You can apply for an Innovator visa if

• you want to set up or run a business in the UK
• you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
• you meet the other eligibility requirements
• your business or business idea has been endorsed by an approved body
  
  Funds you’ll need
• You must have at least £50,000 in investment funds if you want to set up a new business. You do not need funds if either:
• your business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa
• you’ve changed your business and already agreed it with your endorsing body
  
  How long you can stay
• You can stay for 3 years if you:
• come to the UK on an Innovator visa
• switch to this visa from another visa
• You can apply to extend for another 3 years when your visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend.
• You may be able to apply for settlement (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) once you’ve been in the UK for 3 years.
  
  What you can and cannot do

You can:

• set up a business or several businesses
• work for your business – this includes being employed as a director, or self-employed as a member of a business partnership
• bring family members with you
  
  You cannot:
• do any work outside your business, for example work where you’re employed by another business
• work as a doctor or dentist in training
• work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach
• get public funds