You must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for a Scale-up Worker visa: your job is eligible for this visa you’ll be working for a UK scale-up business that’s been approved by the Home Office you’ll meet the salary requirements you’ll be working in your sponsored job for at least 6 months Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused. Check if your job is eligible You need to know your job’s 4-digit occupation code. You can get this from your employer or your certificate of sponsorship. When you know your occupation code, check the table of eligible occupations to see if it’s eligible for your visa type. Salary requirements You’ll need to be paid whichever is the highest out of the following 2 options: £36,300 per year the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the table of eligible occupations . Example Your salary is £36,400 per year, but the annual going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £37,000. You do not meet the salary requirement for this visa because you’re earning less than the annual going rate for your job (£37,000). There are different requirements if you want to extend your visa . Approved UK employers You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you can apply for this visa. They must be an eligible scale-up business to get approved. Approved employers are also known as sponsors because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK. Check if your UK employer is eligible to sponsor you Your UK employer will be on the list of approved UK employers if they’re eligible to sponsor you. ‘Scale-up Worker’ must be listed in the ‘Route’ column in the table. If your UK employer is not eligible to sponsor you on this visa, they may be eligible to sponsor you with another type of work visa . Eligible scale-up businesses 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 If you already have a job offer from an approved employer Your employer - also known as your sponsor - will check that you meet the eligibility requirements. They’ll give you a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ to prove this. The certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record, not a physical document. It will have a reference number, which you’ll need for your visa application. You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship. Check which documents you’ll need to apply .

You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application. Level of English You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ( CEFR ) scale . You can prove your knowledge of English by: passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18 having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries or territories: Antigua and Barbuda Australia the Bahamas Barbados Belize the British overseas territories Canada Dominica Grenada Guyana Jamaica Malta New Zealand St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago USA

When you apply for a Scale-up Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to: pay the £822 application fee pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 per year support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt) You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply. Healthcare surcharge You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually £1,035 per year. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply. Money to support yourself You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa. You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply , unless either: you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270 Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need . Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it. If your employer can support you instead Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide: your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this proof of your knowledge of English a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality your job title and annual salary your job’s occupation code the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship Ask your employer for a copy of your certificate of sponsorship if you do not have one. Other documents you might need Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide: evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK , for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you) proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re: from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation . When you’ve got your documents ready You can apply online once your documents are ready. How you apply depends on whether you’re: outside the UK and are coming to the UK inside the UK and extending your current visa inside the UK and switching from a different visa

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Scale-up Worker visa. Check which documents you’ll need to apply . Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have. You’ll either: use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. If you do need an appointment: the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country) Apply for a Scale-up Worker visa Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply now Continue your application You can sign back in to your application if you’ve saved it. Find out how to sign in to your account . How long it takes to get a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks. You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . After you apply You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. You’ll get an email containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

Update your visa if you change employer in the first 6 months

You’ll need to apply to update your Scale-up Worker visa if you want to change your employer in the first 6 months of your stay in the UK. Your job with your new employer must still be on the table of eligible occupations . Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically change if you update yours. If they do not update their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires. You do not need to apply to update your visa if either: you’ll be doing a different job for your current employer you’ve worked in the job that’s listed on your certificate of sponsorship for 6 months or more If you change employers after 6 months, you must meet the earnings requirements when you extend your Scale-up Worker visa Fees Check how much it costs for your type of visa. You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. There’s no fee for this. Eligibility and documents you’ll need to apply Your new job must meet the eligibility requirements and you’ll need a new certificate of sponsorship to prove this. You’ll only need to provide other evidence again if you’ve been in the UK for less than one year. When to apply to update your visa You can apply to update your visa up to 3 months before the start date of your new job. You can continue working in your current job while your new application is being considered, or to work out your notice period. You should not start your new job until you’ve got confirmation of your new permission. You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have. You’ll either: use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. You’ll also be told how to provide your supporting documents if you need to. Apply to update your visa You must apply online. Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply now Continue your application You can sign back in to your application if you’ve saved it. Find out how to sign in to your account . How long it takes to get a decision You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date. You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . After you apply If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) . You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

