Indefinite leave to remain if you have an Innovator Founder or Innovator visa

Skip to contents of guide

Family members

Your partner and children can apply at the same time if they’re eligible.

Your partner and children can also apply separately at a later date, for example if they’re not eligible yet. They can continue to extend their visa as your dependant, even after you get indefinite leave to remain.

Eligibility for partners

Your partner may qualify if all of the following apply:

  • they have permission to be in the UK as your partner (as a ‘dependant’ on your Innovator Founder or Innovator visa)
  • they’ve lived in the UK with you as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years
  • your relationship is genuine
  • you intend to keep living together
  • you have enough income to support yourselves and your dependants
  • you’re not using public funds (benefits)

Your partner can include time they’ve spent as your dependant on another visa to count towards the continuous years they need to qualify. They cannot count any time spent on their own visa (not as your dependant).

Your partner must also:

Eligibility for children

Your child can apply if:

  • they have permission to be in the UK as your child (as a ‘dependant’ on your visa)
  • they are not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life
  • they will live with you and be supported by you without relying on public funds (benefits)
  • you and your child’s other parent are both currently applying to settle, or are already settled

Your child can also apply to settle in one of the following situations:

  • you’re the child’s sole surviving parent
  • you have sole responsibility for your child, or they normally live with you
  • there are serious or compelling reasons why they should be allowed to stay, for example you or your child has a serious illness

Extra documents for children over 16

You’ll need to prove:

  • where they live - if they do not live with you, you’ll need to explain why
  • any rent or upkeep they pay you each month
  • that you support them financially if they do not live with you

You’ll need to provide 2 documents from this list to prove where they live:

  • bank statement
  • credit card bill
  • driving licence
  • NHS registration document
  • a letter from their current school, college or university, on headed paper and issued by an authorised official of that organisation

The documents you provide cannot be more than a month old on the date you make your application.

If your child lives away from home, you’ll need to provide:

  • bank statements for you and your child covering the 3 months before the date you apply (to prove you’ve supported them)
  • confirmation from their university or college on headed paper and issued by an authorised official (if they’re studying)

Children 18 and over

Older children can apply if both of the following are true:

  • they were under 18 when they got permission to be in the UK as your dependant
  • they still do not live an independent life - for example, they have not got married or had children

They also need to:

View a printable version of the whole guide