UK Launches Three-Year Pathway to Permanent Residency for Innovator Visa Holders

The UK government has introduced a new pathway to permanent residency for holders of the Innovator Founder visa, allowing them to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after just three years.

According to official guidance published by the Home Office, applicants must have spent their three years in the UK specifically on one of these two visa types; time accumulated on any other visa category does not count towards the residency requirement.

To qualify for ILR, applicants must also meet specific requirements, including spending no more than 180 days outside the country annually. Travel restrictions are a key consideration, and once an ILR application has been submitted, the applicant cannot travel outside the UK until a decision is reached.

The application costs £3,226 per person, and processing can take up to six months from the date of submission or from the date biometric information is collected at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre.