Business and startup visas and international entrepreneurs are what and who I deal with on a daily basis. As someone who has embarked on the path of business visas as a foreign entrepreneur, I have learned a few lessons.

Disclaimer: none of the content in this article, or website, constitute immigration advice in any shape or form. For professional immigration advice, please refer to a regulated immigration advisor or solicitor.

If you are an international entrepreneur considering applying for a business or startup visa, there are quite a few things to consider. This may be one of the biggest challenges with foreign entrepreneurs. Starting a business is always hard work; add it to navigating immigration rules and you are bound to get things wrong. 

As such, in this article, I seek to prevent foreign entrepreneurs from making ONE fatal mistake, and that is underestimating the requirements of business and startup visas. 

Business & Startup visas may come with ongoing requirements

Remember that under many visa paths such as the UK’s Innovator Founder Visa, there are ongoing milestones that founders must meet. 

In other words, getting a business or startup visa is just the beginning. 

Where do founders get it wrong?

With the above in mind, founders usually underestimate startup and business visa requirements by either:

• Overestimating their own abilities and/or business idea 
• Viewing the business visa as a way to get residency and settle down 

These two mistakes can end up costing you money, time, energy and your health. It is vital that founders who consider startup and business visas are aware of this reality. 

Startup and business visas are not the means to obtain long-term residency/citizenship.

 It may be in certain countries, but it certainly is not the case with the UK’s Innovator Founder Visa. 

Remember to assess everything from a “business” perspective, rather than a “residency/immigration” one. 

What if residency is your goal?

Entrepreneurship is not everyone’s forté, and I am not judging you for that. 

Perhaps you do wish to invest in commercial projects whilst obtaining an additional residency or citizenship.

In these cases, it is better to consider residency or citizenship by investment programs offered by several countries across the world. 

Do not pursue a business or startup visa if your main priority is residency. Running a business has many uncertainties, and it should always be done for the purpose of generating profit unless we are speaking of non-profits.  Any other goal is foundationally wrong for doing so. 

About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme. Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.