Scale Up Work Visa
The Scale Up Worker Visa is for talented individuals who have been hired by a fast-growing UK company. It allows them to work in the UK for at least 6 months. If they meet certain requirements, they can apply for this visa, which also offers a path to settle in the UK. They may also be joined or accompanied by a partner and dependent children.
The visa offers both a Sponsored Application route and an Unsponsored Application route. The Sponsored Application route is for first-time applicants, while the Unsponsored Application route is for those who have previously been granted permission as a Scale Up Worker.
To qualify, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and have a confirmed job offer from an approved scale-up business.
- What are the requirements for Scale Up Visa (sponsored application)
- What are the requirements for Scale Up Visa (Unsponsored application)
- "If I do not meet the criteria, which other routes are there?"
- What does it mean by a Scale Up business?
- Are you a company looking to apply for a Scale Up Visa sponsorship licence?
What are the requirements for Scale Up Visa (sponsored application)
To be eligible for a sponsored application for the Scale Up Worker Visa, the applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Have a confirmed job offer from an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months.
- A start date no more than 3 months after the date of the Scale-up Worker Visa.
- The job must meet the appropriate skill and salary level, with the salary equaling or exceeding £34,600 per year.
Example
Your salary is £34,700 per year, but the annual going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £36,000. You do not meet the salary requirement for this visa because you’re earning less than the annual going rate for your job (£36,000).
- The employer must provide a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job.
- the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship
- The applicant must have proof of their knowledge of English language, at least CEFR Level B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0)
- Your job title and annual salary
- Your job’s occupation code
- You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required
- The job must be eligible for the Scale Up Worker Visa and your employer is on the list of approved UK employers
If your UK employer is not eligible to sponsor you on this visa, they may be eligible to sponsor you with another type of work visa.
These requirements ensure that the applicant is offered a genuine job role that meets the necessary skill and salary criteria, and that the employer is eligible to sponsor workers under the Scale Up Worker Visa route.
What are the requirements for Scale Up Visa (Unsponsored application)
The unsponsored application route for the Scale Up Visa is a pathway that individuals on the Scale Up Visa can potentially move into after being on the visa for 6 months, provided they meet the requirements. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
- After 6 months on the Scale Up Visa, individuals may be able to move into the unsponsored route if they continue to undertake their sponsored job.
- At the end of the sponsored period, the sponsor duties fall away. The individual can remain employed by the sponsor or leave their employment to do something else.
- To obtain a Scale Up Visa, a company willing to sponsor the individual must first obtain a Scale Up licence.
The unsponsored application on the Scale Up route must be made online. After submitting the online application, the applicant will need to prove their identity and provide proof of their recent pay. They will also have to pay another application fee and the healthcare surcharge.
"If I do not meet the criteria, which other routes are there?"
The UK offers various work visa options for foreign workers. Some of the available routes include:
- Skilled Worker Visa.
- Global Business Mobility Visa
- Overseas Business Visa
- Temporary Work Visa
These are some of the work visa options available for foreign workers in the UK, each with its own eligibility criteria and requirements. If you need help to choosing the right path for you, please speak to our immigration lawyers for a free telephone consultation on 01204 55555 or email
What does it mean by a Scale Up business?
For a business to be considered a scale-up company, a business must have experienced an average annual growth of 20% in either employment or total sales over a 3-year period and have had at least 10 employees at the beginning of that period.
The company should have also raised £1 million or more in equity finance in a single round in the 12 months preceding the application, or have a global presence with offices or operations outside the UK and generate a minimum threshold of 10% of its overall operating costs per year for 3 years in research, development, or innovation expenditure.
Additionally, the Scale Up Visa is designed for talented individuals recruited by UK Scale-up Sponsors to support the continued growth of these high-potential businesses.
Are you a company looking to apply for a Scale Up Visa sponsorship licence?
If you are a company, and would like to apply for a Scale Up Visa sponsorship licence here in the UK, you can do so by following these steps.:
- Ensure that your company meets the criteria for a Scale Up business, including sustained high growth and financial thresholds.
- Complete and submit the sponsor licence application form online.
- Pay the Scale Up sponsor licence application fee, which is £536 for small and charitable sponsors or £1,476 for other sponsors. After completing the application, you must provide the submission sheet to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
- Submit any documents requested by UKVI to support the application.
Following the above steps, your company may receive a pre-licence visit from a UKVI compliance officer to verify its ability to meet sponsorship duties.
Most applications are processed within 8 weeks. If you would like some assistance in obtaining your Scale Up Visa sponsorship licence our specialist is here to help and guide you at every step of the way.
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