Start-ups are all new rage today. Everyone today wants to be an entrepreneur and everyone wants to be free of the 9-5 cycle. Today, if you want to start a business in the UK and you are someone who isn’t a UK citizen then you would have to apply for a start-up visa.
Let’s say Mr. A and Mr. B would like to start their own businesses in the UK. However, Mr. A does not require a start-up visa but Mr. B does. Why? The answer is very simple. Mr. A does not require any visa because he is an Irish national. Any Irish national do not need to apply for a start-up visa. Even the other companies do not require to fill a sponsor licence application to hire an Irish citizen.
However, Mr. B needs a start-up visa to start his business as he belongs to an Asian Country. Now, before making an application for the same he should check if he is even eligible for this visa.
The following are the eligibility criteria:
- You need an endorsement either from a UK based company that have been investing in or supporting new enterprises and entrepreneurs or by an academic institution that provides higher education.
- For you to set-up your start-up your business idea needs to be innovative. It should be something that is not already on the market.
- One of the biggest requirements is that your business idea should have the potential for growth. No country wants a failed start-up or a stale idea.
- Your business should be new. You cannot join an already existing business entity.
In case you feel you are not eligible for this visa category then there is no need to feel bad. You may be eligible for any other visa category. There are many companies that make the sponsor license application so that they can hire skilled workers from outside the UK. It has been advised quite frequently to both companies and individuals that they should always consult an immigration lawyer before making any visa application.
However, if you feel you are eligible for this visa category then consult an immigration lawyer and start working on making your application. Once you make this application and your application is approved then you can stay in the UK for two years. You can also stay in the UK for two years if you are shifting to this visa category from another visa category.
However, this visa cannot be extended. If you have a running business now then you can apply for an innovator visa. For more information on innovator visa visit gov.uk
In case your endorsement is drawn within these two years then your visa will be canceled. However, you can apply for this visa with a new endorsement but you will only be allowed to stay for a total of two years in the UK even with a new endorsement.
The application for this just like the sponsor license application is made online on the government website. Once you make the application it takes up to 3 weeks for it to get approved if you are from outside the UK and 8 weeks if you are from inside the UK.
When you are applying for it from inside the UK then you need to pay £493 or if the application is made from outside the UK then you have to pay £363. If you are bringing your family or any dependent then you need to pay the same amount for them, every person.
One stipulation when you start your business is that you cannot work for anyone else in the Uk during this time. Hope this article helped you understand the basics of a start-up visa.
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