UK Startup Visa

You may apply for a Start-up visa if you meet the following criteria:

• You wish to establish an innovative business in the United Kingdom—it must be unique in comparison to anything else on the market—and you meet all other eligibility standards.
• If you are a resident of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein maybe your country of residence.
• If you or a family member began living in the United Kingdom before 31 December 2020, you may be eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme for free.

For the majority of people, the application date was 30 June 2021. You may still apply if one of the following applies:

You have a later deadline-for example, you’re joining a family member who was living in the UK on 31 December 2020-or you have “reasonable grounds” for not being able to apply by 30 June 2021-for example, you were ill or were a victim of domestic abuse.

Otherwise, you will require a visa to work in the United Kingdom. Irish nationals do not require a visa or to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Eligibility 

You must be endorsed by one of the following:

• A British higher education institution, 
• A business organization with a history of assisting British entrepreneurs.

You cannot join an existing business innovatively unless you have a unique business concept that is distinct from anything else on the market. It has the potential for growth.

How long can you stay?

You may remain for two years if you meet one of the following criteria:

• While in the United Kingdom, you may move from another visa to this one.
• If you wish to extend your stay in the UK, you cannot apply for an extension of this visa.
• You may be eligible to apply for an Innovator visa if you establish a business while on a Start-up visa and meet the following criteria:
• Your endorsing body evaluated and approved that it is active, trading, and sustainable, and that you are actively involved in it on a daily basis.

If you withdraw your endorsement,

• Your visa may be revoked if the endorsing body withdraws its endorsement. If you wish to extend your stay, you must reapply with a new endorsement prior to the expiration of your current visa.
• You are only permitted to stay for a total of two years, regardless of whether you are granted a new visa with a new endorsement.

UK startup visa application

You must submit your application online.

How you apply is important:

• If you are from outside the United Kingdom and are entering the United Kingdom on a separate visa.
• If your partner and children are eligible, you may include them in your application to remain in the UK.

How much time it takes

You will be required to verify your identity and provide supporting documentation as part of your application. Allow additional time if you require an appointment to complete this. You’ll discover whether you require one when you begin your application.

Getting decision

After you apply online, verify your identity, and submit your documentation, you should typically receive a decision on your visa within:

• 3 weeks if you are not a resident of the United Kingdom.
• 8 weeks if you are based in the United Kingdom

If you have an appointment, you may be able to pay for a more expedited conclusion. How you do this varies according to whether you are outside or inside the UK.

Cost

The cost of a start-up visa varies according to your circumstances and the country from which you apply.

Who you’re applying for	Apply outside the UK	Switch in the UK
Yourself	£363	£493
Your partner and children	£363 each	£493 each

You must pay the visa fee for each individual who applies concurrently with you or later to join you in the UK.

If you are from one of the following countries, your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55:

• Austria, 
• Belgium, 
• Croatia, 
• Cyprus, 
• Czech Republic, 
• Denmark, 
• Finland, 
• France, 
• Germany, 
• Greece, 
• Hungary, 
• Iceland, 
• Ireland, 
• Italy, 
• Latvia, 
• Luxembourg, 
• Malta, 
• Netherlands, 
• North Macedonia, 
• Norway, 
• Poland, 
• Portugal, 
• Slovakia, 
• Spain, and 
• Sweden.

This discount is applicable just to your visa application. Your spouse and children will continue to be responsible for the full application fee. Additionally, you will be required to pay a healthcare premium as part of your application.

Before you apply, determine how much you will be required to pay. If you’re applying to switch in the United Kingdom, you may be required to pay £19.20 for the collection of your biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph).

What you are and are not permitted to do

You can do the following with a Start-up visa:

• Bring your partner and children as “dependents,” if they are eligible; 
• Work a second job in addition to your business; and 
• Travel abroad and back to the UK.

Additionally, you can switch from another visa category to this one.

You aren’t able to:

Apply for the majority of benefits (public funds) or the State Pension; work as a professional athlete, such as a sports coach; and settle in the United Kingdom on this visa.

If your application is approved, you will receive a detailed list of what you are and are not permitted to do with a Start-up visa.