The UK Scale Up visa, officially called the Scale-up Worker visa, is a work visa for people who have a high-skilled job offer from an approved fast-growing UK business. It is designed for workers who can help a qualifying UK company grow, but it is different from the Skilled Worker route in several important ways. The applicant is sponsored for the first 6 months only. After that, they can usually continue working, change job, change employer or become self-employed without needing new sponsorship, provided they continue to meet the route conditions.
The first grant of permission is usually for 2 years. The visa can then be extended in 3-year periods if the applicant meets the earnings rules. After 5 years, the applicant may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain, also known as settlement.
For applicants, the Scale Up visa can offer more flexibility than many sponsored work routes. For employers, it can support recruitment where the business qualifies as a scale-up sponsor and has an eligible role at the required salary level. However, the rules are strict. The employer must be approved on the Scale-up route, the job must be eligible, the salary must meet the required threshold, and the applicant must meet English language, financial and suitability requirements.
Table of contents
- What is the UK Scale Up visa?
- Who is eligible for a UK Scale Up visa?
- Job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship
- Scale Up visa salary requirements
- English language requirement
- Financial requirement
- UK Scale Up visa costs
- Documents needed for a Scale Up visa application
- How to apply for a UK Scale Up visa
- Scale Up visa vs Skilled Worker visa
- Switching to the Scale Up visa from inside the UK
- Changing employer on a Scale Up visa
- Extending a Scale Up visa
- Scale Up visa and settlement
- What you can and cannot do on a Scale Up visa
- Why work with Sterling Law?
- FAQ
What is the UK Scale Up visa?
The UK Scale Up visa is a sponsored work visa for people who have a confirmed job offer from an approved scale-up business in the UK. A scale-up business is a fast-growing business that meets specific eligibility criteria. In the standard route for employers, this means that the business must usually have grown by at least 20% on average each year over a 3-year period, based on employment or turnover, and must have had at least 10 employees at the start of that period.
The visa is based on a two-stage model:
| Stage | What it means |
| First 6 months | The applicant must work in the sponsored role for the approved scale-up employer |
| After 6 months | The applicant can leave the sponsored job, change employer, take other work or become self-employed without updating the visa |
| First visa grant | Usually 2 years |
| Extension | Usually 3 years at a time, without a new Certificate of Sponsorship, if the earnings rules are met |
| Settlement | Possible after 5 years, subject to the full rules |
This structure makes the Scale Up visa different from the Skilled Worker visa. A Skilled Worker is usually tied to the sponsoring employer and sponsored role for the full sponsored period. A Scale-up Worker has a shorter period of sponsor control and more freedom after the first 6 months.
Who is eligible for a UK Scale Up visa?
To qualify for a Scale-up Worker visa, the applicant must usually meet all of the following requirements:
- be aged 18 or over;
- have a confirmed job offer from an approved UK scale-up business for at least 6 months;
- have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from that employer;
- have a job offer in an eligible occupation;
- be paid the required salary;
- meet the English language requirement;
- meet the financial requirement, unless exempt;
- meet the general suitability requirements under the immigration rules.
The employer must also be approved to sponsor Scale-up Workers. It is not enough for the company to be growing quickly in a general commercial sense. The business must either meet the recognised scale-up growth test or qualify through the endorsing body route available to certain businesses with a shorter HMRC history.
Job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship
A person applying for the UK Scale Up visa for the first time normally needs a sponsored application. This means they must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a qualifying Scale-up sponsor. The Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record, not a paper certificate. It includes the role, salary, occupation code, employer details and other information needed for the visa application.
The applicant must apply for the visa within 3 months of receiving the Certificate of Sponsorship. The start date of the job is also important because a visa application can usually be made up to 3 months before the job start date listed on the certificate.
The job must be genuine and must meet the route rules. If the job description, salary, occupation code or working pattern is wrong, the visa application may be refused. Employers should therefore check the role before issuing the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Scale Up visa salary requirements
The salary requirement is one of the most important parts of the Scale Up visa route. For a first sponsored Scale-up Worker application, the applicant must be paid whichever is higher:
| Salary test | Requirement |
| General salary threshold | £39,100 per year |
| Going rate | The full going rate for the occupation code |
If the going rate for the occupation is higher than £39,100, the applicant must be paid at least the going rate. If the going rate is lower, the applicant must still be paid at least £39,100.
Only the correct salary elements should be counted. The salary assessment focuses on salary paid in line with the immigration rules, and the route uses PAYE data for ongoing checks. The employer must provide a PAYE reference number for each worker sponsored on the route so that checks can be made.
This point matters in fast-growth companies because pay packages often include bonuses, share options, commission or other benefits. Those elements may be useful commercially, but they do not always help meet the immigration salary rule. Applicants and employers should check the guaranteed salary before applying.
