Startup Visa

UK STARTUP VISA

Posted on by Umer Rasib
As promised, the UK government has finally announced 2 years ‘UK Startup Visa’ with no heavy requirements of money held in bank account (funding) and capitals initially to apply for the visa. The main thing is that people with no graduation will also be able to apply for this program. UK startup visa program is in action from 29 March 2019. This new visa is aimed at aspiring and ambitious non-European young businessmen who want to set up business in the UK. Previously, it was UKBA caseworkers to look at the business proposals for TIER 1 visa streams, but for this new startup visa, there will be newly announced endorsement bodies to decide whether the applicant is good enough to be funded and endorsed. This visa will well be a great replacement for Entrepreneur visa to set up a business in the UK. Who can apply? In order to apply for this visa program, you need to meet certain requirements. For doing so, you must:
  • be from non-EEA countries
  • have a good business plan that could help the economy of the UK
  • have had received an endorsement from one of the endorsement bodies assigned by the UK government
  • have £945 in your personal bank account for the consecutive 90 days before you submit your visa application
In addition to the above, you must also have certain English proficiency requirements such as:
  • a test result of approved English language tests at the level of at least CEFR B2 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
  • having an academic degree that was taught in English medium of instruction and is recognized by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or Ph.D.
You do not need to prove above mentioned English level requirements if you are a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA. ⇒Important to know: The processing timing fr this visa is 3 weeks after applying. You may apply 3 months in advance for the visa before the intended travel date. The visa duration is 2 years and it cannot be extended.  Benefits and drawbacks First of all the benefits. You can:
  • bring your family members including spouse and under 18 children
  • switch from other visas to this visa if you are already in the UK and hold Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), any Tier 2 visa, Tier 4 (General), student visa, and Standard Visitor visa(if you came to the UK to get funding and had a supporting letter from an endorsing body). Please do note that 2 years visa time will count altogether and this time includes any time spent in the UK on previous visas.
  • do a job alongside working for your business
Some drawbacks are that you can not:
  • settle in the UK on this visa permanently
  • claim public funds
  • work as a professional sportsperson, for example, a sports coach
  • work as a doctor or dentist in training
Visa fees You will have to pay online a certain amount as a visa fee which is:
Applying person from outside the UK from inside the UK (switch)
yourself £363 £493
dependants £363 each person £493 each person
citizens of Turkey & Macedonia £308 £438
⇒Important to know: You may have to pay healthcare surcharge. You can calculate it here. Documents required to apply for the visa online Depending upon your personal circumstances, you may need to provide some extra documents to support your visa applicant, but the following are the major one:
  • a current valid computerized passport (there must be a blank page in it to stamp the visa)
  • tuberculosis test results (TB test report) if you are from certain countries)
  • certified English translation of your supporting documents if they are not in English or Welsh.
  • academic qualifications (optional but important)
  • work experience documents (optional but important)
  • bank statement of last three months with a saving of £945 held for consecutive days
  • endorsement letter from endorsement bodies
  • English language proficiency certificate at CEFR B2 level for all four modules (for example IELTS with minimum 5.5 band score). You can check here the complete list of approved English language tests and their CEFR levels.
Authorized Endorsement Bodies One really important factor that allows you to apply for this visa is an endorsement letter from authorized endorsement bodies. Some of these do this free of cost for you but some do charge an amount for the process. They not only examine your business plan but also support you financially to set up the business in the UK. Even after reaching the UK and working, these bodies keep on you an eye if you perform well or not. In some cases, they may withdraw your endorsement. If you first time apply for the endorsement letter and get a refusal, you will next time be able to apply again with a better business plan. Though the UKBA does not ask for any academic degree, the endorsement bodies may do so and additionally may well also ask for your previous experience for setting up a new business. There are two types of endorsing bodies; business endorsing bodies and HEI (higher education institutions) endorsing bodies. You can click here and download the list of both bodies. How to apply for the visa? You have to apply for this visa online. On paper application, is not possible. At the time of applying