Nigerian applicants · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Innovator Founder visa for Nigerian citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 5 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Endorsement-based visa for founders launching an innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK.
This page covers the Innovator Founder visa specifically for Nigerian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Nigeria. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- 3 weeks – 8 weeks
- Government fees
- From 8 April 2026: £1,357 to apply outside the UK or £1,693 inside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (normally £1,035 per year). A new endorsement costs £1,000 excluding VAT, and at least two mandatory contact-point meetings cost £500 excluding VAT each.
- Typical duration
- 3 years per grant, with no fixed limit on extensions. Settlement may be available after 3 years if the route’s separate endorsement and business-growth requirements are met.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Commonwealth
Consular processing: Lagos / Abuja
Tourist entry vs. this route
Nigerian nationals require a visa for any entry into United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Innovator Founder visa is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Nigerian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
3 weeks – 8 weeks
Endorsement by an approved body is a pre-requisite; visa decision is 3 weeks outside the UK or 8 weeks inside.
Verified 10 September 2026 · GOV.UK — Innovator Founder visa
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → ILR (5 years) → citizenship (6 years). Faster on Global Talent / Innovator Founder (3 years to ILR).
Leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), then British citizenship.
Visa overview
The Innovator Founder visa is for a founder who will take a key day-to-day role in a new UK business. A currently authorised endorsing body must confirm that the applicant is a genuine founder and that the plan is innovative, viable and scalable. There is no fixed minimum investment amount, but the applicant must show that the funding in the plan is available and explain its source. Permission is granted for 3 years at a time; extension has no fixed limit, and settlement can be possible after 3 years if the separate business-growth tests are met.
Additional sources
Primary source
GOV.UK — approved Innovator Founder endorsing bodies ↗ · UK Home Office
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Be at least 18 and hold an endorsement issued no more than 3 months before the application by a body authorised for new Innovator Founder endorsements.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓For a new business, be a genuine founder who generated or significantly contributed to the plan and will have a key day-to-day role; the plan must be innovative, viable and scalable.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓Show English ability at CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, unless an exemption applies.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓Show £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, unless the applicant has already been in the UK with permission for at least 12 months or another rule-based exemption applies.UK Home Office ↗
Common blockers
- !Using an organisation that is not authorised to issue new endorsements, or applying after the endorsement’s 3-month validity window.UK Home Office ↗
- !A generic or easily replicable proposition that does not give the business a defensible competitive advantage, or a plan without credible demand, resources or growth potential.UK Home Office ↗
- !The applicant is not a genuine founder or cannot show the skills, knowledge, market awareness and active day-to-day role needed to deliver the plan.UK Home Office ↗
- !Investment funds are not available as described, or their source and transfer route cannot be shown to be legitimate.UK Home Office ↗
Typical evidence
- ·A valid endorsement letter from an authorised endorsing body.UK Home Office ↗
- ·Passport or other valid identity and nationality document, plus a certified translation for any document not in English or Welsh.UK Home Office ↗
- ·English-language evidence and, where required, bank evidence for the £1,270 maintenance requirement.UK Home Office ↗
- ·A detailed business plan with market evidence, forecasts, founder credentials, traction and a clear explanation of available investment funds and their source.UK Home Office ↗
Application pathway
Build an endorsement-ready case
Define the founder’s key role and document the product, innovation, market need, delivery plan, credible growth and funding source.
Use the current official endorsing-body list
Check which listed Business Endorsing Bodies accept new cases, then follow that body’s own assessment process. Legacy bodies can support existing clients only.
Secure endorsement
Obtain the letter confirming the founder and innovative, viable and scalable business tests; it must be no more than 3 months old on the visa application date.
Apply for the visa
Submit the online application, identity evidence and supporting documents, and pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Run the business and keep endorsement
Take the key day-to-day role and complete at least two contact-point meetings during each grant. The endorsing body can withdraw endorsement if progress or contact requirements are not met.
Extend or assess settlement
Before permission expires, obtain a fresh endorsement. Settlement after 3 years has additional business-achievement tests and is not automatic.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United Kingdom. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ChecklistApplicantCheck approved endorsing bodies ↗
Start with the current Home Office list; only bodies shown as Business Endorsing Bodies can endorse new applicants.
UK Home Office · verified
- ApplyApplicantApply from outside the UK ↗
Submit the official application after securing a valid endorsement.
UK Home Office · verified
Other United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland routes covered for Nigerian applicants
Skilled Worker visa
Work visa for non-UK workers with a job offer from a Home Office–licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation.
Health and Care Worker visa
Discounted Skilled Worker route for eligible NHS, adult social care, and allied health roles.
Global Talent visa
Unsponsored visa for leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology.
Graduate visa
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of eligible UK higher education institutions.
Student visa
Study visa for international students enrolled with a licensed Student sponsor at eligible UK institutions.
Family visa (partner/spouse)
Visa for partners of British citizens, settled persons, or certain other qualifying sponsors.
Not sure United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer entrepreneur routes that Nigerian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Nigerian citizens eligible for the Innovator Founder visa?+
Eligibility for the Innovator Founder visa is set by UK Home Office. Nigerian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Nigerian applicants typically file the Innovator Founder visa?+
Lagos / Abuja. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by UK Home Office — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Nigerian applicants need a tourist visa for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well?+
Nigerian nationals require a visa for any entry into United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Innovator Founder visa is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How long does the Innovator Founder visa take to process from Nigeria?+
Endorsement by an approved body is a pre-requisite; visa decision is 3 weeks outside the UK or 8 weeks inside. Nigerian applicants usually file via Lagos / Abuja, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: GOV.UK — Innovator Founder visa, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?+
Arrival → ILR (5 years) → citizenship (6 years). Faster on Global Talent / Innovator Founder (3 years to ILR). The route leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), then British citizenship. See GOV.UK — Citizenship and living in the UK for the qualifying-residence rules.
Is there a minimum investment for the Innovator Founder visa?+
No. Unlike the previous Innovator visa, there is no £50,000 minimum investment threshold. However, applicants still need to demonstrate realistic financial planning and access to funds appropriate to the business plan.
Can two founders apply together?+
Yes. Joint founders can apply under the same business provided each meets the eligibility criteria and each is individually endorsed.
Does 3 years on this visa guarantee settlement?+
No. A fresh settlement endorsement must confirm that the business is active, trading and sustainable, that the applicant has played a key day-to-day role, and that at least two specified business-achievement criteria are met. Always assess the settlement rules separately from initial visa eligibility.
What endorsement costs should I budget for?+
GOV.UK currently specifies £1,000 excluding VAT for a new endorsement and £500 excluding VAT for each mandatory contact-point meeting. At least two meetings are required during each period of permission. These are separate from the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: UK Home Office
Last checked: 21 July 2026