Apexia Services
5.0 Rated
80+ Positive Client Feedback
100% Success Rate
UK Innovator Founder Visa · Specialist Consultancy

Build your UK enterprise with confidence.

Apexia Services guides ambitious founders through every stage of the UK Innovator Founder Visa — from endorsement to settlement. A boutique consultancy with a 100% success rate and 80+ five-star reviews.

100%
Success Rate
80+
5-Star Reviews
3 yrs
To Settlement
24h
Response Time
Endorsement Support Business Plan Crafting Senior Consultants Only End-to-End Guidance Settlement in 3 Years Worldwide Service Endorsement Support Business Plan Crafting Senior Consultants Only End-to-End Guidance Settlement in 3 Years Worldwide Service
"
We don't process applications — we engineer migration journeys with the precision of architects and the discretion of trusted counsel.
The Apexia Philosophy
100%
Approval Rate
Every single Innovator Founder application — approved. Built on preparation, not luck.
About Apexia

A boutique consultancy for extraordinary founders.

Apexia Services exists for one purpose — to help visionary entrepreneurs make the United Kingdom their next chapter. We specialise exclusively in the Innovator Founder Visa, and that focus is why our clients succeed.

Where larger firms juggle hundreds of visa categories, we devote ourselves to one. Every case receives senior-level attention from start to finish — from refining your business plan to securing endorsement, biometrics, and your eventual settlement.

  • Specialist focus. Innovator Founder is the only route we handle — making us genuine experts.
  • End-to-end guidance. Endorsement, business plan, application, and post-arrival milestones.
  • Confidential & discreet. Direct senior consultant access — no call centres, no junior caseworkers.
The Innovator Founder Visa

For entrepreneurs with innovative, viable & scalable ideas.

The UK's premier business immigration route — designed for experienced founders ready to build their next venture on British soil. One of the fastest paths to settlement available today.

— 01 / Investment

£50,000 — or zero

The £50,000 investment requirement can be entirely waived for already-trading businesses or those backed by third-party investors. Many of our clients arrive with no personal investment at all — and we'll tell you upfront whether yours qualifies.

Waiver available
— 02 / Endorsement

Endorsement Required

Approval from a Home Office endorsing body — Envestors, UKEAS, GEP, or Innovator International.

— 03 / Settlement

3 Years to ILR

One of the fastest UK settlement routes. Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after just 3 years.

— 04 / Work

Work & Study

Take side work up to 20 hours/week. Study any course at any level — no restrictions.

— 05 / Family

Full Family Rights

Partner and children join with full work rights from day one. No restrictions.

— 06 / Duration

3 + 3 Years

Initial 3-year visa, extendable for another 3. Total 6 years available.

Eligibility & Benefits

Built for experienced founders with a clear vision.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility Criteria

  • Experienced entrepreneurs with an innovative, viable and scalable business idea
  • Endorsement from a Home Office-approved body
  • English at B2 level (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent — intermediate proficiency)
  • £50,000 investment funds (can be waived for established or funded businesses)
  • £1,270 maintenance funds held for 28 consecutive days
  • Genuine entrepreneur with a credible business plan and realistic projections
Visa Benefits

What You Gain

  • 3 years initial visa, extendable for 3 more years (total 6 years available)
  • Apply for ILR after just 3 years (meeting 2 of 7 business milestones)
  • Work for other employers up to 20 hours per week alongside your business
  • Study any course at any level without restrictions
  • Bring family — partner and children under 18 — with full work rights
  • British citizenship possible after just 4 years total (ILR at 3, citizenship at 4)
Our Process

Eight steps from business plan to British soil.

Each step prepared and refined by senior consultants who know exactly what UKVI and endorsing bodies want to see.

01

Develop Your Business Plan

We craft a comprehensive business plan demonstrating your venture is innovative, viable, and scalable. Includes 3–5 year projections, market research, and competitive analysis.

InnovationProjectionsMarket research
02

Apply to Endorsing Body

We match you with the right body — Envestors, UKEAS, GEP, or Innovator International — and prepare your submission. Endorsement fee £1,000–£1,500 + VAT. Process takes 4–8 weeks.

Body selectionInterview prep4–8 weeks
03

Receive Endorsement

Upon approval, you receive an endorsement letter with reference number valid 3 months. If investment is waived (already trading or funded), this is explicitly stated.

Valid 3 monthsReference numberInvestment status
04

Gather Documents

We assemble every document — passport, English certificate, financial evidence, maintenance funds, TB certificate if applicable. Certified translations arranged.

ChecklistFinancialsTranslations
05

Submit Application

Submit via UK government portal using your endorsement reference. Application fee £1,357 outside UK or £1,693 switching. IHS £3,105 for 3 years. Family members pay the same.

£1,357 fee£3,105 IHS3 month window
06

Biometrics & Submission

Book your biometric appointment at a visa application centre or UKVCAS centre. Provide fingerprints and photo. Submit passport and supporting documents.

BiometricsDocument reviewKeep passport
07

Decision & Launch

Processing 3 weeks (outside UK) or 8 weeks (inside). Once approved, you receive a 3-year visa. Travel to UK, register with Companies House, open business bank account.

3-year visaILR after 3 yrsCitizenship at 4
08

Post-Arrival Support

Our relationship doesn't end at landing. We support your milestone check-ins, advise on compliance, and prepare your ILR application after 3 years — and citizenship after 4.

