SFC Capital no longer appears on the Legacy Innovator Endorsing Bodies list, which covers further Innovator Founder endorsements for people endorsed before 13 April 2023, in guidance updated on 7 August 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Innovator Founder applicants who were previously endorsed under the Innovator or Start-up routes before 13 April 2023
- From: 7 August 2026
- Source: Endorsing bodies: Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas
UK Visas and Immigration updated its guidance "Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas endorsing bodies" on 7 August 2026. The Legacy Innovator Endorsing Bodies list in section 3 no longer includes SFC Capital.
The guidance sets out two lists. 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 names UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and Envestors Limited for both routes, and The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) for the Innovator Founder visa only.
Legacy Innovator Endorsing Bodies may only provide further endorsements for Innovator Founder applications where they have already endorsed the applicant under the Innovator or Start-up routes before 13 April 2023. The guidance says the organisations in this section no longer accept new Start-up or Innovator applications. They are authorised to continue maintaining and monitoring their existing endorsed migrants.
The guidance states that an organisation can only issue an endorsement if it is on the list. Anyone who has been offered an endorsement by an organisation that is not listed can report it on GOV.UK.
The guidance also gives the costs paid directly to the endorsing body for an Innovator Founder visa: £1,000 per person for the endorsement, and £500 per contact point meeting. A successful applicant must attend a contact point meeting at least twice during their permission to be in the UK.
The guidance does not say why SFC Capital was removed, and it does not say what happens to anyone it previously endorsed.
What this means for applicants
Check the current list before approaching any organisation for an endorsement. An organisation that is not on the list cannot issue one, and an offer from such an organisation can be reported on GOV.UK. The guidance says not to approach Legacy Innovator Endorsing Bodies unless you are an existing endorsee. SFC Capital no longer appears on that list.
Related guide
Sources
- Endorsing bodies: Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas, UK Visas and Immigration, updated 7 August 2026