Amin K. Excellent service. QC responded promptly, provided me with thorough, precise and easy to follow advice. Exactly what I needed when I was stressing about my daughter's citizenship status. Thank you so much.
UK visas for entrepreneurs
If you want to start or run a business in the UK, the main open routes are the Innovator Founder visa, for an endorsed innovative business, and self-sponsorship through your own UK company on a work visa. The Tier 1 Entrepreneur, Tier 1 Investor and Turkish Businessperson routes are open only to people already on them.
- 2 routes open to new applicants
- Endorsement or a sponsor licence
- Can lead to settlement
- 4.9 on Google
- IAA Level 3 · the highest tier
- 7,000+ clients helped
- Fast-track support
Reviewed by Qiyin Chuah, IAA Level 3 · Last reviewed
Compare UK entrepreneur visas
Innovator Founder and self-sponsorship are the main open routes. The Tier 1 and Turkish routes are only for people already on them.
Comparison table, scroll sideways to see every route
| Requirement | Endorsed Innovator Founder | Own company sponsors Self-sponsorship | Closed to new applicants Tier 1 Entrepreneur | Closed to new applicants Tier 1 Investor | Closed to new applicants Turkish Businessperson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Founders with an innovative, viable and scalable business idea | Business owners seeking sponsorship through their own UK company under an eligible work visa route* | Existing Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa holders | Existing Tier 1 Investor visa holders | Turkish nationals with existing ECAA permission |
| Open to new applicants | Yes | Potentially, under the Skilled Worker route if all sponsorship requirements are met* | No; settlement applications only | No; settlement applications only (extension deadline passed) | No; existing holders can apply for extensions or settlement |
| Endorsement or sponsor | Endorsement from an approved body | UK company must hold a sponsor licence and meet all Skilled Worker sponsorship duties | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Minimum investment | No fixed minimum; sufficient funding for the endorsed business must be demonstrated | No fixed investment minimum; genuine business, salary and sponsorship requirements apply | Historical £50,000 or £200,000 investment requirements, depending on original eligibility | Normally £2 million in qualifying investments for later entrants; historical rules vary | No fixed minimum; business must satisfy relevant ECAA requirements |
| Leads to settlement | Yes, after 3 years* | Potentially after 5 years under Skilled Worker rules* | Yes, after 3 or 5 years, depending on business performance* | Yes, after 2, 3 or 5 years, depending on qualifying investment* | Yes, after 5 years* |
| Typical decision time | 3 weeks outside the UK; 8 weeks inside | Usually 3 weeks outside or 8 weeks inside for the Skilled Worker visa, after sponsorship is arranged | Settlement processing may take up to 6 months | Settlement usually up to 6 months | Up to 6 months |
| Full guide | Innovator Founder guide | Self-sponsorship guide | Tier 1 Entrepreneur guide | Tier 1 Investor guide | Turkish Businessperson guide |
*Settlement is subject to eligibility. Self-sponsorship is not a standalone UK visa route.
Closed or renamed routes
What business-owner routes usually look at
Each route has its own rules. These come up on most of them.
- A genuine, viable business
A credible business plan, evidence of activity and realistic finances.
- Your role in the business
Evidence that you run, or will run, it day to day.
- English language
B2 for Innovator Founder, or the level your route needs otherwise.
- Funds to support yourself
Usually £1,270 held for 28 days.
- Compliance
For self-sponsorship, your company must meet every sponsor duty.
Sponsoring yourself through your own company?
Your company needs a sponsor licence, and the Home Office looks closely at whether the business and the role are genuine.
Certificate of Sponsorship £525Immigration Skills Charge £480 a year for a small sponsor or charity; £1,320 for a medium or large sponsor
- A trading UK company. With the systems to meet sponsor duties.
- An Authorising Officer. Usually someone other than you who is British or settled.
- A genuine role. At the right skill level and salary.
- Compliance risk. Self-sponsored licences are scrutinised closely.
