Slough Office: Herschel House,
58 Herschel Street, Slough SL1 1PG
London Office: 10 John Street,
London WC1N 2EB
Slough Office: Herschel House,
58 Herschel Street, Slough SL1 1PG
London Office: 10 John Street,
London WC1N 2EB
The UK offers several immigration routes for entrepreneurs and expanding businesses. The right route depends on several factors:
This guide sets out the typical options and how they compare.
Innovator Founder Visa
Designed for entrepreneurs who wish to establish a new, innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK. Applicants must secure endorsement from an approved endorsing body to demonstrate that their business idea meets these criteria. This route offers a 3‑year pathway to settlement, flexibility to work and grow your business. It’s best suited to founders building something distinctive and growth focused.
Global Talent Visa
Designed for leaders and emerging leaders in fields such as science, digital technology, the arts, and academia. It does not require a job offer and provides a highly flexible route to settlement in 3 to 5 years. Applicants must either obtain an endorsement from an approved endorsing body in their field or have received a qualifying award. Best suited to high caliber individuals with an established track record.
Skilled Worker Visa
For businesses establishing a UK entity capable of sponsoring employment in the UK. It requires a UK entity to have commenced operations and trading, Sponsor License with a UK based employee or director, and a genuine skilled role meeting salary and compliance criteria. Whilst there are significant compliance requirements, this route allows the entrepreneur and their staff to have formal employment sponsorship in the UK and can lead to settlement after 5 years.
Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker
For businesses that need to transfer their senior or specialist overseas employees to their UK entity for a temporary period in order to support growth. Unlike the Skilled Worker route, there is no English‑language requirement, and the role must be genuinely senior or specialist within the wider group. The visa is typically used for short‑term assignments rather than long‑term relocation, and while it does not lead to settlement, it can offer UK tax reliefs especially where the UK assignment lasts for a period of not more than two years.
Global Business Mobility: Expansion Worker Visa
The Expansion Worker Visa is designed for overseas companies establishing their first UK presence. To qualify, the overseas business must have traded outside the UK for at least three years, and the sponsor licence for this route can take six to twelve months to obtain. It is a temporary route, allowing a maximum stay of two years with no direct pathway to settlement, and is typically used as an interim solution to get an initial UK operation off the ground before switching into a longer‑term category such as the Skilled Worker route
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
The High Potential Individual Visa is aimed at recent graduates from eligible top global universities and provides a flexible option for those wishing to come to the UK without the need for a job offer. Applicants can work, be self‑employed, or explore different career paths while in the country. Although this visa does not directly lead to settlement, it can act as a stepping‑stone, as individuals may switch into other long‑term routes once they meet the relevant criteria.
Below is a high-level comparison of the main routes, summarising suitability, duration, settlement pathways, and key requirements.
| Route | Best For | Leads to Settlement | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Founder | Innovative entrepreneurs who want to run and grow a business | Yes (3 years) | Endorsement, B2 English, Innovative, viable and scalable business plan |
| Global Talent | Established Leaders in digital technology/emerging leaders | Yes (3–5 years) | Strong track record of achievement and innovation, leadership in industry, Endorsement/prize. Must be economically active in the field endorsed in to gain settlement |
| Skilled Worker | Founders of a UK entity that will sponsor and employ overseas staff in the UK including new hires | Yes (5 years) | Sponsor Licence, skilled role, salary threshold, B2 English. Requires UK based staff with appropriate Immigration status |
| GBM: Senior or Specialist Worker | For overseas businesses needing to send existing staff to their UK entity on short‑term assignments | No – must switch to different route | Sponsor Licence. Must be an employee of the wider group company for at least 12 months or be earning more than £73,900 per year. No English requirement |
| GBM: Expansion Worker | Established overseas companies entering the UK market where they have no presence | No – must switch to different route | Sponsor Licence, senior overseas role, business plan |
| High Potential Individual |
Recent graduates from top global university graduates | No – must switch to different route | Eligible qualification, maintenance funds |
All applications (Innovator Founder, Skilled Worker, Expansion Worker, Global Talent, HPI) can be submitted from overseas.
If you are already in the UK on a visa, you may be able to switch into these categories, depending on your visa category and circumstances
Only for certain routes, such as Skilled Worker and GBM: Senior or Specialist worker or Expansion Worker.
Yes, partners and children under 18 can apply as your dependents. They can work and study without restriction (with the exception as a professional sportsperson or coach).
Innovator Founder: Primarily, you must invest and work for your own endorsed business, but you can also have supplementary work, but this is very limited.