for the visa, you must have all personal documents with you in original scanned form. You will have to upload the documents and pay the fees online too. Click here to apply for Startup visa online. Once done online applying, you will have to go the Visa application center in your country of origin to submit your photograph and biometrics. You will be guided at the end of the visa application submission page on how to proceed forward. Once you reach the UK with a stamped visa on your passport, you will be asked to collect your biometric residence permit card from the immigration authorities. Important information about family members Your family members can come with you to the UK on this visa if they are from no-EEA countries. The family members include a wife, husband or a child under 18 years of age. In addition to your fund requirements of £945, you must also show them an extra amount of £630 of each for the consecutive period of 90 days before applying. They will have to pay the same visa fees as you do regardless from inside or from outside the UK. The application is also the same as it is for you. Top Startup Business Companies in the UK (click here to check) How to create an effective startup business model? (click here to check) How to get an endorsement from Endorsement bodies
  • In order to get an endorsement from UK endorsement bodies, you can follow the following steps:
  • First of all, choose if you have to apply to normal business endorsement bodies or HEIs. Most of the HEI (higher education institutions) acting as endorsement bodies are only for their graduate students.
  • Secondly, chose a relevant awarding body as some are specialized in tech, some in science and some in services etc.
  • Contact them only when you are applying for endorsement.
  • Send them your business model plan and apply for the endorsement.
  • Prepare the startup business model carefully. Teamwork is important so that you may avoid any mistakes.
  • Always chose the startup models which are required in the UK.
  • For more general queries regarding the Start-up route, applicants and immigration advisors should refer to the information on gov.uk contact the UKBA here.
Startup Business Ideas There are many startup up business ideas related to tech, science, e-commerce and other walks of life, here you will find some easy to start 100 business ideas: 1. Property Business 2. Courier Services 3. Chatting App 4. iBeacon App Solution 5. E-commerce Business 6. Food Ordering System 7. Classified Business 8. Accountant 9. Video Editing 10. Services Provider 11. Bidding Portal As a Freelancer 12. Online Appointment System 13. Taxi Booking Service and Solution 14. Video Uploading System 15. Image Sharing Solution 16. Job Portal for Job Seeker 17. Loyalty Reward Program 18. ChatBot Solution 19. Game World 20. Matrimonial Business 21. Social Networking 22. Delivery Services 23. Hardware Intelligence 24. Promotion Business 25. The Point of Sale Solution 26. Stock Management System 27. Internet of thing (IoT) 28. Payment Gateway System 29. Room Booking System 30. Voice Conversation 31. Kiosk System 32. Laundry Business 33. Team Message App Solution 34. Grocery Business 35. Car Washing Business 36. Live Streaming Solution 37. Group Management Software 38. Plumbing Business 39. Event Management 40. Mobile Auto Workshop 41. Cleaning Services App 42. Interior Decorator 43. Jewelry Making 44. Marketing Copywriter 45. Personal Trainer 46. Property Management 47. Old Book Sale 48. Wedding Planner 49. Appliance Repairing Services 50. Website Developer 51. Buy-sell Websites 52. Virtual Assistant 53. Online Consultancy 54. Graphic Design Business 55. VR Product Manufacturing 56. App Development 57. Affiliate Marketing 58. WordPress Development 59. Create and Sell Online Courses 60. Domain Sell and Buy 61. Sales Consultancy 62. Investment Advisor 63. Business Consultancy 64. Health Coaching 65. Social Media Management 66. Social Media Influencer 67. Translation Services 68. Content Proofreading & Editing 69. Ghostwriting 70. Custom Product Selling 71. Coach Online 72. Teach English 73. Real Estate Analyst 74. UI/UX Designers 75. Build Websites 76. Online Journalism 77. Online Podcast 78. Remote Customer Service 79. Blogging 80. Start a YouTube Channel 81. Teach Music 82. Freelance Accounting & Bookkeeping 83. Travel Consultancy 84. Yoga Instructor 85. SEO Consultancy 86. Voiceover Services 87. Content Marketing 88. Copywriting 89. Event Planning 90. Custom Furniture Making 91. Sell Photos Online 92. Vacation Rental System 93. Sell Bottled Water 94. Mobile/Computer Repairing 95. EV Charging Station 96. Online Advertising Business 97. Privacy Protection Services 98. Food Truck 99. Organic Farming 100. Electric Bikes

4 thoughts on “UK STARTUP VISA”

  1. Ali Ghabeli Juibary says:

    Dear Sir/ Madam

    Hello. Hope you are doing well. I am a physician/ Neurologist working in Iran. Would you please kindly help me to apply for a UK start-up/ Entrepreneur visa? I have no business plan at the moment.

  3. Zain says:

    Which type of IELTS test is acceptable.IELTS Academic or IELTS General training.If someone has IELTS academic, he/she is eligible or not to apply under this category??

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