Check if you need a UK visa: Information based on your answers

You need a visa to start a business

Based on your answers, you might be eligible for 6 visas.

Innovator Founder visa If you're an experienced businessperson and have an innovative business idea

You may be able to start a business if you have:

a business idea that’s different from anything else on the market
your idea assessed by an ‘endorsing body’

Need a job offer

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Yes

You must usually prove you can read, write, speak and understand English

Initial visa length

Up to 3 years

Can extend

Yes

You can extend as many times as you want, as long as you're still eligible

Can settle

Yes - after 3 years

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Innovator Founder visa

Global Talent visa If you’re a leader or potential leader in your field

You may be able to start a business if you work in one of the following fields:

academia or research
arts or culture
digital technology

You can also be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company.

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 5 years

Can extend

Yes

You can extend as many times as you want, as long as you're still eligible

Can settle

Yes - after 3 or 5 years

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Global Talent visa

UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) If you’re setting up your company’s first UK branch or subsidiary

You may be able to set up your company’s first UK branch or subsidiary.

The eligibility criteria include working in an eligible job.

Need a job offer

Yes

Your overseas employer will need a licence to sponsor you to work in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Yes

How much you need to be paid depends on the work you do

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 1 year

Can extend

Yes, up to a maximum stay

You can stay for up to 2 years on this visa. To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

India Young Professionals Scheme visa If you’re aged 18 to 30

You may be able to live and work in the UK. You can:

work in most jobs
be self-employed or a director of a company - within certain rules

The eligibility criteria include:

being aged 18 to 30 when you apply
successfully applying for a ballot

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 2 years

Can extend

To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the India Young Professionals Scheme visa

UK Ancestry visa If one of your grandparents was born in the UK

You may be able to live and work in the UK. You can be an employee, self-employed or a director of a company.

The eligibility criteria include:

being aged 17 or over
proving that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

5 years

Can extend

Yes

You can extend as many times as you want, as long as you're still eligible

Can settle

Yes - after 5 years

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the UK Ancestry visa

High Potential Individual (HPI) visa If you've recently graduated from a top global university

You may be able to live and work in the UK. You can be an employee, self-employed or a director of a company.

The eligibility criteria include having a qualification from an eligible university in the last 5 years.

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Yes

You must usually prove you can read, write, speak and understand English

Initial visa length

2 to 3 years

3 years with a PhD or doctoral qualification, otherwise 2 years

Can extend

To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa