UK Business Visa: A Guide for Overseas Investors & Entrepreneurs

The United Kingdom remains a premier destination for global entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses looking to expand. Its strategic global position, stable economy, vast consumer market access, and strong legal framework make it highly attractive.

Navigating the UK’s business immigration landscape, however, can be complex. There is no single “Business Visa”; instead, the UK offers a suite of visa options tailored to various professional goals and types of commercial activity. Criteria across all routes are stringent, and policy changes can add layers of challenge.

This guide provides overseas investors and entrepreneurs with a clear overview of the main UK visa pathways for doing business.

Section A: Understanding the UK Business Visa Landscape

What is a UK Business Visa?

The term ‘UK Business Visa’ is a general label for a collection of immigration routes designed to attract skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors. These visas allow non-UK nationals to establish, manage, or expand commercial operations, or to carry out specific short-term business activities in the country.

Depending on the chosen path, applicants must often demonstrate a robust business plan, secure endorsement from a recognized body, or prove access to necessary investment capital or maintenance funds.

Who Needs a UK Business Visa?

Any non-UK national (outside of British or Irish citizens and those with settled status) planning to enter the UK for business purposes that go beyond standard visitor rules must apply for an appropriate visa.

Type of Business Activity	Example & Recommended Visa
Short-Term Visits (e.g., attending meetings, conferences, negotiating contracts, site visits, trade fairs, short lectures without pay, up to 6 months).	A marketing manager from Brazil attending a four-day industry conference needs a Standard Visitor Visa (Business).
Launching a New Business (for experienced entrepreneurs with a unique, scalable idea).	A tech innovator from South Korea launching a venture-backed FinTech start-up would apply for the Innovator Founder Visa.
Expanding an Overseas Company (sending a key employee to set up a first UK branch/subsidiary).	A senior executive from a US software firm tasked with opening the UK office would use the UK Expansion Worker Visa.
Service Providers/Contractors (delivering services under specific international trade agreements).	A Canadian legal consultant working on a short-term UK contract governed by the UK-Canada trade agreement would use the Service Supplier Visa.

Key UK Visa Routes for Business

Visa Type	Primary Purpose	Key Features & Requirements
Innovator Founder Visa	Start a new, innovative UK business.	Must secure an endorsement for an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea. Can lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR).
UK Expansion Worker Visa	Establish a UK branch of an established overseas business.	Temporary route (up to 2 years max) for senior employees. Overseas business must be trading for at least three years and secure a sponsor licence. Does not lead to settlement.
Self-Sponsorship via Skilled Worker Visa	Start and sponsor your own UK business.	Allows a business owner to set up a compliant company, secure a sponsor licence, and sponsor themselves in a skilled role. Can lead to settlement.
Global Talent Visa	Work or establish a business as a recognized leader in specific fields.	For leaders or potential leaders in science, tech, arts, or humanities. Requires endorsement from a designated UK body (e.g., Tech Nation, Arts Council). No sponsorship is needed. Can lead to settlement.
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa	Work or job hunt in the UK after graduating from a top global university.	Allows 2-3 years of flexible work/business activity for recent graduates of specified top-tier universities. Does not directly lead to settlement but allows switching to other routes. No sponsor needed.
Service Supplier Visa (GBM)	Deliver contract-based services under an international trade agreement.	Short-term (up to 12 months) route for contractors or employees of overseas service providers. Requires a UK sponsor. Does not lead to settlement.

Section B: Innovator Founder Visa (The Entrepreneur Route)

The Innovator Founder Visa is for experienced entrepreneurs committed to establishing an innovative, scalable, and commercially viable business in the UK. This route, which replaced the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa, removes a mandatory minimum investment, focusing instead on the quality and growth potential of the business idea.

Key Requirements

1. Endorsement: Applicants must gain approval from a Home Office-approved endorsing body. The business idea must be confirmed as innovative (new to the market), viable (realistic potential for profit), and scalable (potential for national or international growth and job creation).
2. Points-Based Assessment: Applicants must score 70 points, including 50 for the business proposition and 20 split between the English language (B2 level) and financial maintenance requirements.
3. Financials: Applicants must show minimum savings of £1,270 if applying from abroad or having lived in the UK for less than 12 months.

Business Categories

• New Business: For a completely new idea requiring initial endorsement.
• Same Business: For entrepreneurs continuing to develop a business previously endorsed under the Innovator or Start-up routes.

Section C: UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is designed for established overseas businesses to send a senior employee or owner to the UK to set up the company’s first UK presence (e.g., a branch or subsidiary). This visa is specifically for companies with a proven track record (trading for at least three years overseas) that are launching their initial UK entity.

Expansion Worker Process

1. Sponsor Licence: The overseas business must first apply for and secure a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence.
2. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): The licensed business then assigns a CoS to the chosen employee (the ‘expansion worker’).
3. Visa Duration: The visa is temporary, granted for up to 12 months initially, with a maximum stay of two years.
4. Transition: After the initial four-year licence validity, or when the UK entity is stable, the business must transition to a Skilled Worker sponsor licence to continue its long-term UK operations and hire more staff.

Section D: Self-Sponsorship Via Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker Visa offers an alternative path for entrepreneurs, especially those with standard business models that don’t meet the “innovative” criteria of the Innovator Founder route. This strategy involves the business owner setting up a UK company and then having that company sponsor their own employment.

Steps for Self-Sponsorship

1. Establish UK Business: Register the company (often a private limited company) with Companies House and set up a UK business bank account.
2. Sponsor Licence Application: The company must apply for and be granted a sponsor licence, demonstrating its legitimacy and capacity to meet sponsor duties.
3. Visa Application: The company assigns a CoS to the owner, who then applies for the Skilled Worker Visa, meeting requirements for minimum salary, job role qualification, and English language proficiency (B1 level).
4. Long-Term Status: The visa is typically granted for up to five years, is renewable, and provides a direct route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of residence.

Section E, F, & G: Other Specialist Business Visas

Section E: Global Talent Visa

• Target: Leaders or potential leaders in specific fields like academia, research, science, engineering, the arts, and digital technology.
• Process: Requires endorsement from a sector-specific body (e.g., Tech Nation, Royal Society).
• Benefit: Provides immense flexibility to work, be self-employed, or establish a business without needing a sponsor. Leads to settlement.

Section F: High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa

• Target: Recent graduates (within the last five years) from top-ranked, specified global universities.
• Benefit: Allows the holder to live and work (or be self-employed) for two years (or three years for PhD holders) without needing a job offer or sponsorship.
• Note: Does not lead directly to settlement but is a strong entry route to switch into other visas, like the Skilled Worker route.

Section G: GBM Service Supplier Visa

• Target: Overseas professionals (employees or self-employed) delivering services under an international trade agreement (e.g., GATS, UK-Japan trade deal).
• Purpose: Short-term, contract-based work in specific sectors (e.g., legal, engineering, consultancy).
• Requirement: Must be sponsored by a licensed UK company with a valid contract.
• Duration: Typically granted for up to 12 months. Not a route to settlement.

Section H: The UK Business Visa Application Process

A successful visa application hinges on meticulous preparation and adherence to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rules.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

1. Select the Correct Visa: Crucially, determine the most suitable route (e.g., Innovator Founder, Skilled Worker) and thoroughly review its specific eligibility criteria, including any endorsement or sponsorship requirements.
2. Gather Documentation: Prepare a comprehensive and well-organized bundle. Ensure all non-English documents are formally translated and comply with UKVI formatting standards.
3. Complete the Online Form: Submit the application via the official GOV.UK website. Ensure all information is accurate, consistent, and verifiable against your supporting documents.
4. Pay Fees and Surcharge: Pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which grants access to the National Health Service (NHS).
5. Submit Biometrics: Book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide fingerprints and a photograph. Applicants inside the UK may be eligible to use the UK Immigration ID Check app.
6. Attend an Interview (If Requested): For complex cases, an interview may be required. Be prepared to clearly articulate your business plan, viability, and operational strategy in the UK.
7. Await a Decision: Standard processing times are typically around three weeks for applications submitted outside the UK, with priority services often available for an extra cost.
8. Receive Your Visa: If successful, you’ll receive an entry clearance vignette or, for applicants inside the UK, potentially an eVisa or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

UK Visa to Start a Business FAQs

What are the main visa options for starting a business?

The primary routes are the Innovator Founder Visa, Self-Sponsorship via the Skilled Worker Visa, and the Global Talent Visa. Your choice depends on whether your idea is innovative, whether you seek a permanent or temporary stay, and your background.

Is a minimum investment required for the Innovator Founder Visa?

No, a mandatory minimum investment is no longer required. However, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to finance and successfully develop your proposed business.

Do I need a business plan for these visas?

Yes, a detailed business plan is mandatory for the Innovator Founder Visa to secure endorsement. For the Self-Sponsorship route, a plan is essential to prove the company’s legitimacy for the sponsor licence application.

Can I bring my family (dependants)?

Yes, holders of the Innovator Founder and Skilled Worker visas can bring eligible dependants (spouse/partner and children under 18). UK Expansion Worker visa holders, however, cannot bring dependants.

How long does the application process take?

Processing times typically range from 3 to 8 weeks, depending on the visa category, where you apply from (inside or outside the UK), and whether you opt for a priority service.