English language requirement
Applicants must normally prove their knowledge of English. For current applications, the required level is usually B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in reading, writing, speaking and listening. English can usually be proved through an approved English language test, a suitable academic qualification, or nationality from a listed majority English-speaking country or territory.
There is an important transitional point. If a person had a Scale-up Worker visa before 8 January 2026 and is applying to extend it, they only need level B1 English and do not need to prove B2 again. A person switching from another visa into the Scale Up route needs B2 English.
Financial requirement
Most first-time applicants must show they have enough money to support themselves in the UK. The usual amount is £1,270. The money must normally have been held for at least 28 days in a row, and day 28 must be within 31 days before the application date.
The applicant does not usually need to show this money if:
- they have been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months; or
- the approved sponsor certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship and confirms that it will cover costs during the applicant’s first month in the UK, up to £1,270.
Dependants also need to meet their own financial requirement unless they are exempt. The current immigration rules set the additional funds at £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child, where funds are required.
UK Scale Up visa costs
Each applicant, including a partner or child, must pay the application fee and the immigration health surcharge unless an exemption applies. The current application fee for the Scale-up Worker visa is £937. The immigration health surcharge is usually £1,035 per year.
| Cost | Amount |
| Scale-up Worker visa application fee | £937 |
| Immigration health surcharge | Usually £1,035 per year |
| Personal savings for main applicant, unless exempt | £1,270 |
| Additional funds for partner, if required | £285 |
| Additional funds for first child, if required | £315 |
| Additional funds for each further child, if required | £200 |
Applicants should also plan for possible English test costs, biometric appointment costs where relevant, document translation fees and legal fees if they use a solicitor.
Documents needed for a Scale Up visa application
The documents depend on the applicant’s circumstances, but the main documents usually include:
- Certificate of Sponsorship reference number;
- proof of English language ability;
- valid passport or identity document;
- job title and annual salary;
- occupation code;
- employer name and sponsor licence number;
- financial evidence, unless exempt;
- proof of relationship for dependants;
- tuberculosis test results, if required for the applicant’s country;
- ATAS certificate, if the role involves certain research at PhD level or higher.
Documents that are not in English or Welsh must be supported by a certified translation.
How to apply for a UK Scale Up visa
Step 1: Check the employer is approved
The applicant must have a job offer from an approved UK scale-up business. The employer should appear on the list of approved sponsors, and the Scale-up Worker route must be listed for that sponsor.
Step 2: Check the role and salary
The job must be in an eligible occupation and must meet the salary rule. This means checking the occupation code, going rate, salary, working hours and role duties before the Certificate of Sponsorship is issued.
Step 3: Obtain the Certificate of Sponsorship
The employer assigns the Certificate of Sponsorship. The applicant will need the reference number for the online visa application. The application must be made within 3 months of the certificate being issued.
Step 4: Prepare the evidence
The applicant should prepare identity evidence, English language evidence, salary and role details, financial evidence where required, and any documents needed for dependants.
Step 5: Submit the online application
Applications are made online. The process differs depending on whether the applicant is applying from outside the UK, extending from inside the UK, or switching from another visa route.
Step 6: Wait for a decision
After the online application, identity checks and document submission are complete, the usual decision time is 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK and 8 weeks for applications made inside the UK. Faster decision services may be available.
Scale Up visa vs Skilled Worker visa
Many employers and candidates ask which route is more suitable. The two visas overlap in some respects but differ in cost, flexibility and compliance.
| Feature | Scale Up Visa | Skilled Worker Visa |
| Sponsorship duration | First 6 months only | Entire visa period |
| General salary threshold | £39,100 | £41,700 |
| Skill level | RQF Level 6 | RQF Level 6 |
| English language | CEFR B2 | CEFR B2 |
| Immigration Skills Charge | Not payable | £480–£1,320 per year |
| Job changes | Free after 6 months | Requires new CoS each time |
| Self-employment | Permitted after 6 months | Not permitted |
| Initial visa length | 2 years | Up to 5 years |
| Path to ILR | After 5 years | After 5 years |
| Sponsor licence duration | 4 years (non-renewable) | Renewable every 10 years |
For high-growth businesses confident they can attract senior talent without long-term tie-in, the Scale Up route is often the more cost-effective option. For companies needing tighter retention or who do not meet Scale Up sponsor criteria, the Skilled Worker Visa remains the standard alternative.
Switching to the Scale Up visa from inside the UK
A person may be able to switch to the Scale Up visa from another visa while inside the UK, but some categories cannot switch. A person cannot switch into the Scale Up route if they are in the UK as a visitor, short-term student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, domestic worker in a private household, on immigration bail, or with permission outside the immigration rules. In those cases, they must leave the UK and apply from abroad.
Student visa holders must also meet extra conditions. They must usually have completed their course, have a job start date after the course has finished, or have studied for a PhD full-time for at least 24 months.
