The Global Entrepreneurs Programme can issue endorsements for the Innovator Founder visa only, not for Scale-up, according to UK Visas and Immigration guidance on endorsing bodies last updated on 7 August 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Innovator Founder and Scale-up applicants; applicants invited to the Global Entrepreneurs Programme
- From: The guidance gives no in-force date for this point; the page shows "Updated 7 August 2026"
- Source: Endorsing bodies: Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas
The guidance lists the organisations authorised to endorse applications for the Innovator Founder and Scale-up routes. An organisation can only issue an endorsement for a new initial Innovator Founder application, or for the Scale-up route, if it is on the "Business Endorsing Bodies" list.
That list separates the bodies by route. UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and Envestors Limited can issue endorsements for Innovator Founder visas and for Scale-up licences. The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) can issue endorsements for the Innovator Founder visa only.
The guidance describes GEP as a government programme run by the Department for Business and Trade for internationally mobile, tech-based entrepreneurs. It says GEP only provides visa endorsements for founders who have already been invited to take part in its programme.
A separate "Legacy Innovator Endorsing Bodies" list covers organisations that no longer accept new Start-up or Innovator applications. They may give further endorsements for Innovator Founder applications only where they previously endorsed the applicant under the Innovator or Start-up routes before 13 April 2023. The guidance asks people not to approach them unless they are existing endorsees.
The guidance also sets out costs for Innovator Founder applicants. An endorsement costs £1,000 per person, paid directly to the endorsing body. A successful applicant must attend a mandatory contact point meeting with the endorsing body at least twice during their permission to be in the UK. Each meeting costs £500, also paid directly to the endorsing body.
What this means for applicants
Applicants seeking a Scale-up endorsement cannot use GEP. They need one of the three other bodies on the Business Endorsing Bodies list. Innovator Founder applicants can only get a GEP endorsement if they have already been invited to join its programme.
An organisation that is not on the list cannot issue an endorsement. Anyone offered an endorsement by an unlisted organisation can report it on GOV.UK.
Related guide: UK Innovator Founder visa
Sources
- Endorsing bodies: Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas, UK Visas and Immigration, GOV.UK