What documents do you need as a prospective entrepreneur?

This page contains information about the documents that you may want to provide to support your application to come to the UK as a prospective entrepreneur.

You must provide these documents with your visa application.

You should provide as many relevant documents as you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK. If you do not provide them, we may refuse your application.

You must provide an original, signed letter (or letters) on headed paper from:

• 1 or more registered venture capitalist firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority;
• 1 or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions which is listed as 'endorsed' on the UK Trade & Investment website; or
• 1 or more UK government departments.

Each letter must be dated no more than 3 months before the date of your application, and must be signed by an authorised official of the organisation. It must support your application, and contain:

• a description of the nature of the organisation;
• a description of the background and nature of the proposed business;
• a description of your suitability to be involved with the proposed business;a commitment by the organisation to decide, within 6 months of your arrival in the UK, whether to provide a minimum of £50,000 funding for the proposed business*;
• a commitment by the organisation that the proposed business will be set up and run from the UK;
• contact details (contact name, phone number and email address) for the organisation; and
• confirmation that the organisation is content to be contacted about you.

* If more than 1 organisation is supporting your application, each organisation's proposed funding may be less than £50,000, but the total amount must be at least £50,000.

An example of this letter is as follows.

CONFIDENTIAL

For the attention of the UK Border Agency

In regards to the application of Mr / Mrs / Ms [Name] for prospective entrepreneur status in the UK:

I have the consent of [name] to share these findings with the Agency. I will confirm the contents of this letter to the Agency at their request.

I / We represent [name of corporate body] and have been approached by [name] to seek investment in a business in the UK. [Provide details of the proposed business, the applicant's suitability to be involved with the proposed business, and commitment from the organisation that the proposed business will be set up and run from the UK.]

For venture capitalists

[Provide description of the nature of the organisation; the name and registration number that the organisation is listed under with the Financial Conduct Authority as permitted to operate as a venture capital firm. Provide confirmation that the venture capital firm commits to making a decision within 6 months of the applicant entering the UK, to contribute £x funds directly to the applicant or the applicant's business.]

For UK government departments

[Provide confirmation that the department commits to making a decision within 6 months of the applicant entering the UK, to contribute £x funds directly to the applicant or the applicant's business.]

For UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions

[Provide details of the nature of the organisation and the UK Trade & Investment endorsement for the competition. Provide confirmation that the seed funding competition commits to making a decision within 6 months of the applicant entering the UK, to contribute £x funds directly to the applicant or the applicant's business].

[Name, phone number and email address of the author of this letter (an authorised official of the organisation), and confirmation that this person is content to be contacted if necessary.]

Signature of authorised official

Date that the declaration was made [dd/mm/yy]

Other documents

You should provide as many relevant documents as you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK. If you do not provide them, we may refuse your application.

You must decide which documents will best support your application. We advise you to consider providing documents that contain:

• information about you
• information about your finances and employment
• your accommodation and travel details
• information about your visit to the UK

You can download our supporting documents checklist from the right side of this page.