Scale-up Worker visa

Skip contents

Extend your visa

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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Related content