The new Start-up visa route opened to new applicants at the end of March 2019 and is a successor of Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa. If you are looking to establish a new business in the UK, our team are specialists at assisting clients through the application process.
The business must be viable, scalable and an innovative business idea. The business idea and plan also has to be endorsed by a Home Office approved endorsing body.
Main Features of a Start-up Visa UK
- The flexibility of working outside your own business to support yourself
- No initial funding required
- Visa is granted for 2 years
- You can bring your dependant family members i.e. spouse (husband/wife) or any children under 18 to the UK.
What are the Requirements?
- Be 18 years of age.
- Receive endorsement from an approved body listed on the government website before applying for the visa.
- Rules require that the endorsing body remains in contact at 6, 12 and 24 months from the grant of leave; they must inform the Home Office if contact is missed, or if an individual isn’t making reasonable progress with the business.
- Present a credible business plan to the Home Office and endorsing body which demonstrates innovation, viability, and scalability. The start-up route does not require any jobs to be created, unlike the innovator category, and the old entrepreneur route it replaced.
- Hold at least £945 in a personal bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply.
- Satisfy the English Language requirement to at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
- Tier 2
- Tier 4 (General) if certain requirements are met
- A visitor who has been undertaking permitted activities as a prospective entrepreneur.
What are the Endorsement Criteria?
You are required to present a detailed business plan to the endorsing body, together with any other documentation which is requested to prove that the visa requirements are satisfied:
Application Fees
However, if you are transferring into this category from inside the UK then you must pay £493.00 for yourself and each dependant.
In addition to the Home Office fee, there is an Immigration Health Surcharge fee that is payable towards your 2 years of grant of leave in the UK.
Procedures and Timeframes
Can I Extend the Start-up Visa?
An applicant can also apply to switch to an alternative visa and can ultimately secure settlement in the UK if they meet the Home Office criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
We provide our clients with a one-stop business immigration service and work with other consultants and advisors as required to ensure your visa application is successful.

What If My Application is Refused?
You can only resubmit a new application if there has been a simple case working error or the supporting evidence has not been considered properly. We can apply for a ‘pre-licence error correction’ on your organisation’s behalf.
The only option then is to challenge the decision via an administrative review or judicial review.
Our team can expertly advise and represent you in challenging a decision.
Our Expertise
Legal advice should always be sought before an application is submitted, the case must be argued well and in detail to show evidence that you meet the requirements.
Why Choose Us?
Our solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with all types of visa matters. They will expertly guide you in all aspects of your immigration and are ideally positioned to explain any complexities and can represent your position robustly in order to achieve your desired outcome. We have helped many individuals across the country through the sensitive and complex process of visa applications.
How to Get in Contact

Sharing the Love

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you from me and Louise for all of the hardwork you have put into our sale. You have gone beyond and above in all areas of our transaction. If all solicitors would be as proactive as you we would all be in a much better place that’s for sure!”