The UK Start-up visa is closed. You can no longer apply for it. If you are a founder in Pakistan who wants to build a business in the UK, the route today is the Innovator Founder visa, which needs an endorsement from an approved endorsing body and a business idea that is new, innovative, viable and scalable.
This guide explains what happened to the Start-up visa, how the Innovator Founder route works in 2026, what it costs, and the mistakes that sink applications from Pakistan.
What happened to the Start-up visa
The Start-up and Innovator routes were replaced in 2023 by a single route, the Innovator Founder visa. GOV.UK now says plainly that you can no longer apply for a Start-up visa, and that the Innovator Founder visa “used to be called the Innovator visa”.
If you already hold a Start-up visa, your partner and children can still apply to join you. When your visa is ending and you want to stay for business, you may be able to switch to an Innovator Founder visa with a new endorsement. There is no way to extend a Start-up visa itself.
Many older articles, including the first version of this page, still describe the Start-up visa as open, talk about universities endorsing new founders, or say you need £50,000 to invest. None of that reflects the current rules.
Who the Innovator Founder visa is for
The route is for people who want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. Your endorsing body must be satisfied that your business idea is:
- New: you cannot join a business that is already trading.
- Innovative: an original idea that is different from anything else on the market.
- Viable: it has potential for growth, and you have the skills to run it.
- Scalable: your plans show job creation and growth into national and international markets.
You must also be at least 18, prove English at CEFR level B2 (for example through a Secure English Language Test with an approved provider), and have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply. You cannot count your business investment funds towards that £1,270.
There is no fixed minimum investment figure for a new business on GOV.UK. Instead, you must show your endorsing body that you have enough funding and where it comes from. Source of funds matters as much as the amount.
Who can endorse you in 2026
Only organisations on the GOV.UK list of endorsing bodies can endorse a new Innovator Founder application. The list changes often (it was last updated in August 2026), so check it on the day you apply.
| Endorsing body | What it can do |
|---|---|
| UK Endorsing Services | Endorse new Innovator Founder applications |
| Innovator International | Endorse new Innovator Founder applications |
| Envestors Limited | Endorse new Innovator Founder applications |
| Global Entrepreneurs Programme | Endorse founders it has already invited onto its programme |
| “Legacy” endorsing bodies (including some universities) | Only monitor people they endorsed in the past; no new applicants |
See the current list on GOV.UK: Endorsing bodies: Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas.
What it costs
At the time of writing, GOV.UK lists these costs per person:
- Visa fee from outside the UK: £1,357 (£1,693 to extend or switch inside the UK).
- Endorsement fee: £1,000, paid to the endorsing body.
- Progress meetings: £500 each, with at least two meetings during your stay.
- Immigration health surcharge for each year of the visa, for you and each family member.
- Maintenance funds: £1,270 for you, plus £285 for a partner, £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child.
Fees change, usually each April. For a full picture of costs from Pakistan, see our UK visa price guide and the Innovator Founder page on GOV.UK.
Life on the visa: meetings, work and settlement
The visa lasts 3 years. You must meet your endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show progress. If your endorsement is withdrawn, your visa may be cut short.
You can set up one or more businesses, work for your business as a director or partner, and take other work in jobs that need at least a level 3 qualification. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or coach, and you cannot claim most benefits.
You can extend for further 3-year periods with a new endorsement. You may be able to apply for settlement after 3 years, but only if your endorsing body confirms your business has met at least two of the settlement criteria in the Immigration Rules (one of them is at least £50,000 invested in and actively spent on the business). The government has also consulted on an “earned settlement” model that could change qualifying periods, so check GOV.UK before relying on any settlement timeline.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Ordinary businesses presented as innovation. A takeaway, a grocery import company or a general IT outsourcing firm will usually struggle to show it is different from anything else on the market.
- Paying an agent who “guarantees” endorsement. No agent can guarantee it. Only listed endorsing bodies decide, and they charge the published fee.
- Approaching a legacy body or university. They can no longer endorse new applicants.
- Weak source of funds. Money from a property sale, family gift or business income needs a clear paper trail: sale deeds, tax records, bank statements and gift letters, with certified English translations of any Urdu documents.
- Old English level. Some applicants still prepare for B1. This route needs B2 (see our English requirements guide).
- Mixing up maintenance and investment. Your £1,270 must be separate from your business funds.
If you have been refused before, read common UK visa refusal reasons and deal with the old refusal openly in your new application.
Your preparation checklist
- Test your idea honestly: what makes it new, and who is already doing something similar?
- Write a business plan with UK market research, financial forecasts and a hiring plan.
- Gather source-of-funds evidence and get certified translations.
- Book a B2 English test with an approved provider, unless an exemption applies.
- Apply to a listed endorsing body and keep a copy of your endorsement letter.
- Hold £1,270 (plus any family amounts) for 28 days, then apply online and book your visa centre appointment.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a UK Start-up visa?
No. The Start-up visa is closed to new applicants. The Innovator Founder visa is the route for new founders.
I already hold a Start-up visa. What are my options?
You cannot extend it, but you may be able to switch to an Innovator Founder visa with an endorsement from a listed body before your current visa ends.
Do I need £50,000 to apply?
Not as a fixed minimum at the start. You must satisfy your endorsing body that you have enough funding for your plan. £50,000 invested and spent is one of the possible criteria at the settlement stage.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your husband or wife, civil or unmarried partner, and children under 18 can apply as dependants. For relationship evidence from Pakistan, a registered nikahnama and NADRA Family Registration Certificate with certified translations are the usual starting point.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.