NAM
NAM Solicitors
Your Legal Partner
We advise entrepreneurs, investors and individuals of exceptional talent on the UK's innovation and talent-based immigration routes — including the Innovator Founder visa, Global Talent visa, High Potential Individual visa and Scale-up Worker route.
The UK has a number of immigration routes designed for individuals with exceptional ability, business acumen or entrepreneurial talent. These routes differ significantly from standard work routes and often involve endorsement from a recognised endorsing body before a visa application can be made.
We do not guarantee the outcome of any Home Office application, endorsement or appeal.
The Innovator Founder visa replaced the Innovator and Start-up visas in April 2023. It is for experienced businesspeople seeking to establish a business in the UK based on an innovative, viable and scalable business idea. Applicants must obtain endorsement from an approved endorsing body before applying to the Home Office. There is no minimum investment requirement, but the business idea must be genuinely new and credible.
We advise on the endorsement process, help you identify the appropriate endorsing body and assist in presenting your business plan to meet the endorsement criteria of innovative, viable and scalable.
Extensions require a progress report from your endorsing body confirming you have made progress towards your business plan milestones. We advise on what is required and assist with the Home Office application.
After 3 years on the Innovator Founder route, you may be eligible for ILR, subject to endorsement confirming significant achievements. We advise on eligibility and prepare your settlement application.
We advise on how to structure and present your business case to endorsing bodies. Endorsement — not the Home Office — is often the main hurdle. We advise on presentation and supporting evidence.
The Global Talent visa is for internationally recognised leaders or emerging leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, digital technology or science, engineering and technology. Applicants must be endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body. Endorsement criteria vary significantly between bodies — for example, Tech Nation (digital technology), the British Academy (humanities), the Royal Society (sciences) and Arts Council England.
We advise on which endorsing body applies to your field, the evidence requirements for the exceptional talent or exceptional promise pathway, and how to structure your endorsement application.
Once endorsed, we prepare and submit the visa application to the Home Office, advising on supporting documents and application timing.
Eligible for ILR after 3 years (exceptional talent) or 5 years (exceptional promise). We advise on the qualifying period, absences and the settlement application.
Where an endorsement application is rejected, we advise on the grounds for rejection and whether a review or reapplication is advisable.
The High Potential Individual visa allows recent graduates of top-ranked global universities to work in the UK without a job offer. Applicants must have graduated from an eligible institution within the last 5 years. The visa lasts 2 years (or 3 years for PhD graduates) and allows unrestricted work in the UK.
We advise on eligibility — including whether your institution is on the Home Office global universities list — and assist with the full application including qualification evidence.
Many HPI holders transition to the Skilled Worker route after securing employment. We advise on the switch requirements, salary thresholds and timing.
The Scale-up Worker route allows high-growth UK businesses to sponsor overseas workers. The route requires a sponsor licence with the Scale-up endorsement. Workers must have an offer of employment for at least 6 months at a salary of at least £36,300 or the going rate for the occupation. After 6 months, Scale-up workers may work for any employer.
We advise workers on the eligibility requirements, salary thresholds and the application process for the Scale-up Worker route.
We advise eligible high-growth businesses on obtaining the Scale-up endorsement and issuing CoS for Scale-up workers.
Written quote before work begins. Endorsement body fees are additional and vary. IHS at £1,035/yr payable per visa year.
For the Innovator Founder and Global Talent routes, endorsement by an approved body is required before the Home Office visa application can be made. We advise on the endorsement stage — which is often the key hurdle.
Contact us to discuss which innovation or talent route is right for you.
Contact us to discuss your business or talent immigration options.