Apply for a Start-up or Innovator Visa 

Start-up Visa

• For early-stage but high potential entrepreneurs (who want to start a business in the UK for the first time);
• No funds are required (applicants do not need any funds to invest in their business at this stage);
• Two-year visa offered (it offers a one-off, two-year visa, during which the applicants will spend the majority of their time developing their businesses but can also take on other work outside of their businesses to support themselves);
• You can bring your family members (successful applicants can bring their family members (spouses/partners and children under 18 can be brought into the UK); and
• Switch to Innovator visa (at the end of the two years, applicants can switch into the Innovator category - see below - to extend their stay and develop business in the UK).

Innovator Visa

• For more experienced business people (who seek to establish a business in the UK);
• £50,000 required (applicants need a minimum of £50,000 funding available to invest in their business - which can come from an endorsing body such as Sapphire Capital Partners LLP);
• You must work 100% on the business (innovators must work entirely on developing their business ventures and not take on other employment outside their business);
• Three-year visa offered (applicants are granted leave for three years at a time);
• You can bring your family members (successful innovators can bring their family members (spouses/partners and children under 18 can be brought into the UK); and
• Extend your stay (successful innovators can apply to extend their stay for a further three years or to settle permanently in the UK).

Third-Party Review

Sapphire Capital accepts applications directly and through trusted third-party intermediaries (such as Seed Mentors Entrepreneurs Limited). For any direct applications, Sapphire Capital will outsource an initial review of the application to one of the trusted third-party intermediaries if we believe that the application may be of interest to us (and consequently we will, therefore, share your data with them). They may charge you a fee for their initial review which will be confidential to us and they may seek further information directly from you.

Fees

Although Sapphire Capital does not charge any fees for considering applications, the third-party introducers (such as Seed Mentors Entrepreneurs Limited) who approach us may charge fees or seek equity for services they provide to their clients. Such arrangements do not involve Sapphire Capital.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IS USUAL AND SAPPHIRE CAPITAL WILL EXPECT TO TAKE EQUITY IN ANY COMPANIES WE ARE SUPPORTING WITH AN ENDORSEMENT (OF CIRCA 5% to 10%).