Previously, changes in the Immigration Rules were expected in April, as most new applications and Home Office alterations are made in that month. However, due to ‘Brexit’, the new visas that were introduced on 7 March 2019 will officially come into effect on 29 March 2019. The Tier 1 ‘Entrepreneur’ visa will remain open to all applicants until then, therefore those who want to submit an application are still open to do so.

There will be different requirements for the Innovator and the Start-up visas; it depends on your current visa as well as other requirements that you need to meet. For those who are currently on Tier 1 General Entrepreneur visa, they will have the option to switch to the Start-up visa, this includes those under Tier 2, Tier 4 and visitors undertaking permitted activities as a prospective entrepreneur (appendix V). If you are on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, you will go through the Innovator visa route, as you will already be regarded as an experienced businessperson.

The new visas will be under Appendix W (workers) of the Immigration Rules. Therefore, all requirements for this application will be set out in the appendix; however we can expect further amendments to this appendix in time.