How many years does it take to convert an Innovator Founder visa to permanent residence? Complete solution to the 3-year path

Many people think that the only ways to obtain permanent residence in the UK are work visas and spouse visas. In fact, for Chinese who want to start a business, the Innovator Founder visa (Innovator Founder Visa) is one of the few fast lanes that can obtain permanent residence (ILR) in 3 and - 2 years faster than the 5 years of Skilled Worker. But it is very strict about "how is the business doing?" Today I will explain this path from beginning to end.

How many years does it take for an Innovator Founder visa to become permanent residence?

The answer is 3 years. You need to use the Innovator Founder (or the old Innovator) visa to live in the UK for 3 consecutive years before you can apply for ILR. This path will replace the old Tier 1 Entrepreneur in April 2023. The biggest change is that has canceled the investment threshold - the old Innovator requires £50,000, and Tier 1 requires £200,000. Now you can theoretically apply for a £0 start-up, as long as your business idea is "innovative, feasible and scalable".

Core logic: The threshold has changed from "how much money you have" to "how your business looks like." Whether you can get permanent residence depends on the company's real growth after three years.

What conditions do Innovator Founders need to meet to transfer to permanent residence?

When applying for ILR, you must meet several hard indicators at the same time:

🗓️ has lived in for 3 consecutive years, and the out of the country in any 12 months does not exceed 180 days (the same as other permanent residence paths, if the limit is exceeded, the time will be reset, so don’t step into the trap).
📝 Passed Life in the UK Test (required for ages 18–64).
🗣️ Meet English requirements (usually B1 and above).
🏢 Get a brand new "settlement endorsement" (settlement endorsement) , issued by the officially recognized Endorsing Body, proving that your business is indeed growing.

The hardest part was not the exam, but the endorsement letter.

7 growth indicators for permanent residence endorsement: meet 2

When applying for permanent residence, Endorsing Body will verify whether your company has achieved at least 2 of the 7 growth indicators :

① Have invested and spent at least £50,000 in business;
② The number of customers has at least doubled and is higher than the UK average in the same industry;
③ Has substantial research and development and applied for UK intellectual property protection;
④ The annual total revenue reaches £1 million ;
⑤ Annual revenue is £500,000, of which at least £100,000 comes from exports;
⑥ creates at least 10 full-time positions for the British local workforce;
⑦ creates 5 full-time positions with an average annual salary of no less than £25,000.

At the same time, the company must be registered with Companies House, you are a director, the company is operating normally and looks sustainable for the next 12 months, and you play an actual key role of in daily operations - you can't get through being a "hands-off shopkeeper" in name only.

Innovator Founder Visa and Permanent Residency Fees 2026

The money for this route is mainly spent on "endorsement + visa fee + IHS". According to information from GOV.UK and mainstream law firms, starting from on April 8, 2026: the overseas visa application fee is approximately £1,357, and the domestic switching fee is approximately £1,693; endorsement fee is £1,000; two contact point meetings are £500 each; medical surcharge (IHS) is £1,035 per person per year. Please refer to the latest announcement of GOV.UK for the specific amount. There are currently four active accredited endorsement organizations: Envestors, UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and Global Entrepreneurs Program (GEP).

Will the "earned settlement" reform cut off the three-year passage?

This is the most anxious question in the circle recently. In November 2025, the government issued the "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement" consultation, which planned to increase the basic period of permanent residence for most pathways from 5 years to 10 years . The good news is: Innovator Founder and Global Talent are included in the "high contribution" category and are planned to retain the acceleration channel for approximately 3 years and years. But please note that this is still a proposal in the consultation stage and has not yet been implemented into law. The final rules will be subject to the subsequent Statement of Changes. If you want to take this path, it is recommended to plan as early as possible and not gamble on policies.