What is the UK Scale-Up Visa?

It is a UK sponsored work visa for people with a confirmed job offer from a Home Office approved scale-up business. You start on a 2-year grant, and unlike most sponsored routes, you are only tied to your sponsor for the first 6 months.

Do I need a job offer to apply?

Yes. You need a genuine job offer for at least 6 months, in a role on the eligible occupations list, from a business that holds a Scale-up sponsor licence, plus a Certificate of Sponsorship from that employer.

Can I change employer on the Scale-Up Visa?

Yes, but only after your first 6 months. During that initial period you are tied to your sponsor in the same way as most UK sponsored routes. After 6 months you can change job, move to a different employer, take on multiple roles, or become self-employed, without a new visa application.

What is the current salary threshold?

For Certificates of Sponsorship issued on or after 22 July 2025, you generally need to be paid the higher of £39,100 a year or the going rate for the role. This threshold has changed more than once in recent years, so check the current figure on GOV.UK before you rely on it.

How much English do I need?

From 8 January 2026, new applicants and people switching into the route generally need English to CEFR level B2. Some existing visa holders extending their stay may qualify under a transitional lower standard for a period, and some nationalities are treated as meeting the requirement automatically. Check the current GOV.UK guidance for your situation.

How much does the Scale-Up Visa cost?

The visa application fee is a flat £937 per applicant, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, which runs at around £1,035 a year and is paid upfront for the length of your visa. Dependants pay their own fee and surcharge. Fees change from time to time, so treat these as a guide and confirm the current amounts on GOV.UK.

Is it legal to work for a different employer straight away?

No. For your first 6 months your permission is tied to the sponsoring employer and the role on your Certificate of Sponsorship, in the usual way. The freedom to move applies from month 7 onward.

Can my family come with me?

Partners and children are generally able to apply as dependants on this route, in a similar way to other UK sponsored work visas, though we have not independently verified every relationship and age detail for this specific route. Each dependant pays their own visa fee and health surcharge. Check the current GOV.UK guidance on family members before you plan around a specific relative.

How long does it take to settle in the UK on this route?

The standard path today is 5 years of continuous residence, with limits on time spent outside the UK and evidence of PAYE earnings in most of that period. The government has consulted on raising this to 10 years for many routes under its earned settlement proposals, which are not yet law. Treat 5 years as the current rule, not a guarantee.

How is the Scale-Up Visa different from the Skilled Worker visa?

Both need a job offer from a licensed sponsor, but the Skilled Worker visa keeps you tied to your sponsor for the life of the visa, while the Scale-Up Visa only ties you to your sponsor for the first 6 months. The Scale-Up Visa also uses a flat visa fee rather than fees that scale with the length of the grant, and it requires your employer to be an approved scale-up business specifically, not just any licensed sponsor.

Is the Scale-Up Visa currently open to new applicants?

Yes. The route is open and has not been suspended. It has been tightened in recent years, with a higher salary threshold from July 2025 and a higher English language requirement from January 2026, but it continues to accept new applications.

Does eMigr8 give legal or immigration advice?

No. We give coaching, profile review, and guidance to help you understand the route and prepare. We do not give legal advice or immigration consultation. For legal questions we can connect you with professionals in our network.

UK Scale-Up Visa

The Scale-Up Worker visa lets you take a role with a Home Office approved UK scale-up business. Unlike most sponsored UK routes, you are only tied to that sponsor for the first 6 months, after which you can change employer freely.

Who it is for

People with a confirmed job offer from an approved scale-up, on a role that clears the current salary threshold of £39,100 a year or the going rate, whichever is higher, with English to CEFR level B2.

Costs and settlement

A flat £937 visa fee plus around £1,035 a year in Immigration Health Surcharge. Settlement is currently 5 years, though this is under government review. eMigr8 provides coaching and guidance, not legal advice or immigration consultation.

How eMigr8 helps

We help you weigh the Scale-Up route against Skilled Worker and Global Talent, plan your first 6 months, and prepare for the wider move.

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