Applicants should not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while a switching application is pending. If they travel, the application will be withdrawn.
Changing employer on a Scale Up visa
During the first 6 months of the sponsored job, the applicant cannot change employer unless they apply to update their visa. They do not need to update the visa if they start a different eligible job with the same employer.
After the first 6 months, the position changes. The visa holder can continue working in the same job, change job, stop doing the job or become self-employed without telling the Home Office. This is one of the main benefits of the Scale Up visa when compared with many other sponsored routes.
Extending a Scale Up visa
A Scale-up Worker can usually apply to extend their visa if they worked in the job stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship for at least 6 months and met the earnings requirements during at least half of their most recent period of permission. A new Certificate of Sponsorship is not needed for the extension.
The earnings requirement depends on when the Certificate of Sponsorship used for the most recent permission was issued. If the applicant has already extended before, or if the last Certificate of Sponsorship was issued on or after 22 July 2025, they must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £39,100 per year during at least half of their most recent stay. For a 2-year grant, this usually means at least 12 months at that level.
The immigration rules also make clear that self-employed earnings, earnings from outside the UK and payments not recorded through PAYE do not count towards the extension earnings requirement.
Scale Up visa and settlement
The Scale Up visa can lead to settlement after 5 years, provided the applicant meets the full requirements. Time on some other eligible routes may also count, depending on the facts and the rules in force at the time of application. Settlement applications require careful review because the applicant must meet residence, immigration history and earnings conditions.
Applicants planning to rely on the Scale Up route for settlement should keep accurate evidence of PAYE earnings, employment history, absences from the UK and previous immigration status. This is especially important where the person has changed employer, taken several roles or relied on earnings from more than one job.
What you can and cannot do on a Scale Up visa
The Scale Up visa gives the holder more freedom than many sponsored work routes, especially after the first 6 months.
| You can | You cannot |
| Work in your sponsored job for at least 6 months | Change employer in the first 6 months without updating your visa |
| Leave the sponsored job after 6 months | Claim most public funds |
| Study | Work as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach |
| Bring eligible dependants | Ignore earnings rules when extending |
| Take additional work, including self-employment | Rely on self-employed earnings for the PAYE extension requirement |
| Travel abroad and return to the UK | Stay beyond visa expiry without valid permission |
These conditions should be reviewed carefully before making employment or business decisions.
Why work with Sterling Law?
A Scale Up visa application can look simple, but the legal risk often sits in the detail. The applicant must check the employer’s route approval, the occupation code, the salary, English language evidence, financial requirement, switching rules and long-term settlement plans. For employers, the route also requires careful sponsor licence planning, because sponsorship lasts only for the first 6 months and the worker later gains more freedom.
Sterling Law can assist with:
- checking whether the applicant qualifies for the UK Scale Up visa;
- reviewing the employer’s sponsor status and Scale-up route approval;
- checking the occupation code and salary level;
- advising on English language and financial evidence;
- preparing first applications, switching applications and extensions;
- advising dependants;
- reviewing PAYE earnings for extension and settlement planning;
- comparing the Scale Up visa with Skilled Worker and other UK work routes.
If you are considering a UK Scale Up visa, early legal advice can help you avoid refusal, delays or problems with future extension and settlement. Contact Sterling Law to discuss your Scale Up visa application with an immigration solicitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK Scale Up visa?
The UK Scale Up visa, officially called the Scale-up Worker visa, allows a person to come to the UK or stay in the UK to do an eligible job for an approved fast-growing UK business.
How long is a Scale Up visa granted for?
The first grant is usually for 2 years. Extensions are usually granted for 3 years at a time if the applicant meets the route requirements.
Can the Scale Up visa lead to settlement?
Yes. After 5 years, a Scale-up Worker may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if they meet the full settlement requirements.
What salary is needed for a UK Scale Up visa?
For a first sponsored application, the salary must be at least £39,100 per year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
Do I need a sponsor for a Scale Up visa?
Yes, for the first application you normally need a Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved Scale-up sponsor. Extensions can usually be made without a new sponsor if the earnings rules are met.
Can I change employer on a Scale Up visa?
During the first 6 months, you cannot change employer unless you apply to update your visa. After 6 months, you can usually change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office.
What English level is needed for the Scale Up visa?
Most applicants need English at level B2. A transitional B1 rule applies to some applicants who had Scale-up Worker permission before 8 January 2026 and are applying to extend.
How much does the Scale Up visa cost?
The application fee is currently £937 per person. Applicants also usually need to pay the immigration health surcharge, currently £1,035 per year, and meet the financial requirement unless exempt.
Can my family join me on a Scale Up Visa?
Yes. Your spouse or unmarried partner and any children under 18 can apply as dependants and live, work and study in the UK throughout your visa.
