UK immigration opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors

Autumn immigration strategy series

UK immigration opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors

As the global economy continues to evolve, the UK remains an attractive destination for ambitious entrepreneurs and strategic investors seeking international growth. With a thriving innovation ecosystem, strong legal protections, and access to global markets, the UK offers multiple immigration routes tailored for business development.

At Gherson Solicitors, we advise entrepreneurs, founders, and investors on how to align their immigration plans with their commercial goals. Two key immigration routes currently
supporting this vision are the Innovator Founder visa and the Expansion Worker visa.

The Innovator Founder visa

The Innovator Founder visa is a bespoke immigration route designed for individuals looking to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. This visa, which replaced the previous Innovator visa, is aimed at entrepreneurs with original, scalable, and viable business ideas that are distinct from anything else on the market.

Who qualifies?

Entrepreneurs from a wide range of sectors may qualify, including:

• Tech
• Creative industries: digital media, design, content platforms
• Green and clean energy: sustainability-focused solutions
• Finance and professional services

The key requirement is that the idea must be innovative, viable, and scalable, with real potential for job creation and growth into national or international markets.

Endorsement requirement

To apply, your business idea must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body. This body assesses your proposal and ensures that it meets the criteria for innovation, scalability, and viability. You will also be required to meet with your endorsing body after 12 and 24 months to demonstrate progress.

Visa benefits

• Initial stay of 3 years, with no limit on extensions
• Route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 3 years
• Ability to bring family members as dependants
• Option to work outside the business, provided it the supplementary work is at least a Level 3 qualification

This route suits entrepreneurs looking to actively lead their business while retaining the flexibility to explore complementary professional opportunities.

The Expansion Worker visa

The Expansion Worker visa is ideal for international companies looking to establish a UK presence. It allows a senior or specialist employee from an overseas business to relocate to the UK to oversee the launch or expansion of a UK branch or subsidiary.

Key features

• Part of the Global Business Mobility visa routes
• Requires a sponsor licence for the UK entity
• Suitable for non-UK headquartered companies planning to scale operations into the UK market

This visa is an effective tool for international business expansion, allowing overseas firms to establish a footprint in the UK while remaining compliant with UK immigration laws.

Opportunities for investors

While the UK’s Tier 1 Investor visa has been closed, significant opportunities remain for investors looking to participate in the UK’s economy. These include:

• Collaborations with Innovator Founders as strategic partners or board advisors
• Equity investments in innovative UK start-ups that qualify for the Innovator Founder visa
• Joint ventures or portfolio-building strategies in high-growth sectors like technology, renewable energy, and life sciences

Evidencing that the necessary investment is available for the projected start-up costs is crucial to securing endorsement for the Innovator Founder visa, as is the case for obtaining a licence to sponsor an Expansion Worker visa. However, passive investment alone is no longer sufficient to secure residency in the UK, and both visas require you to undertake an active role in the business as a condition of the visa.

Guidance for entrepreneurs and investors

Whether you are a solo founder, start-up team, or investor-led syndicate, it is essential to align your business roadmap with UK immigration strategy. Here are key considerations:

• Timing: Start the visa and endorsement process early to align with launch plans
• Endorsement strategy: Build a robust business plan that clearly meets the Home Office’s innovation and scalability standards to maximise the likelihood of endorsement
• Plan for future growth by identifying who may require visas (co-founders, key staff, etc.)

Conclusion

The UK continues to be a leading destination for global entrepreneurship and strategic investment. Whether you are launching an innovative venture or expanding your global business footprint, the Innovator Founder visa and Expansion Worker visa offer viable, structured pathways to enter and thrive in the UK market.

At Gherson Solicitors, we specialise in guiding entrepreneurs and investors through the UK immigration process. From securing endorsements to structuring cross-border investment collaborations, our team is here to help you navigate every step with clarity and confidence.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on all UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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