Global Talent: You are fully flexible. You may establish a business, run a business, consult, or freelance.
Skilled Worker / Expansion Worker: There are no restrictions on investments, but you must always work in the role you are sponsored for. Some supplementary employment is allowed, but restricted and subject to meeting the relevant requirements.
Innovation is not limited to technological advances. A business may qualify if it presents a new or differentiated approach within its market. Your business plan should be able to show that the business meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage. Other routes do not require proof of innovation.
Assessors evaluate whether you meet the standard for Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise, depending on your career stage. Applicants applying under Exceptional Talent must show they are already established leaders in their field with a clear track record of significant achievements, recognised impact, and independent evidence of authority or influence.
By contrast, Exceptional Promise is aimed at individuals earlier in their career who are not yet industry leaders, but can demonstrate strong potential to become leaders, supported by evidence of emerging impact, high‑quality contributions, and compelling recommendations. In both cases, assessors look for a combination of achievement, influence, innovation, and independent endorsement to show that you either “are, or are on the path to becoming”, a leading figure in your field.
There is no fixed investment threshold for Innovator Founder, but endorsing bodies expect evidence of adequate funding to deliver your business plan.
Skilled Worker and GBM: SSW routes require operational investment to make the business genuinely trading and compliant.
GBM: Expansion worker requires credible evidence of funding suitable to business needs
Yes, we can help prepare your endorsement application for both the Innovator Founder route and the Global Talent route. We can also offer an initial assessment service before proceeding with the appropriate visa route to advise you on your prospects of success.
Not always, but if the company has been operating for less than 18 months in the UK, the Home Office requires you to have a UK corporate bank account with a bank regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
The Expansion Worker Visa route does not require this. Oury Clark has in‑house expertise to help identify the most suitable banking options for your business plans.
Processing times vary by route and location of application. Endorsement stages (where required) must be completed before the visa application can be submitted. See table below for approximate timeframes.
| Route | Endorsement/Sponsor Licence Timeline | Visa Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Founder visa | 6–8 weeks for endorsement application to be processed once application submitted | 5 days (priority) to 3 weeks (standard) | Endorsement + two mandatory check-ins during 3-year visa. |
| Global Talent visa | Up to 8 weeks for endorsement; prize route has no endorsement step | 5 days (priority) to 3 weeks (standard) | Highly dependent on field and evidence of quality. |
| Sponsor Licence (for Skilled Worker/GBM:SSW) | 2–8 weeks depending on complexity and availability of priority services | ~8 weeks standard; ~2 weeks with priority (limited availability) | Must have UK-based Authorising Officer and be trading. |
| Skilled Worker visa | UK Skilled Worker Sponsor license required | 5 days (priority) to ~3 weeks (standard) after Sponsor Licence approval | Requires UK Sponsor Licence first and available CoS allocation. |
| GBM: Senior or Specialist Worker visa | UK GBM: SSW Sponsor license required | 5 days (priority) to ~3 weeks (standard) after Sponsor Licence approval | Suitable for short-term group transfers; no settlement route. |
| Sponsor Licence (GBM: Expansion Worker) |
6–9 months depending on complexity | 5 days (priority) to ~3 weeks (standard) after Sponsor Licence approval | Requires credible UK expansion plans; must have no UK staff/trading presence. |
| GBM: Expansion Worker visa | UK Expansion Worker Sponsor license required | 5 days (priority) to ~3 weeks (standard) after Sponsor Licence approval | Requires Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence which can take 6–9 months to obtain. |
| High Potential Individual (HPI) visa | No endorsement required | 5 days (priority) to 3 weeks (standard) | Must have a qualifying degree awarded within the last 5 years. |
*Subject to the individual meeting the residency requirements.
Some routes (such as Skilled Worker) are tied to continued sponsorship. Others (such as Global Talent) offer greater flexibility. Strategic route selection at the outset can reduce long-term immigration risk.
Frequent travel can affect both your current visa compliance and future settlement eligibility.
For routes leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain (such as Skilled Worker, Innovator Founder and Global Talent), you must meet the continuous residence requirement, usually no more than 180 days’ absence in any rolling 12-month period. Excess absences can delay or prevent settlement.
If you are on a sponsored route (e.g. Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility), you must continue to genuinely perform a UK-based role. Prolonged or primarily overseas working may create sponsor compliance issues. If significant international travel is expected, an unsponsored route such as Global Talent may offer greater flexibility, though settlement residence limits still apply.
Oury Clark can provide you with advice and support
To find your nearest office or get in touch with one of our specialist advisors to see how we can help your business, please go to our contact page.
