The Start-Up Visa aims to attract ambitious people to set up businesses in the UK. It is particularly focused at early-stage entrepreneurs.
There are a number of eligibility requirements that must be met as set out in Appendix Start-Up of the Immigration Rules. These, among other things, include the applicant:
- having an innovative, viable and scalable business;
- not having established a business in the UK previously;
- meeting the requisite level of English (B2); and
- meeting the financial requirement.
With regard to the financial requirement, applicants must show that they have funds of at least £1,270 for a 28 day period and the most recent piece of financial evidence provided must be dated within 31 days of the application. Alternatively, the endorsing body can confirm that they have been awarded funding of at least £1,270. If applicants are bringing their partner or children to the UK as part of the application, they must show an additional £285 for their partner, £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child.
In addition, applications for a Start-Up Visa must be supported by an endorsement letter by an endorsing body listed on the Home Office’s UKVI website. The letter must be dated no more than three months before the date of the application. The Home Office provides guidance for endorsing bodies on how they should assess whether the applicant’s business is innovative, viable and scalable.
Applicants who are successful with their Start-Up Visa applications will be granted a period of leave for two years.
Start-Up Visa – Full Representation
Full representation is a comprehensive service, that allows our firm to become your legal representatives and to represent you in all matters concerning your Start-Up Visa. This includes preparing the appropriate forms and liaising with UKVI on your behalf.
If you decided that full representation was the appropriate service for you, we would take detailed instructions from you, issue a client care letter and other appropriate paperwork to you, plan works according to what we consider to be your best interests, advise you of any documents or information that we may need to prepare the case efficiently and lodge your spouse or partner visa application for you. We would ensure that you are updated on any key developments on your matter and remain as your legal representatives until a decision is reached on your Start-Up Visa for the UK.
We would endeavour to be on hand throughout the application process to guide you and answer any questions you might have about the process. Once the Start-Up Visa has been concluded, we would send you a closing letter outlining any items that we think you may wish to know moving forwards.
Full representation may not be suitable for all clients, but our experience is that for those who have utilised this service with us, they have found it to be very helpful indeed. We would encourage readers to consider the wide range of positive reviews which are available on the internet, relating to our services.
UKVI Fee: The fee that is payable for a Start-Up Visa is £363 if you are outside of the UK and £493 if you are inside the UK. If your partner and/or children are also applying they will each need to pay the same fee. If you are from an ‘eligible country’ the fee for you, the applicant, will be reduced by £55. The Immigration Health Surcharge will be payable on top of this at a rate of £624 per year (plus conversion fees and those for using biometric submission centres and any additional services that an applicant opts for). The applicant and also any family members each need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Curzon Green (London based client) Fee: £1800-£2500 plus VAT; or
Curzon Green (Buckinghamshire based client) Fee: £1200-£1800 plus VAT.
(Please note that VAT may not be payable where the applicant is not resident in the UK.)
Please do not hesitate to contact our team for advice on a precise fee for representation in your matter or with any queries that you may have.
Start-Up Visa– Consultancy Services:
Our charges for these consultancy services are outlined below.
Curzon Green (London based client) Fee: £250-£350 plus VAT per session which lasts up to an hour (depending on the experience of the person you book your consultation with); or
Curzon Green (Buckinghamshire based client) Fee: £200-£250 plus VAT per session which lasts up to an hour (depending on the experience of the person you book your consultation with).
Contact Us
If you are unsure as to which service might be appropriate for your matter, or have any other queries about our immigration services, we warmly invite you to contact our team of experienced practitioners. You can do this by clicking on the links below or by telephoning or emailing our offices. You can explain to the receptionists that you are seeking to speak with the immigration team.
Telephone our offices:
London: 020 3443 9576
High Wycombe: 01494 451355
Marlow: 01628 958445
Email our immigration practitioners: immigration@curzongreen.co.uk
