Start-Up Visa Translation Guide: UK Entrepreneur Route 2026
Important: the Start-up visa is closed to new applicants. The Home Office closed the route on 13 April 2023, and it closed fully on 13 July 2023. The Innovator Founder visa replaced it. If you are starting a business in the UK now, read our Innovator Founder visa translation guide instead. This page is kept for people still holding Start-up leave, who may need certified translations for an extension, a switch, or a later application.
The Start-Up Visa in One Paragraph
The Start-up visa is a 2-year visa for entrepreneurs with a new business idea. An endorsing body must judge that idea innovative, viable and scalable. You do not need a sponsor. It is a stepping stone: after 2 years, most holders switch to Innovator Founder to carry on the business. There is no minimum investment. UKVI charges no fee for the endorsement itself, though the endorsing body may charge you.
Three Assessment Criteria
- Innovation — the idea must be genuinely original. Copycats fail this test.
- Viability — you need the skills, knowledge, experience and market knowledge to make the business work.
- Scalability — proof that you have planned for growth and could create jobs.
The Endorsement Letter: The One Document That Matters Most
The endorsement letter from an approved UK endorsing body is the most important document in a Start-up application. It must:
- Come from a UKVI-approved endorsing body (a university, accelerator, or business support group)
- Be dated within 3 months of the visa application
- Confirm that you meet the innovation, viability and scalability criteria
- Say what type of business it is and sum up your business plan
- Be in English — so no translation needed on the endorsement itself
But the Supporting Evidence Often Needs Translation
The endorsement is in English. But the proof you send to the endorsing body to get that endorsement is often in your own language. This can be business registration, past trading records, professional qualifications, patents, or academic research. Any item that is not in English needs a certified translation before the endorsing body will look at it.
Documents Typically Needing Translation
| Document | Stage | Translation Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Passport biodata page | UKVI application | No (bilingual) |
| Endorsement letter | UKVI application | No (English) |
| University degree certificate | Endorsement & English language | Yes |
| Professional qualifications | Endorsement evidence | Yes |
| Prior business registration | Endorsement evidence | Yes |
| Patents / intellectual property | Innovation evidence | Yes |
| Bank statements (£1,270 maintenance) | UKVI application | Yes if non-English |
| Character reference letters | Endorsement evidence | Yes if non-English |
| Research papers / publications | Innovation evidence (deep-tech) | Yes |
Endorsing Bodies: Who They Are and What They Expect
UKVI publishes a public list of approved endorsing bodies. The main types are:
University-based
Russell Group and other large universities often endorse their own graduates or research spin-outs. They look at your academic record, your research, and your work with the university business support team.
Business Accelerators
Programmes such as Tech Nation (now closed, though some legacy bodies remain), Innovator International, and UK Endorsing Services. They look at how deep your business plan is, how much traction you have, and your growth numbers.
Sector Specialists
Endorsing bodies for fintech, life sciences, and the creative industries. They look at your industry qualifications, your sector knowledge, and how well you know the rules.
Regional Hubs
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and some English regions have bodies that back businesses which help the local economy. They look at local market fit and your plans to create jobs.
English Language Evidence
You must prove your English is at CEFR level B2 or above. You can do this in four ways:
- A passport from a majority English-speaking country — you need no other proof.
- A degree taught in English — send the transcript from an English-medium institution with an Ecctis reference letter. If the degree certificate is in another language, you need a certified translation as well as the Ecctis letter.
- A SELT (Secure English Language Test) — such as IELTS for UKVI. The report comes in English, so you need no translation.
- An earlier UK visa that already met B2 — UKVI has its own record, so you need no proof.
Degree in English-Medium Institution Abroad?
Universities in Norway, Denmark or the Netherlands often teach in English but print certificates in the local language. You then need two things. First, a certified translation of the certificate. Second, an Ecctis reference that confirms the degree level and that you were taught in English.
Common Start-Up Visa Translation Mistakes
- Sending a business plan in your own language and asking the endorsing body to translate it. They will not.
- Translating the endorsement letter when it was already in English. This only confuses your UKVI file.
- Using Google Translate for the business plan. UKVI and endorsing bodies reject machine translations.
- Leaving the name on a patent untranslated. UKVI may then not link that patent to you.
- Forgetting to translate the degree certificate when the Ecctis letter only refers to an English translation.
- Translating only part of your bank statements. UKVI wants your maintenance evidence translated in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Start-up visa lead to settlement?
No, not directly. After 2 years on Start-up, most people switch to Innovator Founder to carry on the business. Innovator Founder can lead to settlement after 3 years.
Can I bring my family on the Start-up visa?
Yes. Partners and children under 18 can apply as dependants. They also need the money evidence. Their birth and marriage certificates must be translated if they are not in English.
My business is already running in my home country — can I use that evidence?
Yes. A business that is already working makes your viability case stronger. But you will need certified translations of the company registration, accounts, contracts and customer reviews if they are not in English.
Do I need an apostille on my degree certificate?
UKVI does not require an apostille on Start-up visa degree certificates. But we strongly advise an Ecctis reference letter. The Ecctis report confirms the level of your degree and usually names the original document.
How long does the Start-up visa take to process?
Most applicants wait 3 weeks from their biometrics appointment. You can pay for Priority service (5 working days) or Super Priority (next working day). The endorsement step before you apply usually takes 4–12 weeks, depending on the body.
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