The full cost of the Innovator Founder visa in 2026

The headline visa fee for the Innovator Founder route is £1,357 (applying from outside the UK). The real cost of getting a founder, and possibly a family, through three years on the route and into settlement is several times that. Most of the difference comes from the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is paid upfront for the length of the grant, and from endorsement and contact point fees that sit outside the Home Office table.

This article sets out the costs as they stand in October 2026 and builds three budgets: a solo founder, a couple, and a family of four. Every figure is from GOV.UK or the Home Office fees table from 8 April 2026. Where a figure is not published in a way we can state reliably, such as the surcharge for children, we say so.

The fee lines

The April 2026 changes raised the entry clearance fee from £1,274 to £1,357, leave to remain from £1,590 to £1,693, and indefinite leave to remain from £3,029 to £3,226. Priority and super priority fees did not change. For more on the rise, see Innovator Founder fees rise in 2026.

Maintenance funds: held, not spent

Separately from fees, you must show funds held for a 28-day period unless you have been in the UK for more than 12 months when you apply.

This money stays yours. It is not included in the fee totals below, but it needs to be available and evidenced at the right time.

Budget 1: solo founder

Budget 2: couple

This assumes both partners are adults, both apply on the same basis, both later apply for settlement at today's fee, and both take the Life in the UK test. Check whether each assumption applies to you.

Budget 3: family of four

Two adults and two children. The children's health surcharge is not included: use the GOV.UK healthcare surcharge calculator for their figure. ILR assumes all four apply at today's fee; confirm the fee that applies to each family member before relying on it.

Costs that sit outside these tables

The tables cover government and endorsing body fees only. A realistic budget also includes items whose amounts vary by person and are not set by the Home Office: English language testing if you are not exempt, document translations, professional advice, travel, and living costs. Priority or super priority service, at £500 or £1,000, is optional; GOV.UK says processing usually takes 3 weeks outside the UK and 8 weeks inside.

The biggest cost of all is the business itself. Your endorsing body will look at whether the plan is realistic given your resources, and at settlement your letter must confirm the business is sustainable for the next 12 months. See the 24-month runway rule and the 12-month sustainability test.

Extensions

GOV.UK says you can extend for another 3 years, with no limit on extensions, but you need a new endorsement each time. An extension would add another in-country visa fee per person, another three years of surcharge per adult, and new endorsing body fees. For settlement costs in more detail, see the ILR cost breakdown.

Sources and further reading

• GOV.UK — Innovator Founder visa
• GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees
• GOV.UK — Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
• GOV.UK — Indefinite leave to remain: Innovator Founder visa
• GOV.UK — Immigration Rules Appendix Finance
• GOV.UK — Life in the UK test

Key takeaways

• Visa fees from 8 April 2026: £1,357 per person from outside the UK, £1,693 per person inside.
• The health surcharge is the largest early cost: £1,035 per adult per year, £3,105 per adult for three years.
• Endorsing body fees are £1,000 plus £500 per contact point meeting, at least two, excluding VAT.
• A solo founder applying from abroad should budget about £9,738 in fees through to settlement, plus VAT.
• Maintenance funds are held, not spent, and are automatically met after 12 months in the UK.
• Check children's surcharge on the GOV.UK calculator, and recheck all fees before each application.

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