The United Kingdom has announced that international students—including thousands of Nigerians—will soon be able to switch directly to the Innovator Founder visa from within the country. This major policy shift, effective November 25, 2025, allows students on valid Study visas to transition to the business-focused visa route without returning to their home country.
Formerly, international students had to exit the UK before applying for the Innovator Founder visa. The new rule removes that hurdle, enabling students to set up businesses and launch their entrepreneurial careers as their applications are being processed in the UK.
The Innovator Founder visa permits graduates to establish and operate innovative businesses that introduce novel products or services to the UK market. To be eligible, applicants must present a viable business idea endorsed by an approved body and meet all other requirements.
This policy update follows the discontinuation of the Start-up visa, with the Innovator Founder visa now the main pathway for foreigners aiming to found new businesses in the UK. Applicants must:
- Apply for permission under the Innovator Founder route while holding a valid Student visa,
- Obtain an endorsement from an approved body,
- Begin the process before their study visa expires.
The change is expected to stimulate entrepreneurship among international students in the UK—especially the Nigerian student community, which is one of the largest in the country. This streamlined path is part of broader efforts to retain top entrepreneurial talent and support the UK’s reputation as a global business hub.
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