If you are an Irish citizen, you do not need permission to enter or remain in the UK, including a visa, any form of residence permit or employment permit.

Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.

What is an Innovator Founder Visa?

The Innovator Founder Visa is a single immigration route that replaced both the Innovator Visa and the Start-up Visa as of April 13, 2023. This scheme is still aimed at foreign candidates who wish to establish an innovative business in the UK.

What are the benefits of Visa Innovator Founder?

Innovator Founder Visa is a unique opportunity for people to bring their business ideas to life in the UK. Once approved, you can work in an existing business, as well as seek other employment opportunities that require at least a UK A-level qualification. You can also continue your studies while running your own business.

Is it possible to obtain permanent residence and citizenship after obtaining Innovator Founder Visa?

First, you get permission to live and work in the UK for a maximum of three years. After that, you can apply for permanent residence (ILR, Indefinite Leave to Remain), provided that you meet the necessary requirements. After a year of obtaining permanent residence and meeting all the requirements, you can apply for citizenship.

Is it possible to bring relatives with me if I have Innovator Founder Visa?

Innovative founders can also bring their immediate family members, including their partner and dependent children, with them to the UK. As dependents, their partners and children are free to work in any field, with the exception of sports coaches or players, and to continue their education.

Innovator Founder Visa: Basic qualifications and requirements 

In order to be considered for a visa, applicants must meet several requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration: 

When applying for a visa, you must be interviewed and have your business plan approved by an institution authorized by the UK Home Office.

1. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

2. They must receive a letter of recommendation from a recognized UK body confirming the following:

- The candidate is eligible for approval under the Innovator Founder Visa program;

- The support body has no reservations about the origin of the funds invested in the applicant's business;

- The supporting authority has no reason to suspect the applicant or his/her business of involvement in illegal or unaccounted for wealth;

- The applicant has a business plan and is the author of the ideas in the plan or has made a significant contribution to its implementation;

- The applicant will be actively involved in the daily implementation of the business plan;

- The applicant undertakes to regularly attend at least two follow-up meetings with the business plan approval authority;

- The applicant is either the sole founder or a key member of the founding team; and the business idea is innovative, viable and scalable.

3. The letter of support should be dated no more than three months before the date of submission of the application for an innovator visa.

4. Applicants must have at least a CEFR Level B2 English language proficiency (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking).

5. Applicants who are outside the UK or who have been residing in the UK for less than 12 months must demonstrate that they have at least £1270 of financial resources for personal support, as well as £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child.

6. The application should not be rejected based on the general exclusion criteria.

7. If possible, a valid tuberculosis test certificate must be provided.

The exact qualification requirements may vary depending on the specific situation. It is recommended to consult with an immigration lawyer to obtain qualified advice.

Is Innovator Founder Visa right for you?

Determining if the Innovator Founder Visa is right for you depends on a number of factors, including your business goals and objectives, previous experience, and personal circumstances;

If you have an innovative, scalable and viable business idea or concept that has the potential to succeed in the UK market and you can successfully present it to gain approval from an authorized body, this visa is right for you. In addition, take into account your English language proficiency, financial capabilities, and willingness to comply with visa conditions, such as attending registration meetings and working exclusively on your business project. After evaluating these factors, you will be able to decide whether the Innovator Founder Visa is right for your entrepreneurial aspirations in the UK;

Unlike other visa categories, the Innovator Founder Visa does not have a specific amount of investment funds required for the proposed business venture. Instead, applicants must demonstrate that they have access to sufficient personal funds to support themselves and their dependents during their stay in the UK (as outlined in the previous section).

Requirements for innovative, viable and scalable business to become a Visa Innovator Founder;

Your business idea must meet the following criteria:

Innovation: They must develop a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or provides a competitive advantage to the industry or sector;

Sustainability: A realistic and achievable business plan based on available resources, with evidence of the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to be successful;

Scalability: A plan for the potential for job creation and growth in the UK national and international markets.

EU / EFTA citizens working in the UK but living in another country can apply for a Frontier Worker permit.

However, they must’ve begun working by December 31, 2020. This permit allows you to work, rent housing and receive certain benefits and services, such as medical care in the UK.

To be eligible, you must have worked in the UK at least once a year and live mainly outside of the UK, which usually means at least six months a year in another country.

The permit is free and usually valid for two years, but it can be extended. You can apply online both outside and inside the UK.

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Employment

To apply for a job, you can send an application form or a resume ('curriculum vitae' - a list of your qualifications and experience) and a letter containing some information about you and the job you are looking for.

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Appeals and complaints about work visas

You can ask for an administrative review of the decision if your work visa in the UK is refused. It costs 80 pounds and you can apply for an online review. If you are told that you are not entitled to a full review, you can request a “reconsideration" from the UK Immigration Service.

Just keep in mind that an administrative review can be a lengthy process and can take up to six months.

For general complaints about services provided by the UK's visa and immigration authorities, you can file a complaint online. You will usually receive a response within 20 business days or 12 weeks if the complaint is considered serious or complex.

If you are not satisfied with the result, you can request an examination, which can take up to 20 days. You can then refer the case to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman if you are still dissatisfied.

It is worth noting that appealing a visa decision can sometimes be expensive and time consuming.

The following are the most important current labor laws in the UK:

- The Labor Rights Law of 1996 is an updated version of the previous laws regulating dismissal, parental leave and redundancy rights.

- The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 introduced the minimum wage in the UK.

- The Equality Act of 2010 strengthened laws on discrimination in the workplace.

Employment contracts are the norm in the UK and every employee has the right to request a written contract. The contract contains the terms and conditions of your employment and cannot be changed by your employer once you have signed it.

Your employment contract should contain detailed information about:

Your weekly working hours. For full-time employees, this is usually 35-40 hours per week. The maximum working week is 48 hours, although employees can work more;

Your right to annual leave. This is a minimum of 28 days for full-time employees, including eight UK public holidays;

Notice period for contract termination.

The notice period depends on the length of the period of employment with the organization. Currently, it is:

- At least one week if you have been working for one month to two years;

- One week for each year if you have worked from 2 to 12 years;

- 12 weeks if you have worked for more than 12 years.

Salary in the UK

For full-time workers, the average salary is £34,963, while part-time workers receive an average of £12,527 (including freelance workers). The highest-paid job in the UK is that of a CEO and senior executive, which averages £81,946.