What these routes cost
You pay the application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year of the visa. Innovator Founder also has endorsement fees.
Worked example
Innovator Founder, 3 years, from outside the UK
Application fee £1,357 + health surcharge 3 × £1,035 = £4,462 per person
Endorsement fees are paid separately to the endorsing body.
| Route | Application fee | Health surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Innovator Founder From outside the UK | £1,357 | £1,035 a year |
| Self-sponsorship (Skilled Worker) Up to 3 years | £819 | £1,035 a year |
| Tier 1 Entrepreneur indefinite leave to remain In the UK | £3,226 | £1,035 a year |
| Turkish Businessperson extension In the UK | No fee | £1,035 a year |
Home Office fees per applicant, from the 8 April 2026 schedule.
How we can help
From a first application to a refusal, at a fixed fee agreed before we start.
Visa application package We prepare and submit your application from start to finish. See what’s included → Application checking You prepare it, a regulated adviser reviews it before you submit. See what’s included → Sponsor licence application For employers who need a licence before they can hire. See what’s included →
What our clients say
What individuals, families and businesses say about working with QC Immigration.
Amin K. 
Monya R. QC have been invaluable throughout Home Office procedures for Tier 2 /ILR applications. The entire team is dedicated, professional and responds swiftly to queries. The application process was straightforward thanks to QC's skilful team. Highly recommended.
Danille D.
Once again, QC Immigration managed to help me with my visa extension. Without them, I'd have to deal with the stress of doing the application on my own. We made the right choice of continuing to work with QC Immigration. Thank you so much!!!
Mary
Outstanding service! QC provided precise, easy to follow advice and support throughout my permanent residence application process. The team is friendly, very professional, with invaluable in depth knowledge and advice that made the all process a pleasant experience. Highly recommended!
Ching-Fei L.
QC Immigration handled our application in a way that was truly professional, clear and to the point. They explained all the options and procedures clearly to us and showed great respect for our privacy. The whole process was trouble-free and the result successful! Great value for money!
Jessica C.
The are truly amazing and lovely as well as extremely professional. They not only helped us with all the paper work but also were supportive when we were worried and getting anxious. I will definitely contact them again when the next step comes and I highly recommend them.
Warwick B.
QC guided me from application to naturalisation and passport with efficiency, knowledge, patience and care. They were recommended to me by a prestigious Law firm and I recommend them to you...
Anna R.
Having engaged QC Immigration to support my citizenship application I could not have been more satisfied with the service. My case was handled consistently by the same person. Ligia guided me through the process and made it all very simple. Any questions I had along the way were answered promptly. I have been putting off my application for years feeling overwhelmed by the bureaucracy involved. With QC Immigration support I was able to secure a successful outcome quickly and with no stress whatsoever. Charge for the service was very reasonable considering the quality of support and the responsiveness.Read the full review
Diego G.
Xiaohan was so helpful with the process and we got accepted!
Tala A.
My partner and I had a great experience with QC. Both Dorota and Ninder were professional and attentive. I’d definitely work with them again.
Scott C. I recently engaged the services of QC Immigration to assist me in getting my first British passport. I applied from outside the British Isles and my situation was somewhat complex. Ninder and Dorota from QC treated me with the utmost of professionalism and courtesy. They took the time to review and explain my situation, and guide me through the steps of the application process, ensuring that my application stayed on track. With their expert assistance, my application was processed smoothly by HMPO and I received my new passport with no issues. I would highly recommend the services of QC Immigration to anyone who needs assistance navigating immigration, citizenship, or a VISA application to the UK.Read the full review
Maria R. We couldn’t be happier with QC Immigration. My partner and I applied for the UK Unmarried Partner Visa from Italy and received the decision in only 5 days after the biometrics appointment: truly incredible. Dorota followed us with exceptional kindness and professionalism, always available and supportive despite the large amount of documents we had to prepare. A special thank you also to Ninder! We felt fully supported and reassured throughout the entire process. We are over the moon and extremely grateful. Absolutely recommended!Read the full review
Nicholas S.
