Apply for UK Visas under Entrepreneurs, Innovators & Investors route

The United Kingdom continues to be one of the top destinations for global entrepreneurs seeking to establish their businesses in the country and overseas companies looking to expand their operations here. With its business-friendly policies, vibrant financial markets, global connectivity, and specialised visa categories, the UK continues to attract entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from across the world. 

But how accessible are the business visa options in 2025 to global entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors? The UK immigration routes change frequently, making it challenging for foreign entrepreneurs and businesses to keep up. 

In the last few years, the United Kingdom has streamlined its immigration options for global investors and entrepreneurs. People who could previously apply for most Tier 1 visas to set up or run a business in the UK can now apply for the UK innovator founder visa, as Tier 1 visas have been closed to new applicants. This has been done to make the immigration process more targeted but also more selective, which has resulted in the UK offering fewer business visa categories in 2025 than in the past, and the requirements for the currently available visas have also become stricter. 

Now, only foreign nationals with truly innovative ideas, robust business plans, and a clear vision for growth can qualify.

The UK previously had the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa, and the Tier 1 Investor Visa. These visas have been closed for new applicants. However, those in the UK on these visas can still extend their visas or switch to another visa.

In 2025, the primary visa options available to global entrepreneurs and businesses include the UK Innovator Founder Visa and Scale Up Worker Visa.  

Innovator Visa 

The UK Innovator Visa, which closed on 13 April 2023 for new applicants, allowed foreign experienced businesspersons seeking to come to or stay in the UK to establish a new business here. In most cases, applicants were required to make an investment of at least £50,000 in their business, with certain exceptions in place. Applicants were required to have an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea that must have been approved and supported by an endorsing body.

However, people who are already in the UK on an Innovator Visa can apply to extend their visa to a UK Innovator Founder Visa or settle in the UK, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

Innovator Founder Visa

Innovator Founder Visa was introduced on 13 April 2023, replacing the former Start-up Visa and Innovator Visa. This new visa combined the features of both of these former routes. 

A person can apply for an Innovator Founder visa to come to or stay in the UK for 3 years if they want to set up and run one or several innovative businesses in the UK, their business or business idea has been endorsed by an endorsing body, and they meet other eligibility criteria.  

The Innovator Founder Visa allows its holders to extend their visa for another 3 years or apply directly to settle in the UK.

Their spouse/civil partner and children, if eligible, can also apply either to join them or stay with them in the UK as their ‘dependants’.

Scale Up Worker Visa

The Scale-up Worker Visa allows talented individuals to come to or stay in the UK who have been recruited by an approved UK Scale-up Sponsor, and have the skills needed to enable the Scale-up business (or fast-growing UK business) to continue growing.

The person must have a confirmed high-skilled job offer from an approved Scale-up business for at least 6 months at the required salary level.

A dependent spouse/civil partner and dependent children can apply on this route.

The Scale-up Worker Visa is a route to settlement.

Entrepreneur Visa

The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa category under the PBS (Points-Based System) allowed foreign individuals to come to or stay in the UK to invest in the UK by either setting up or running one or more businesses in the United Kingdom.

This route has been closed to new applicants for several years.

Entrepreneur Visa extension

The Entrepreneur Visa is closed to new applicants. 

Existing Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrants who never held permission as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) could have applied for extension of their stay before 6 April 2023. On the other hand, if an applicant previously held permission as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) or switched to the UK Start-up visa before switching into Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), they could have applied for an extension of their permission after switching into Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) before 6 July 2025.

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneurs visa closed on 6 July 2019. People can no longer apply to stay in the UK as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur). 

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa allowed non-European recent graduates with promising business ideas endorsed by UK higher education institutions or the DIT (Department for International Trade) to come to or stay in the UK to start or develop their business ventures. 

The Graduate Entrepreneur route was replaced by the Start-up visa in July 2019. However, the Start-up visa category also closed in July 2023 to new applicants. 

Those who successfully switched from a Graduate Entrepreneur visa to a Start-up visa may now be able to pursue the new UK Innovator Founder visa for long-term business progression and settlement.

Tier 1 Investor Visa

Tier 1 Investor Visa under the UK’s PBS (Points-Based System) allowed high net worth individuals (often with goals of settlement and citizenship in the UK) to come to or stay in the UK, making a financial investment of £2 million or more in the country. However, this visa has been closed for new applicants from 17 February 2022. 

Applicants applying for entry clearance were granted initial leave of 3 years and 4 months, while those applying for permission to stay were granted leave of 3 years. 

Tier 1 Investor Visa extension

Tier 1 Investor visa holders can apply to extend their visa until 17 February 2026, as long as they continue to meet the required investment rules and can demonstrate to the decision-makers that their funds remain invested in qualifying UK businesses. 

The leave granted on a Tier 1 Investor Visa extension is typically two years in duration. Dependants (partner and children) can also apply to extend in line with the main applicant.