Scale-Up
Worker visa

To qualify for a Scale-up Worker visa, you must:

• Have a confirmed job offer to work for an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months.
• Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ (CoS) from your employer with information about the role you have been offered in the UK.
• Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
• Be paid at least £36,300 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the occupation, whichever is highest.
• Be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

Unlike other sponsored visas, Scale-up Workers only require sponsorship from their employer for the first 6 months of their permission to stay in the UK.

During the first 6 months of your stay, you cannot change employer unless you apply to update your visa. After 6 months, you can continue working in the same job or change jobs without telling the Home Office.

To qualify as a scale-up which can bring workers into the UK, your employer must either:

• Have been endorsed by an approved body, also known as an endorsing body.
• Be an eligible fast-growing business (sometimes called a ‘scale-up business’).

To be an eligible fast-growing business, in the 3 year period immediately before they were approved by the Home Office to sponsor scale-up workers, they must have:

• Grown by 20% on average in each year in either employment or total sales (turnover).
• Had at least 10 employees at the start of the 3-year period.

When you apply for a Scale-up Worker visa, you will need to have enough money to:

• Pay the visa application fee – It costs £822 to apply.
• Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – The IHS costs £1,035 per year, or £776 per year for under-18s.
• Support yourself in the UK – You will usually need to show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account (unless you’re exempt).

note:

The visa application fee and the IHS must also be paid for any accompanying dependants.

You must apply online for a Scale-Up Worker visa.

As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity and provide your supporting documents. To do this, you will need to do one of the following:

• Attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) if you’re outside the UK.
• Attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point if you’re inside the UK.
• Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document, if you are eligible.

You can apply for a Scale-up Worker visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK (this date is listed on your CoS).

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.

 You may be able to pay for a faster decision using the Home Office’s priority services.

You can stay in the UK with a Scale-up Worker visa for 2 years. You’ll need to apply to extend your visa when it expires.

You can extend your visa as many times as you like by 3 years, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

With a Scale-up Worker visa, you can:

• Work in your sponsored job for at least 6 months.
• Leave your sponsored job after 6 months.
• Study.
• Bring dependant family members with you, if they are eligible.
• Take on additional work, including becoming self-employed.
• Do voluntary work.
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

You cannot:

• Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.
• Work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach.

Smith Stone Walters can offer expert advice and assistance with your Scale-up Worker visa application. We can also advise employers on the specific eligibility requirements your business must meet in order to sponsor Scale-up Workers.

To find out more about how we can help, please contact us today.

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This page is intended for informational purposes only. Immigration rules are subject to change and may vary based on your individual circumstances. For up-to-date advice and guidance, please contact Smith Stone Walters.