QC Immigration successfully secured British Citizenship through descent for my son. It was by no means guaranteed, but their extremely thorough approach and direction ensured that everything was done clearly and successfully. A special thanks to Ligia W. who supervised the whole process with patience and diligence. Many thanks! they are extremely good at what they do and they deliver!Read the full review
Anamaria C. I am deeply grateful to Ninder J. for her invaluable support regarding my son’s citizenship application. After waiting for over a year without progress, she kindly advised me to reach out to our regional MP for assistance. Thanks to her guidance, the application was successfully reviewed and resolved. What stands out most is that Ninder offered this advice freely, without charging, simply as a gesture of good citizenship and genuine care. Her professionalism, generosity, and commitment to helping others truly impressed me. I wholeheartedly recommend Ninder J. to anyone seeking honest, knowledgeable, and compassionate legal guidance. Her support made a real difference for my family, and I will always be thankful.Read the full review
Holland W.
Just an amazing experience with this team and their information, service and advice have been amazingly helpful.
Nikul K.
My experience with QC Immigration was outstanding. Ninder provided the most accurate and straightforward guidance. She explained every detail with great clarity and honesty, which made the whole process easy to understand and stress-free. Her expertise and professionalism are truly impressive. I’m very thankful for her support and would strongly recommend QC Immigration to anyone who wants reliable and clear immigration adviceRead the full review
Solomon P. Good service 👍
Ramzi H.
I want to thank QC Immigration, especially Dorota, and Ninder for their great support. My case wasn’t easy at all – I had received a refusal with a 10-year ban because the Home Office considered one of my documents suspicious. It was a very stressful time, but Dorota took over my application and handled everything with so much care and attention. She always explained things clearly, kept me updated . What really makes Dorota special is not only her professionalism, but also her passion and the way she genuinely cares. She fought hard for fairness in my case. After months of waiting, I finally received a positive outcome, and I am sure this wouldn’t have happened without her. I’m truly grateful to Dorota. If you are looking for someone who is not only highly professional but also kind, supportive, and truly dedicated, I can’t recommend her enough.Read the full review
Emilie W.
Competent, empathetic and knowledgable support and guidance through my application for a student visa !! A special thank you to Sara and Xiaohan who supported me through it and who was always quick with answers.
Hakunawadi P.
The team is exceptionally professional, and meticulous. No excuses. I would recommend them to anyone in need any day. Thank you very much.
Questions about entrepreneur visas
For route-specific questions, see each guide.
Yes, through the Innovator Founder visa if your business idea is innovative, viable and scalable and is endorsed by an approved body. If you already have a UK company, it may be able to sponsor you on the Skilled Worker route. Each has different risks and costs.
No. The set minimum investment was removed when the route replaced the old Innovator visa. You still need enough funding for your business plan, and the endorsing body will look at it closely before endorsing you.
Possibly. Your company needs a sponsor licence and a genuine vacancy at the right skill level and salary. The Home Office looks closely at self-sponsorship, so the business must be trading and the licence application well prepared.
You can still apply for settlement on the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route if you meet its rules, but there are deadlines. Some people switch to Innovator Founder or another route instead. Check your timings early.
Innovator Founder can lead to settlement sooner than most work routes if the business meets set criteria. Current qualifying periods may change under government proposals, so we confirm the position for your case.
Usually, yes. On Innovator Founder and self-sponsorship, your partner and children under 18 can apply as your dependants. They pay the same fees and health surcharge, and need to meet the relationship requirements.
Tell us what you need help with
A regulated adviser reviews your situation and comes back with an honest next step within one working day.
- An IAA-regulated UK immigration adviser reviews your case.
- A personal reply with your next step, within one working day.
- No payment required. Fixed fees if you proceed.
- 4.9 on Google
- IAA Level 3 · the highest tier
- 7,000+ clients helped
- Fast-track support
Prefer to talk? Book a call.
