The UK Home Office has announced a new pathway to permanent residency for holders of the Innovator Founder visa. This visa category allows applicants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after just three years of residence in the UK. According to official guidance published by the Home Office, both Innovator Founder visa holders and those who previously held the now-replaced Innovator visa may qualify for ILR.
To be eligible for ILR, applicants must meet specific conditions. Time spent on any other visa category does not count towards the three-year residency requirement. Applicants must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period during those three years. This requirement ensures that applicants have been continuously resident in the UK.
Indefinite leave to remain removes all time restrictions on a person's right to live, work, and study in the UK. Successful applicants also become eligible to access certain public benefits and, in time, may apply for British citizenship. This new pathway provides a faster route to permanent residency for Innovator Founder visa holders, making it an attractive option for those looking to settle in the UK.
Travel history during the qualifying period is a critical factor in ILR applications. Applicants must not have exceeded 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period across their three years on the visa. Once an ILR application has been submitted, travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man is prohibited until the Home Office reaches a decision.
The application process for ILR involves a fee and processing time. Each applicant must pay a fee of £3,226 per person. Processing can take up to six months from the date of submission or from when biometric information is collected at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centre. Cases involving a criminal record, outstanding document checks, or a required interview may take considerably longer.
The Home Office advises applicants not to allow their existing visa to lapse before becoming eligible, as doing so requires a renewal, adding both time and additional cost. Applications can be lodged up to 28 days before the eligibility date, but any submission made earlier than that window risks an outright refusal. It is essential for applicants to plan carefully and meet the eligibility criteria.
This new pathway to permanent residency is part of the UK's immigration policy. The UK government has been making changes to its immigration rules to attract skilled workers and entrepreneurs. The Innovator Founder visa is one of the visa categories that can lead to permanent residency.
Key points
- Innovator Founder visa holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years of residence.
- Applicants must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period during the three-year residency requirement.
- The application fee for ILR is £3,226 per person, with processing taking up to six months.