You can usually apply to extend your Scale-up Worker visa if both of the following are true: you worked in the job on your certificate of sponsorship for at least 6 months you met the earnings requirements during at least half of your stay with your most recent visa You do not need to get a new certificate of sponsorship from your employer. Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires. Earnings requirements How much you need to have earned depends on when your employer gave you the ‘certificate of sponsorship’ you last used to apply for your visa or extend it. You can check when your certificate of sponsorship was issued by asking your sponsor. You cannot count self-employed earnings towards the minimum earnings requirement. This is because your salary is not paid through PAYE (Pay as You Earn) . If you got your last certificate of sponsorship on or after 4 April 2024 You must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £36,300 per year during at least half of your most recent stay with a Scale-up Worker visa. This means that if you’re extending your visa after 2 years, you must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £36,300 per year for at least 12 months. You can include salaries from more than one job if you earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least at least £36,300 per year in each job. If you had more than one job at the same time, only include the highest earning salary. If you got your last certificate of sponsorship on or after 12 April 2023 and before 4 April 2024 You must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £34,600 per year during at least half of your most recent stay with a Scale-up Worker visa. This means that if you’re extending your visa after 2 years, you must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £34,600 per year for at least 12 months. You can include earnings from more than one job but you must: have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £34,600 per year in each job you include only include the highest earning salary if you had more than one job at a time. If you got your last certificate of sponsorship on or before 11 April 2023 You must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £33,000 per year during at least half of your most recent stay with a Scale-up Worker visa. This means that if you’re extending your visa after 2 years, you must have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £33,000 per year for at least 12 months. You can include earnings from more than one job but you must: have earned a monthly salary equivalent to at least £33,000 per year in each job you include only include the highest earning salary if you had more than one job at a time Fees Check how much it costs . You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. There’s no fee for this. Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport or resident permit you have. You’ll either: use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. Apply to extend your Scale-up Worker visa You must apply online before your current visa expires. Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply now Continue your application You can sign back in to your application if you’ve saved it. Find out how to sign in to your account . How long it takes to get a decision You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date. You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . After you apply If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) . You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Scale-up Worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa. Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires. You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. Eligibility You must meet the following requirements: your job meets the eligibility requirements you can speak, read, write and understand English If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements: you have completed the course you were sponsored to study your job start date is after your course has finished you have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months Who cannot apply to switch to this visa You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you’re currently in the UK: on a visit visa on a short-term student visa on a Parent of a Child Student visa on a seasonal worker visa on a domestic worker in a private household visa on immigration bail because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules , for example on compassionate grounds You must leave the UK and apply for a Scale-up Worker visa from abroad if you’re in one of these categories. Fees Each person applying will need to pay: the visa application fee the healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay - check how much you’ll have to pay You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. There’s no fee for this. If you’ve been in the UK for less than one year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself . Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have. You’ll either: use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. Apply to switch to a Scale-up Worker visa You must apply online before your current visa expires. Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply now Continue your application You can sign back in to your application if you’ve saved it. Find out how to sign in to your account . How long it takes to get a decision You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date. You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . After you apply If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) . You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

Scale-up Worker visa

Overview

A Scale-up Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business (sometimes called a ‘scale-up business’).

Your UK employer must meet specific eligibility criteria to sponsor scale-up workers.

Eligibility

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’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
have a job offer to do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
be paid a minimum salary in your new job

Check if your job is eligible.

Knowledge of English

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

If you’re not eligible for a Scale-up Worker visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

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.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

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.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK
inside the UK and extending your current visa
inside the UK and switching from a different visa

If you want to change your employer during the first 6 months of working in your sponsored job, you must apply to update your visa.

Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

When to apply

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

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
8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

pay the £822 application fee
pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
prove you have enough personal savings

Check how much money you’ll need.

What you can and cannot do

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 your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
take on additional work, including becoming self-employed
do voluntary work
travel abroad and return to the UK
apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot:

apply for most benefits (‘public funds’)
work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Scale-up Worker visa.

During the first 6 months of your stay

You cannot change employer unless you apply to update your visa.

You do not need to update your visa if you start a different, eligible job with the same employer.

After 6 months

You can:

continue working in your job
change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office
be self-employed

You do not need to update your visa.

You can extend your Scale-up Worker visa without a new sponsor when your current visa expires. You must meet the earnings requirements.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Scale-up Worker visa

Overview

Eligibility

Knowledge of English

If you’re not eligible for a Scale-up Worker visa

How long you can stay

If you want to stay longer in the UK

How to apply

When to apply

Getting a decision

How much it costs

What you can and cannot do

During the first 6 months of your stay

After 6 months

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Scale-up Worker visa

Overview

Eligibility

Knowledge of English

If you’re not eligible for a Scale-up Worker visa

How long you can stay

If you want to stay longer in the UK

How to apply

When to apply

Getting a decision

How much it costs

What you can and cannot do

During the first 6 months of your stay

After 6 months

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