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Overview and Eligibility
You’re eligible for this visa if
- You are not an European Economic Area EEA or Switzerland citizen.
- You want to set up a business in the UK*. To set up a business in Britain you must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either a UK higher education institution or a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs.
The Start-up Visa category is reserved for early-stage, high potential entrepreneurs starting a business in Britain for the first time.
The earliest that you can apply for a UK Start-up Visa is three months before you travel. It can take a minimum of three weeks to receive a decision on your visa application.
*Unlike the UK Innovator Visa, you do not need to invest funds initially. However, you must not have previously set up a business in the UK.
The UK Start-up Visa will replace the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Programme, which closes to new applicants on 6 July, 2019. New applications for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa will be accepted up until 5 July, 2019.
UK immigration rules published on 7 March, 2019 describe the Start-up Visa as: “An expanded version of the Graduate Entrepreneur scheme.”
Start-Up Visa Requirements
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Your business or business idea must undergo an assessment by an approved body
- You must meet English language requirements
- You must provide evidence of personal savings to support yourself during your time in the UK
Your stay in the UK
You can stay in the UK for two years on a Start-up Visa and you can bring family members, including a spouse or partner and children under the age of 18. You will spend the majority of your time in the UK developing your business, but you can work outside your business to support yourself.
There is no option to extend your Start-up Visa after two years, but you can switch to the Innovator Visa to extend your stay in the UK and develop your business. The Innovator Visa is valid for three years, with the option to extend when it is due to expire.
After five years, you could be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (UK settlement).
Applying for a UK Start Up Visa
You can only apply for the Start-up Visa, online**. In addition, you will need to have your fingerprints and a photograph taken at a UK visa application center in the country from which you are applying. You must do this to get a biometric residence permit, which is needed as part of your Start-up Visa UK application.
