Table Of Contents
- Eligibility to switch from a student visa to an innovator founder visa
- How to switch from a student visa to an innovator founder visa
- Supply supporting documents
- Pay the application fee
- Get a decision
- Summary
An innovator founder visa allows you to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. Your business must be something that is different from anything else already on the market.
You may switch to a UK Innovator Founder visa from inside the UK if you are already in the country on a different visa category. This also means that for students in the UK, switching from a student visa to an Innovator Founder visa is possible.
However, if you are currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must have completed the course of study you were sponsored for or your CAS was issued, or must be studying for a PhD full-time, and have been for 24 months or more.
Your partner’s or child’s visa as a dependent will not automatically change to the Innovator Founder visa if you switch yours. Their visa will be valid until its original end date if they do not apply to change or switch their visa. They can either apply to switch to an Innovator Founder visa at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
Eligibility to switch from a student visa to an innovator founder visa?
Before you apply to switch to this visa, you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body (this is an organisation approved by the UK government to assess whether your business idea is suitable for the visa).
The endorsing body will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is eligible.
If you are currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must have completed the course of study you were sponsored for, or must be studying for a PhD full-time, and have been for 24 months or more.
The Home Office wants most students to complete their sponsored course before switching to another visa category.
This rule is designed to prevent students from abandoning studies shortly after arriving in the UK and using the student visa mainly as a route to switch into another immigration category.
You can apply to switch to an Innovator founder visa if you are at least 18 years old, meet the English language requirements to at least CEFR B2 level (unless exempt), and you have enough personal savings (at least £1,270) to support yourself while you are in the UK (unless exempt).
How to switch from a student visa to an innovator founder visa?
You must apply online. Once you have started your application online, you can save your application form and complete it later by signing back into your application.
When you are switching from a student visa to an innovator founder visa, you will be required to prove your identity as part of your application. How you prove your identity depends on what type of passport you have and where you are from.
You will either:
• Use the app ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ (available on Google Play Store and Apple Store) to scan your identity document. You will also create or sign in to your UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account, or• Have your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) taken at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) service point in the UK.
1. Supply supporting documents
When you are switching from a student visa to an innovator founder visa, you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ to show that a Home Office-approved endorsing body has assessed your business or business idea.
You also need to provide the following documents:
• a valid passport or other document showing your identity and nationality
• bank statements showing you have had £1,270 or more in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply
• Proof of meeting the English language requirement
• Proof of your course completion
You will need to provide a certified translation for documents that are not in English or Welsh.
You may be asked to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
2. Pay the application fee
It costs £1,693 per applicant if you apply to switch from your student visa to an Innovator Founder visa in the UK.
You and your dependents will also have to pay £776 per year as an Immigration Health Charge.
3. Get a decision
Once you have applied online for switching from a student visa to an innovator founder visa, proved your identity, and submitted your documents, you will usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks.
You can stay for 3 years if you switch to this visa from another visa including UK Student visa while in the UK.
Summary
You can switch to the UK Innovator Founder visa from inside the UK if you are already in the country on a student visa and meet the eligibility requirements.
If you are a student, you must either have completed the course for which your UK student visa was granted, or have studied a full-time PhD for at least 24 months.
You must submit the application form before the current student visa expires. After approval, you can stay in the UK to establish and run your business and may later qualify for settlement.
Read Similar Blogs
What is proposed UK-EU Youth Experience Scheme
UK Start-Up Visa vs Innovator Visa: Key Differences Explained