Three Home Office-approved endorsing bodies handle IFV applications: Envestors, UK Endorsing Services, and Innovator International. They all assess against the same three criteria (Innovation, Viability, Scalability), but their process, focus areas, and fees differ. Pick one that matches your sector and stage — applying to all three in parallel is not allowed.
The three approved bodies
Under the post-2023 rules, the Home Office consolidated dozens of historical endorsing bodies down to three. You apply to one. They each have their own application form, fee structure, and review committee — but the underlying criteria are identical.
Envestors
- FCA-authorised investment platform that also operates as an IFV endorsing body.
- Strongest fit if your business is at a stage where you've raised or are raising — they understand investor diligence and reflect that in their assessment.
- Process: written application + interview. Decision typically within 4-6 weeks.
UK Endorsing Services
- The largest of the three by volume of endorsements granted.
- Broad sector coverage — tech, climate, manufacturing, life sciences, consumer.
- Process: structured online application, in-depth review of business plan, panel interview. Decision in 4-8 weeks.
Innovator International
- Sector-agnostic but with strong emphasis on international expansion plans.
- Good fit if your business is already trading internationally or plans to expand from UK base into multiple markets.
- Process: written application + interview. Decision in 4-8 weeks.
How to choose
- If you're investor-backed or raising: Envestors — they understand the funding context and won't penalise you for being early-revenue but funded.
- If you're broad-tech / multi-sector: UK Endorsing Services — most experience across sectors.
- If you're internationally focused from day one: Innovator International.
- If you have a clear sector specialism: check each body's recent endorsements to see who's reviewed similar businesses.
Contact points (12 / 24 / 36 months)
After endorsement, you have mandatory check-ins with your endorsing body at 12, 24, and 36 months. They assess whether you're on track with the plan you endorsed. These aren't pass/fail audits — they're structured progress reviews. Failing them can result in your endorsement being withdrawn, which would terminate your visa.
- 12-month contact point: have you set up the business? Hired? Started revenue? Pivoted?
- 24-month contact point: are you progressing against the plan? What's changed?
- 36-month contact point: ready for settlement assessment — meaningful traction, jobs created, future plans.