Founders and other individuals from the Network.

Tech X

Tech X is a unique tech accelerator & and incubator for global start-ups looking to transform the Energy Sector – offers unparalleled funding and support.

Ulster Bank Entrepreneur Accelerator

Wayra

Zinc

Higher education endorsing bodies

Anglia Ruskin University

Applications are welcome from ARU students. We regret non-ARU students cannot be considered.

Arts University Bournemouth

Endorsing business in the creative arts industries.

Aston University

For those who have completed a course of study at Aston University in the last 5 years and have had a business idea accepted by BSEEN.

Bangor University

Bangor University only endorses Bangor Graduates on this visa and they must have graduated within 12 months preceding the application.

Bath Spa University

Bath Spa University will only accept endorsement applications from Bath Spa students and their recent graduates (up to 2 years).

Birmingham City University

Bournemouth University

Supporting Bournemouth University international alumni start-ups and innovators across the UK, and exceptional UK HEI international graduates looking to start businesses in Wessex.

BPP University Limited

BPP University will only endorse its graduates in the Start-up route. They will not endorse external candidates or in the Innovator route.

Brunel University London

Brunel University London will only endorse its graduates in the Start-up route. They will not endorse external candidates or in the Innovator route.

Cardiff Metropolitan University

The International Entrepreneurs Programme runs intensively for 6 months from the Centre for Entrepreneurship incubator and includes workshops, mentoring, office space and general support. Cardiff Metropolitan University is currently endorsing its own students and graduates only.

Cardiff University

Cardiff University are only able to consider endorsement requests from their graduate students or any of their students who have completed their studies and are approaching their graduation date.

City, University of London

Contemporary Dance Trust

Coventry University

Open to Coventry graduates only.

Cranfield University

Supporting entrepreneurs every step of their journey, they accept applications from students and alumni of Cranfield.

De Montfort University

Derby University

Durham University

They provide opportunities for start-up visa endorsement to eligible graduating students and graduates of Durham University.

Edinburgh Napier University

Falmouth University School of Entrepreneurship

Creating a unique environment to build sustainable businesses with high-growth potential in one of the UK’s leading creative tech hubs.

Florida State University International Programs Association UK

Florida State University London accepts applications for Start-Up visa endorsements only from graduates of FSU or US Universities with whom they have existing affiliations.

Girne American University Canterbury

Glasgow Caledonian University

Goldsmiths University of London

Applications will only be considered for ‘Start-Up’ endorsement from eligible graduating students or graduates of Goldsmiths University of London, who wish to remain in the UK to start up a new business idea with the support of the University. For more information please visit their website.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs is an incubator to help people in the performing arts launch and advance their own enterprises. Guildhall School will only endorse graduates from Guildhall School.

Heriot-Watt University

Hult International Business School

Imperial College London

Keele University

Keele Business School Smart Innovation Hub, and the Research and Innovation Support Programme will support selected Keele students and alumni.

King’s College London

The Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s College London will support start-up visas that meet UKVI criteria from current and former King’s students.

Kingston University

Lancaster University

Leeds Arts University

Leeds Beckett University

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Liverpool John Moores University

They will only endorse graduates from LJMU. They will only consider applications from postgraduate students who hold a current Tier 4 visa.

London Business School

They accept applications from students and alumni, as well as co-founders working with LBS students or alumni.

London Metropolitan University

London School of Economics and Political Sciences

For LSE students, with the exception of non-LSE applicants who are key members of an LSE team only.

London South Bank University

They can only endorse applicants who have graduated from LSBU within the last 2 years and have not started a business in the UK before.

Loughborough University

Endorsing body for Loughborough University graduates. Contact the Loughborough Enterprise Network for further information.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Middlesex University

Newcastle University

Newcastle University will only endorse graduates from Newcastle University. They will consider applications from graduating students and recent graduates (up to 3 years).

Northern School of Contemporary Dance

Norwich University of the Arts

Nottingham Trent University

Only open to students and recent graduates (within the immediate 2 years preceding date of application) of Nottingham Trent University.

Oxford Brookes University

Plymouth College of Art

Plymouth College of Art welcomes endorsement applications from graduates and alumni of the college.

Queen Mary University of London

Open to Queen Mary University of London graduates only.

Queen’s University Belfast

They only accept applications for endorsement from Queen’s graduates and applicants must have completed a degree within the last 12 months.

Ravensbourne University London

Regent’s University London

The Robert Gordon University

They consider endorsements from graduates of Robert Gordon University which have been accepted on and participate in their Startup Accelerator Programme. Further information can be found on the The Robert Gordon University website.

Roehampton University

Royal Academy of Music

Royal Agricultural University

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Central will only accept endorsement applications from their current students and their alumni (within 2 years of completing studies).

Royal College of Art

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College

Sheffield Hallam University

SOAS, University of London

Solent University

Swansea University

Teesside University

University College London

UCL will only consider applicants who have graduated from UCL in the last 12 months. Please visit their website for further information.

University for the Creative Arts

University of Aberdeen

University of Bath

Only endorses graduates who have graduated from the University of Bath within the previous 2 years and meet SETsquared membership criteria.

University of Birmingham

University of Bradford

The University of Bradford welcomes applications to its Accelerated Global Entrepreneurship programme from eligible graduates of any university. An innovative business or social enterprise plan is required. Applicants must be committed to basing themselves and their enterprise in Bradford.