Careers Service

Start-up visa

The Start-up visa is a visa route for entrepreneurs looking to set up a business in the UK for the first time.

Applications for the Start-up scheme must be endorsed by either an HEI (Higher Education Institution) endorsing body or a Business endorsing body.

• UK Visas and Immigration List of endorsing bodies

If you are a current student or graduate of The University of Manchester, contact the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre for further information and start-up support.

Further information on the Start-up Visa is available on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

We have been informed that the Start-up Visa will be merged into the Innovator Visa from 13 April 2023. The Innovator Visa requirement for minimum funding of £50,000 will be relaxed at this time. At the time of writing it is not known whether the University of Manchester will apply for 'Innovator Endorsing Status' in order to endorse applications after 13 April 2023.