MilestonesILRCitizenship
4–8 wks
Endorsement
3–8 wks
Visa Processing
3 yrs
To Settlement
The Three Pillars

Every approved application meets three core criteria.

Your business must be innovative, viable, and scalable — assessed by your endorsing body before your visa application even begins.

01

Innovative

An original business plan with genuine innovation or competitive advantage. New to the UK market — even if it exists overseas. Shows a clear differentiator and solves a real problem in a new way.

Original idea
02

Viable

You possess the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to succeed. The business has realistic market opportunities with a credible path to profitability, evidenced by detailed projections.

Credible path
03

Scalable

Potential for significant growth beyond the UK. Capable of creating jobs for settled workers. National or international expansion potential — not limited to a single location or personal services.

Growth potential
04

English Language (B2)

Demonstrate English at CEFR B2 level — equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in all four skills. A UK or US degree may exempt you from testing entirely. We confirm your exemption before you spend a penny.

IELTS 5.5
05

Investment Funds

£50,000 investment funds — your own, joint with a partner, third-party investment, or government grants. Waived entirely if your business is already trading or has third-party backing.

May be waived
06

Maintenance Funds

£1,270 held in your account for 28 consecutive days before applying. Additional amounts required for family. We prepare a precise funds-timeline so nothing is queried by UKVI.

28 days
Client Voices

80+ founders. Every single approval.

Behind every statistic is a founder who took a leap of faith. Here are some of the entrepreneurs we've had the privilege of guiding.

Apexia turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a clear, manageable path. Their endorsement strategy was the difference between rejection and approval.
RS
Rohan Sharma
Fintech Founder · Approved 2025
I had been rejected once before through another consultancy. Apexia rebuilt my application from scratch and secured both endorsement and visa within four months.
AK
Aisha Khan
HealthTech CEO · Approved 2025
The level of detail in their business plan review was exceptional. They challenged every assumption until the plan was bulletproof — endorsed first time.
DM
David Mensah
SaaS Founder · Approved 2024
From the first consultation to receiving my visa, I always knew exactly what was happening and what came next. The communication truly sets them apart.
LM
Lucia Martínez
CleanTech Founder · Approved 2025
My £50,000 investment requirement was waived because Apexia recognised that my seed funding qualified. They saved me from raising capital I didn't need to raise.
YT
Yusuf Tariq
EdTech Founder · Approved 2024
My family arrived together with full work rights — my wife was employed within a month of landing. Apexia made the whole family transition seamless.
CO
Chinedu Okafor
Logistics Founder · Approved 2025
100%
Success Rate
80+
5-Star Reviews
5.0
Client Rating
24h
Response Time
Frequently Asked

Answers to what founders ask most.

The £50,000 must be available to invest in your UK business. It can come from your own funds (held for 90 days), joint funds with a partner, third-party investment (VCs, angels, accelerators), or government grants. Critically, the requirement is waived if your business is already trading or has received third-party funding. Many of our clients invest nothing personally.
You apply to one of four Home Office-approved endorsing bodies (Envestors, UKEAS, GEP, or Innovator International). Each has different sector specialisms. You submit a business plan, financial projections, and personal statement, then attend a typically virtual interview. Endorsement fees range £1,000–£1,500 + VAT. The process takes 4–8 weeks. If approved, you receive a letter valid for 3 months.
The Start-up Visa is for first-time entrepreneurs and does not lead directly to settlement. The Innovator Founder Visa requires proven entrepreneurial experience and is one of the UK's fastest routes to ILR — just 3 years. If you have business experience and want a direct path to British citizenship, the Innovator Founder is the right choice.
Yes. You must meet 2 of 7 business milestones — including evidence of investment, customer growth, job creation, intellectual property, or significant revenue. You'll need to demonstrate your business is genuinely progressing. We help you plan your milestones from the outset so you're ILR-ready at month 36.
Innovative — your business is original, or genuinely new to the UK market. Viable — you have the experience and skills to execute, and your projections are realistic. Scalable — your business has clear potential for significant growth, including job creation and national or international expansion. Strong sectors include technology, fintech, SaaS, healthcare innovation, cleantech, and digital platforms.
Yes — your partner and children under 18 can join you as dependants with full work rights from day one. They can work any job, any hours, with no restrictions. This is one of the most generous family arrangements of any UK visa category.
Government fees for the main applicant total approximately £4,462 from outside the UK (£1,357 application fee + £3,105 Immigration Health Surcharge for 3 years). Add endorsement fees of £1,000–£1,500 + VAT. Family members add the same costs each. Our consultancy fees are quoted transparently at your free assessment — no surprises.
Yes — you can switch from most UK visa categories including Student, Graduate, Skilled Worker, and other business routes, provided you meet all Innovator Founder requirements including endorsement. The application fee is slightly higher inside the UK (£1,693 vs £1,357). We routinely help graduates and skilled workers make this transition.
Ready to Begin?

Your UK chapter starts with one conversation.

Book a complimentary, no-obligation assessment with a senior consultant. We'll review your business idea, your circumstances, and tell you honestly whether the Innovator Founder route is right for you.

Get In Touch

Speak with a specialist.

Every initial consultation is free, confidential, and conducted by a senior consultant — never a junior caseworker. We respond within 24 hours, usually much sooner.

Email
hello@apexiaservices.co.uk
Office
United Kingdom · Remote Worldwide
Response Time
Within 24 hours

Free Innovator Founder Assessment

Same-day response · Senior consultant · Confidential
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