Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Lagos, Nigeria – 16 November 2025 – In a landmark policy change, international students in the United Kingdom can now switch directly from a student visa to the Innovator Founder visa without leaving the country, starting 25 November 2025.
The reform, aligned with the UK White Paper 2025, aims to remove barriers for foreign graduates seeking to transition from academic study to entrepreneurship. Previously, students were required to exit the UK before applying for the visa, a restriction now eliminated.
The Innovator Founder visa, which replaced the former Start-up visa, allows eligible foreign nationals to establish and run innovative businesses. Applicants must hold a valid student visa, present a commercially viable business idea, and secure endorsement from an approved Innovator Founder endorsing body. The policy ensures that new businesses are viable, scalable, and innovative, offering students a direct route to self-employment while remaining in the UK.
This reform is part of a broader overhaul of UK immigration regulations, which includes a unified “Part Suitability” framework for visa refusals and updates across work, study, and family visa categories. Experts note that the change reflects a global trend, following initiatives by countries like Australia and the United States, to attract skilled migrants with entrepreneurial potential.
The UK government expects the new pathway to boost innovation, retain talented graduates, and strengthen the nation’s competitive edge in global entrepreneurship.
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