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Innovator Founder Visa Settlement Endorsement Application



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This form should be completed by entrepreneurs who have previously been endorsed for an Innovator visa by the University of Edinburgh or Edinburgh Innovations and are interested in being endorsed by Edinburgh Innovations for settlement in the UK.

If you receive an endorsement letter, be aware that you must use this to make an application to the Home Office. The Home Office will carry out checks to ensure you meet other eligibility requirements such as:

  • English language ability and
  • Maintenance funds.

It is your responsibility to ensure you meet these requirements.

As we are not able to assist with the settlement application process, we recommend you seek independent advice with regard to this. You may want to use the following search tools to find someone suitable:

To apply for settlement endorsement from Edinburgh Innovations, please complete all sections of this form and submit it.

Please note that submitting your application means that you are confirming:

  • The information provided is correct to the best of your knowledge and that
  • If endorsed, you consent to allow Edinburgh Innovations to share your endorsement letter and other information relating to your business with the Home Office, where this is necessary for Edinburgh Innovations to meet our responsibilities as an endorsing body.

If you have any questions about the endorsement process, please refer to the guidance here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-innovations/for-students/visas-for-founders/innovator-visa or email visas@ei.ed.ac.uk.


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About You



The email address we should use to contact you about this application
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About Your Business







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Please include your financial results to date as well as projections for the next 2 or 3 years.

Indefinite Leave to Remain Criteria



In order to qualify for settlement in the UK, you must meet at least two of the success criteria set out below. Please note that you cannot qualify by relying on the same criterion twice. For example, if you have invested £100,000 (2x£50,000) in your business you will be considered to have met one criterion, not two criteria. Please select the criteria you meet and provide links to appropriate documentary evidence.



You should be able to show a cash injection into your business that has been made or secured by you


Can you show that you have doubled your customer base in the last 3 years and currently have a number of customers higher than the mean for other comparable UK businesses? You will need to provide credible evidence that this has been achieved, for example through comparison with industry data sources. In the absence of comparable customer numbers from competitors then credible market share analysis demonstrably showing that the company has obtained an above mean market share could be used.


You must meet both parts of this requirement i.e. that the intellectual property reflects a significant piece of R&D activity. Applications for patents and registered designs can be used where the fillings have necessitated significant new R&D activity. Non R&D IP such as trademarks would not qualify as these typically do not relate to R&D.


The accounts considered must be prepared by a UK regulated accountant. You will need to provide two years worth of accounts.


You will need to provide credible evidence such as accounts provided by a UK regulated accountant showing £500,000 in gross revenue and additional information such as invoices, shipping manifests etc to demonstrate overseas exports.


Each job must have existed for at least 12 months and comply with all relevant UK legislation, including (but not limited to) the National Minimum Wage Regulations in effect at the time and the Working Time Regulations 1998. Each job must involve an average of at least 30 hours of paid work per week. 2 or more part-time jobs that add up to 30 hours per week may be combined to an equivalent full-time job.


Each job must have existed for at least 12 months and comply with all relevant UK legislation, including (but not limited to) the National Minimum Wage Regulations in effect at the time and the Working Time Regulations 1998. Each job must involve an average of at least 30 hours of paid work per week. 2 or more part-time jobs that add up to 30 hours per week may be combined to an equivalent full-time job.
Please provide a link to evidence of how you meet the first indefinite leave to remain criterion you selected. For example, bank statement, patent application etc
Please provide a link to evidence of how you meet the second indefinite leave to remain criterion you selected. For example, bank statement, patent application etc

Referee and Other Information



This should be your Edinburgh Innovations business advisor or another University of Edinburgh employee. We will contact them to ask for a statement of support. They should be happy to explain: Who they are and their role at the University; Their relationship with you (and your company) to date; How they intend to work with your company going forward; How this is aligned with the University of Edinburgh's objectives; That they are supportive of this endorsement
For example, if you feel you have been detrimentally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, please explain its impact here

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Please complete any required questions


Edinburgh Innovations Limited is the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service. Edinburgh Innovations is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the University of Edinburgh. Your data will be held securely and will not be passed on to any third parties. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and all marketing communications will include an unsubscribe link. Please view our privacy notice to understand how we use and protect the information that you provide to us.