You cannot get an Innovator Founder visa without an endorsement. The endorsing body looks at your business or idea, decides whether it qualifies, and stays involved for as long as you hold the visa. Picking the right one, and knowing which ones are real, is the first decision you make on this route.
Who can endorse you now
Four bodies can currently issue new endorsements:
- UK Endorsing Services: Innovator Founder and Scale-up
- Innovator International: Innovator Founder and Scale-up
- Envestors Limited: Innovator Founder and Scale-up
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP): Innovator Founder only. Run by the Department for Business and Trade for internationally mobile, tech-based founders. It only endorses founders it has already invited onto its programme, so you cannot simply apply to it.
The Home Office list also includes 63 legacy bodies, among them universities, accelerators and investment firms. They no longer take new applicants. They only look after people they endorsed under the old Innovator or Start-up routes before 13 April 2023. Do not approach a legacy body unless you are already one of their endorsees.
The list changes. Several bodies were removed during 2026, so check the current GOV.UK list before you pay anyone.
What they look at
Your business must be new, innovative, viable and scalable. In practice that means an original idea, a credible plan, and evidence that it can create jobs and grow into national and international markets. If the business is new, you must also show the endorsing body that you have enough funding and where it comes from.
What it costs
- Endorsement: £1,000 per person, paid directly to the endorsing body.
- Contact point meetings: £500 each, with at least two during your permission to stay.
These are on top of the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. See our Innovator Founder visa guide for the full costs.
After you are endorsed
Your endorsing body meets you after 12 and 24 months to check your progress. If it withdraws your endorsement, your visa can be cut short. To extend, or to apply for settlement, you need the endorsing body to support you again, so treat it as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off fee.
Watch out for
- An organisation that is not on the list offering an endorsement. It is not valid, and you can report it through GOV.UK.
- Anyone guaranteeing an endorsement before they have assessed your business.
- Hypothetical questions. Neither the endorsing bodies nor the Home Office business helpdesk will answer speculative enquiries, so have a real plan ready.
An immigration solicitor can help you prepare. Find a solicitor in our directory.
Sources: GOV.UK endorsing bodies list (updated 7 August 2026) and GOV.UK Innovator Founder visa.
Talk to a regulated adviser
Every route has its own traps. A specialist can check your plan before you commit time and money to it.
Business and private client firmsBrowse all solicitorsLast checked: 2 November 2026 against GOV.UK. General information, not legal advice. See our disclaimer.