Holders of the UK’s Innovator Founder visa may apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years in the country, provided they meet the residency and other requirements.
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Who can apply
According to UK Home Office guidance cited in the supplied material, applicants must have spent the qualifying three years in the UK on an Innovator Founder visa or the earlier Innovator visa. Time spent in the country on other visa types does not count towards the requirement.
Applicants must also have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying period.
Indefinite leave to remain allows successful applicants to live, work and study in the UK without a time limit. They may access benefits if eligible and can later pursue British citizenship.
Application fees and processing
The application costs £3,226 per person. A decision can take up to six months from submission or from the collection of biometric information at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centre. Cases requiring extra checks or an interview may take longer.
Applicants can submit their application up to 28 days before they meet the three-year requirement. Applying earlier could lead to refusal.
The Home Office also advises people not to wait until their current visa expires; those who are not yet eligible for settlement may need to renew their visa first.
Applicants must remain in the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while their application is being considered. Travelling beyond those areas during that period will automatically withdraw the application.
