Scale-up Worker Visa UK
The Scale Up Worker visa allows highly skilled overseas professionals to work for UK businesses experiencing rapid growth. It offers a streamlined route for employers to access global talent while maintaining flexibility for workers.
For immediate help with your Scale Up Worker visa, contact our immigration lawyers on +44 208 016 2308 or reach us via live chat.
Book your FREE consultation today!
The Scale Up Worker visa allows highly skilled overseas professionals to work for UK businesses experiencing rapid growth. It offers a streamlined route for employers to access global talent while maintaining flexibility for workers.
For immediate help with your Scale Up Worker visa, contact our immigration lawyers on +44 208 016 2308 or reach us via live chat.
Important Year-End Alert
If you hold a UK visa with a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), it will expire on 31 December 2024.
Do not worry: you can still use your expired BRP to generate a Right to Work share code for up to 18 months (until June 2026) while completing your move to a digital eVisa.
If you are currently abroad for the holidays and returning after 1 January 2026, make sure your eVisa is linked to your passport.
Our team can assist you in linking your UKVI account and avoiding travel or work interruptions.
What is a Scale Up Visa
The Scale Up visa is part of the UK’s points-based immigration system. It supports high-growth UK companies that need to recruit skilled professionals from abroad.
Applicants must have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by a licensed scale-up sponsor. Dependants such as partners and children can also apply.
After meeting residence and earnings requirements, holders may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
To qualify, you must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Have a valid job offer from a Home Office-approved scale-up business
- Hold a Certificate of Sponsorship issued within three months
- Work in a role at RQF Level 6 or higher
- Meet the salary threshold
- Demonstrate English-language ability
- Show maintenance funds unless certified by your sponsor
Current threshold (until 31 March 2026): £39 100 per year or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher.
New entrant rate: £33 400 per year or 70 percent of the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher.
This discounted rate is available for a maximum total of four years, including any time spent on the Graduate or Student Visa routes.
From April 2026 the minimum salary will rise to £40 800 per year with a £19.35 hourly floor.
Need urgent help? Call:
The English standard depends on when you apply:
- Applications submitted up to 7 January 2026 require CEFR Level B1.
- Applications submitted on or after 8 January 2026 must meet CEFR Level B2.
Important: your official application date is the day you pay your online fee, not the date of your biometric appointment.
To benefit from the B1 requirement, you must pay the fee on or before 7 January 2026. If payment is made on or after 8 January, the B2 standard will apply even if your documents were prepared earlier.
You can meet this requirement by passing an approved test, holding a degree taught in English recognised by Ecctis, or being from a majority English-speaking country.
You must hold at least £1 270 for 28 consecutive days within 31 days before applying, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance.
Applicants who have been in the UK for 12 months or more are exempt.
Dependants must show additional funds: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child.
- Passport or travel document
- Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
- Job title, salary and occupation code
- English-language evidence
- Bank statements or certified maintenance confirmation
- TB test results (if required)
- Certified translations of non-English documents
Need urgent help? Call:
Applications are made online. You verify your identity using the UK Immigration ID Check app or by visiting a visa centre.
Processing normally takes three weeks outside the UK and up to eight weeks inside the UK. Priority options may be available for an extra fee.
Fees and Charges (December 2025)
Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Visa Application Fee | £769 |
Immigration Health Surcharge | £1 035 per year |
Certificate of Sponsorship (employer) | £525 |
Need urgent help? Call:
The visa is granted for up to two years.
During the first six months you are in the sponsored phase and must remain with your sponsoring employer. Leaving earlier requires a new sponsor and application.
After six months of continuous PAYE employment you enter the unsponsored phase and may work for any employer or be self-employed without a new visa.
You can extend for up to three years if you have worked six months for your initial sponsor and met the qualifying earnings for at least half of your visa period.
Dependants must extend their visas separately.
Switching to the Scale Up Route
You may switch from another eligible UK visa if you meet the requirements. Student Visa holders must have completed their course or studied a PhD for at least 24 months.
You cannot switch from a visitor, short-term student, seasonal worker, parent of a Child Student or domestic worker visa, or while on immigration bail.
Settlement and Long-Term Residence
As of December 2025, Scale Up Workers can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years if they meet salary, absence and language requirements.
The Home Office is consulting (on closing February 2026) on a proposed Earned Settlement model introducing a 10-year baseline for most workers. Under that proposal, high earners (£50 270 +) could still qualify after five years and those earning £125 140 + after three.
Applicants must meet CEFR Level B2 English, pass the Life in the UK Test and show no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
Digital eVisa and BRP Transition
Create your UKVI account and link your visa before that date.
Don’t worry if you haven’t linked it yet, you can still use your expired BRP to generate a Right to Work share code for an 18-month grace period while you complete the digital transition.
If you are travelling after New Year, ensure your eVisa is linked to your passport because airlines will not accept BRP cards for boarding from 1 January 2026.
Common Reasons for Refusal
- Salary below £39 100 or below the occupation rate
- Leaving the sponsor before six months of employment
- Job not at RQF Level 6 or above
- Certificate of Sponsorship expired or incorrect
- Missing maintenance evidence
- English score below requirement
- PAYE records not matching HMRC data
Compliance Summary
Feature | Current Law | Confirmed or Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|
Salary Threshold | £39 100 or going rate | £40 800 (Apr 2026) |
New Entrant Rate | £33 400 (70 %) max 4 years | No change expected |
English Level | B1 (current) | B2 (from 8 Jan 2026) |
Visa Fee | £769 | £769 |
IHS | £1 035 per year | £1 035 |
CoS Fee | £525 | £525 |
Maintenance Funds | £1 270 (28 days) | Same |
Dependants’ Funds | £285 / £315 / £200 | £310 / £325 / £225 (Apr 2026) |
Settlement Route | 5 years (current law) | 10 years (proposed model) |
Proof of Status | BRP valid to 31 Dec 2025 + 18-month grace | Digital eVisa (2026) |
Need urgent help? Call:
What We Offer
Our Services
we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.
Family Visas
Partner Visas
Settlement in the UK
Settlement of EEA Nationals
British Citizenship and The Right of Abode
Challenge a Refusal
Removals/Deportations
Asylum/Human Rights
Sponsor License for a UK Business
UK Business Visas
Student Visas
Popular Work Visas
Other work visas and permits
Visas without a job offer
Work for an overseas employer
Temporary work visas
UK Visit Visas
We assist both applicants and sponsors by:
- Verifying eligibility and salary compliance
- Preparing and assigning Certificates of Sponsorship
- Reviewing supporting documents
- Advising on sponsor licence duties
- Communicating with the Home Office
- Handling extensions and settlement applications
Call +44 208 016 2308 or message us online for immediate support.
Compliance Summary
| Feature | Current Law | Confirmed or Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Threshold | £39 100 or going rate | £40 800 (Apr 2026) |
| New Entrant Rate | £33 400 (70 %) max 4 years | No change expected |
| English Level | B1 (current) | B2 (from 8 Jan 2026) |
| Visa Fee | £769 | £769 |
| IHS | £1 035 per year | £1 035 |
| CoS Fee | £525 | £525 |
| Maintenance Funds | £1 270 (28 days) | Same |
| Dependants’ Funds | £285 / £315 / £200 | £310 / £325 / £225 (Apr 2026) |
| Settlement Route | 5 years (current law) | 10 years (proposed model) |
| Proof of Status | BRP valid to 31 Dec 2025 + 18-month grace | Digital eVisa (2026) |
