UKWork

Visa for a scale-up company employee in the UK

A UK work visa for an employee of a company that the Home Office has recognised as a “scale-up business”. It suits those with a confirmed offer from such a sponsoring employer and, after an initial period of work, gives the freedom to change jobs without updating the visa.

Work

After the first 6 months you can change jobs without updating the visa.

Residence

A partner and children can apply as dependants if they meet the conditions.

After 5 years you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Source: GOV.UK — the official UK government portal

Who can get the visa

Requirements for the job

A confirmed job offer with an employer approved by the Home Office as a sponsor, for at least 6 months
A certificate of sponsorship from the employer describing the job
The occupation is on the list of eligible occupations under the 4-digit occupation code
A salary at or above the minimum threshold or the “going rate” for the occupation code — whichever is higher

Requirements for the employer

The employer is approved by the Home Office as a “scale-up business” or approved through an endorsing body
Over the 3 years before approval the company grew by an average of 20% a year in staff numbers or turnover
At the start of that three-year period the company had at least 10 employees

Other requirements

English at level B2 or above on the CEFR scale (or proven by a school or university qualification)
Proven personal savings in the account, unless the applicant is exempt from this requirement

What it costs

Application fee	937 GBP
Immigration health surcharge (IHS), for each year of the visa	1 035 GBP
Proven personal savings in the account (28 days in a row)	1 270 GBP
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	3 242 GBP

Documents to gather

The exact list depends on the applicant’s circumstances.

A valid passport or another identity document
The certificate of sponsorship number from the employer
Proof of knowledge of English
The job title, annual salary and 4-digit occupation code
The name of the sponsoring company and its sponsor licence number
A bank statement showing at least £1,270 in the account for 28 days in a row, unless the applicant is exempt from this requirement
Proof of the relationship with a partner and children, if they apply together with the applicant
Tuberculosis test results for applicants from certain countries
An ATAS certificate for certain research specialities at PhD level
A certified translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh

How the process runs

The main stages of applying for the Scale-up Worker visa.

1
Obtain the certificate of sponsorship
The employer approved as a scale-up business confirms the job offer and issues a certificate of sponsorship describing the job.
2
Collect the documents
Passport, proof of English, the certificate of sponsorship number and, where required, a bank statement showing the savings.
3
Apply online
within 3 months of receiving the certificate of sponsorship
The application is filed online; it must be made within 3 months of the date the certificate of sponsorship was issued.
4
Confirm your identity and give biometrics
Through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre — the method depends on the country and the type of passport.
5
Wait for the decision
3 weeks from abroad / 8 weeks inside the country
A decision on an application made from abroad usually arrives within 3 weeks; when applying from inside the United Kingdom — within 8 weeks.

Who you can bring with you

A partner and children can apply as dependants together with the applicant or later.

Partner (spouse, civil partner or a partner in a relationship of 2 years or more)

You must prove a marriage or civil partnership, living together for 2 years or more, or a relationship of 2 years or more with evidence. Additional proven savings — £285 in the account for 28 days in a row.

First child

Under 18 (or older, if they already hold dependant status), living with the applicant except while in full-time study away from home, and not married or in a civil partnership. Additional savings — £315 in the account for 28 days in a row.

Each further child

Additional savings — £200 in the account for 28 days in a row for each of them; the other conditions are the same as for the first child.

All dependants

They can work (except in professional sport) and study in the United Kingdom, and leave and return to the country. The savings requirement does not apply if the applicant is exempt from it.

Renewal and the grace period

The visa can be extended an unlimited number of times, each time for 3 years, if the applicant has worked in the job on the certificate of sponsorship for at least 6 months and met the salary requirements for at least half of the term of the last visa. No new certificate of sponsorship is needed for an extension. After 5 years of residence in the United Kingdom you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Visa for a scale-up company employee	Skilled worker visa	Visa for professional leaders
Visa term	2 years on the first grant	Up to 5 years at a time (tied to the CoS), can be extended repeatedly	1–5 years at a time, at your choice, extendable; there is no overall maximum
Work	After the first 6 months you can change jobs without updating the visa	Work in the sponsored job plus supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week	Full right to work in any field and to change employer without a sponsor
Residence	A partner and children can apply as dependants if they meet the conditions	Absences must not exceed about 180 days a year	You must show that your centre of life is in the UK

Frequently asked questions about Visa for a scale-up company employee

Who can get the Scale-up Worker visa?

Someone with a confirmed offer of at least 6 months from an employer approved by the Home Office as a “scale-up business”, a certificate of sponsorship, a job from the list of eligible occupations and a salary at or above the minimum threshold or the “going rate” for the occupation code.

What makes a company a scale-up business?

Over the 3 years before Home Office approval the company must have grown by an average of 20% a year in staff numbers or turnover (sales) and have had at least 10 employees at the start of that three-year period. The alternative is approval through a separate endorsing body.

How much does the visa cost and how much money must you have in the account?

The application fee is £937 per person, the immigration health surcharge (IHS) is usually £1,035 for each year of the visa, and you generally have to show personal savings of at least £1,270 held in the account for 28 days in a row.

How long is the visa valid and how is it extended?

2 years on the first grant. It can be extended an unlimited number of times, each time for 3 years, if the requirements on time worked for the sponsoring employer and on salary are met. After 5 years of residence in the United Kingdom you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Can a partner and children come with the applicant?

Yes, a partner and children can apply as dependants. You must also show savings — £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child, all held in the account for 28 days in a row — and pay the health surcharge and the application fee for each of them.

Can you change employer on this visa?

In the first 6 months changing employer requires an application to update the visa, except for moving to another eligible job with the same employer. After the first 6 months the worker can change or stop working, including moving to self-employment, without notifying the Home Office and without updating the visa.

What level of English is needed for this visa?

You normally have to prove English at level B2 or above on the CEFR scale — with a school or university qualification taught in English or by passing a SELT test with an approved provider. Nationals of a number of countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, are exempt from this requirement.

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.