UK Start-up Visa Application

UK Start up Visa is for those starting a new business for the first time in the UK. Applicants will not need to be graduates and will not need to have secured any initial funding.

You can apply for a Start-up Visa if:

• you want to set up an innovative business in the UK - it must be something that’s different from anything else on the market
• you meet the other eligibility requirements

Eligibility

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body. They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is viable. You must also:

• meet the English language requirement (CEFR B2 Level)
• be at least 18 years old
• be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK
• genuinely intends to undertake, and is capable of undertaking, any work or business activity in the UK stated in their application

Maintenance Requirements

You need to have had at least £1270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply, or if you’ve been in the UK for less than a year and applying to switch to this visa.

Knowledge of English

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. You can prove your knowledge of English by:

• passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
• having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18
• having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply for confirmation through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

Documents Required

When you apply you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ to show that an endorsing body has assessed your business. You also need to provide:

• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• bank statements showing you’ve had at least £1,270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply
• proof that you meet the English language requirement
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
• If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation
• You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances

Spouse and Dependants Children

Your partner and children can apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they are eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours. A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

• your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
• your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant
• You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply

Switch to this Visa

You may be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to an Start-up visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa and your partner or children will need to apply separately if they live with you in the UK but you Cannot Switch to this Visa if you are in the UK on the following visa categories:

• a visit visa
• a short-term student visa
• a Parent of a Child Student visa
• a seasonal worker visa
• a domestic worker in a private household visa
• immigration bail
• permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

Length of Stay

You can stay for 2 years in the UK on a Start-up visa. Any time you have already spent in the UK on a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa counts as part of the 2 years.

Healthcare Surcharge

You will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. You can Check how much healthcare surcharge you will have to pay before you apply.

Key Advantage of Start-up Visa

UK Residency Card upon Arrival:
The UK Start-up Visa allows you to live and work anywhere within the UK for the duration of the visa.

Leave To Remain (Visa Extension)
At the end of 2 years, Start-up visa holders can switch into the Innovator category to extend their stay and develop their businesses in the UK.

Bring Your Family

UK Start-up Visa allows you to keep your family together. You can bring your spouse and any children under the age of 18 with you to the UK.

Free Education

Under UK Start-up Visa, your dependent children will have access to the UK educational system.

Free Medical

Under UK Start-up Visa, you and your family will have access to the UK's NHS free healthcare system.

Work Full-Time

Main Applicant and the Dependent Partner will be allowed to work fulltime.

Favourable Economic Conditions

After a period of generally disappointing growth in 2011 and 2012, the UK economy has shown clear signs of recovery during 2013 which is expected to continue in 2018-19. The good news is that this is spread between all major industry sectors and regions which are all now showing positive growth trends.

Endorsement of Business Plan

All applicants for entry clearance or leave to remain must have been endorsed in this category. Endorsement for initial applications will be based on assessment whether applicants’ business ideas are innovative, viable and scalable.
The applicant must provide an endorsement letter issued by the endorsing body.

Business Plan Implementation

Applicants will be asked to stay in contact with their endorsing body with checkpoints after 6 and 12 months. The endorsing bodies must be satisfied that applicants are continuing to work on their business ventures and have either demonstrated reasonable progress with their original ideas or are pursuing new business ideas that are also innovative, viable and scalable.

The Home Office will carefully scrutinise an application for any long term or temporary work visa. If it does not consider that the visa application is a genuine or if it considers that any of the other requirements have not been met, the application will fall for refusal. It is therefore essential that the application is prepared thoroughly and carefully.