The Scale Up Visa

What is the Scale Up visa?

The Scale Up visa is a route which helps businesses to ‘scale-up’ by enabling them to recruit talent from overseas. The scale up visa has been introduced by the UKVI with the intended purpose to cut out some of the red tape and cost for high growth businesses. Individuals with a scale up visa will be able to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, after this time they may be able to extend their visa.

If an applicant is successful in their scale up visa application, then for the first 6-month period of being in the UK they must be employed by their sponsor in the role for which they received the sponsorship. After this period, individuals are free to undertake any type of work, for whichever employer they like (except from being a professional sportsperson or coach). This makes the scale-up visa unique as unlike many other sponsored routes, individuals are not bound to their employer or occupation to remain in the UK.

What are Scale Up visa companies in the UK?

A scale up company is a business which is eligible to sponsor scale up workers. To be eligible to register as a Scale Up visa company in the UK, a business must meet the following requirements: 

• Have had an annualised growth of at least 20% for the last three-period prior to applying for a licence in either staff count or turnover (income); and

• Have a minimum of ten employees at the beginning of the three-year period.

The UKVI will assess the above through PAYE information for staff count and VAT returns for turnover.

How do I become a Scale Up visa sponsor?

An organisation which meets the Scale Up business requirements is required to hold a temporary worker licence before they sponsor someone under the scale up visa. This temporary worker licence can be added as a sub-category to an existing sponsor licence.

If your business meets the eligibility criteria and you recognise the advantages that the Scale Up visa can bring to your workforce planning, it's crucial to weigh the benefits of reduced sponsorship costs against the fact that Scale Up visa holders can switch employers after just six months. Our expert team can provide guidance on navigating these considerations and help you make informed decisions about your business immigration strategy.

Who is eligible for a Scale Up visa?

To be eligible to apply for a Scale Up visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from their employer.
• You have a job offer for a role which is at least skilled to RQF level 6 and is for a role which is listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
• Will be paid at least £36,300 per year (based on a 39-hour week) or the ‘going rate’ for the occupation code (whichever is higher).
• Can speak and understand English to at least B1 level on the CEFR scale.
• You either have funds of at least £1,270, or show that the sponsor is able to fund and accommodate the applicant for the first month of being in the UK.
• You ‘score’ 70 points on the UK’s point-based system.

How long does a Scale-Up visa last?

A Scale-Up visa lasts for 2 years, however, individuals may be eligible to extend their visa for another 3 years.

Can I extend my Scale-Up visa?

Yes, if you have stayed in the UK for 2 years with a Scale-Up visa then you will be able to apply to extend your visa for an additional 3 years (you must apply to extend your visa before your current leave expires).

Unlike other visa routes and applications, when applying to extend your visa you will not be required to meet the same eligibility criteria as you did when you first applied. When it comes to extending the Scale-Up visa, individuals are not required to meet the sponsorship requirement (e.g. you no longer need to be sponsored in the UK). However, applicants wishing to extend their visa will be required to  show PAYE earnings of at least £33,000 per year for at least half of their time in the UK as a scale-up worker.

How can I apply for a UK Scale-Up visa?

To apply for a Scale Up visa applications must be made online and can be made from both inside the UK and outside of the UK.

As part of the application process you will be required to provide supporting documentation which shows that you meet the eligibility criteria, and in addition to the application fees you will be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which gives you access to a variety of NHS services whilst in the UK.

In some circumstances, you will also need to attend a biometrics appointment to provide various biometrics to confirm your identity.

How much is a Scale-Up visa UK?

It costs £822 to apply for a Scale-Up visa. However, as part of the application process, individuals are required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which costs £1035 per year to access a range of NHS services while in the UK.

Correct at the time of writing - 26th April 2024

Switching to the Scale-Up visa

If you are in the UK on another visa, you may be eligible to switch to the Scale-Up Worker Visa. To be eligible to switch to this visa you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Your job meets the eligibility requirements; and

• You can speak, read, write and understand English.

If you are currently in the UK on a Student Visa, in addition to the eligibility requirements you must meet one of the following:

• Completed the course you were sponsored to study; or

• The start date of your job is after your course has finished; or

• Studied for a PhD for at least 24 months. 

However, if you are in the UK on one of the following you cannot apply to switch to this visa. 

• A Visit Visa;

• A short-term Student Visa;

• A Parent of a Child Student Visa;

• A Seasonal Worker Visa;

• A Domestic Worker in a Private Household Visa;

• On immigration bail; or

• You were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules.

Instead, you must make an application for a Scale-Up Worker Visa from abroad.