The UK Scale-up visa is designed for highly skilled individuals who have a job offer from a fast-growing UK business that holds a Scale-up Sponsor licence. This route supports high-growth companies by allowing them to recruit global talent while offering applicants a flexible pathway to long-term residence in the UK.

The Scale-up visa allows applicants to bring dependent partners and children and provides a route to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

Overview of the Scale-up Visa

To qualify, applicants must have a high-skilled job offer from a qualifying UK Scale-up business and meet the minimum salary threshold set by the Home Office. Unlike the Skilled Worker route, the Scale-up visa allows eligible applicants to move into an unsponsored stage after an initial period, giving greater flexibility in the UK labour market.

Application and Validity Requirements

Applicants must apply online via the official gov.uk website. Those applying from outside the UK must use the “Scale-up visa” form, while applicants applying from inside the UK must use the “Scale-up” form.

All application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge must be paid, and biometric information must be provided where required. Applicants must submit a valid passport or travel document to confirm their identity and nationality.

For sponsored applications, a Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued by the Scale-up sponsor no more than three months before the application date. Applicants must be aged 18 or over.

Applicants who received a government or international scholarship covering tuition fees and living costs in the past 12 months must provide written consent from the sponsoring authority.

Switching to the Scale-up Visa from Inside the UK

Applicants applying from within the UK must be physically present in the country on the date of application. They must not currently hold, or have last held, permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or outside the Immigration Rules.

Students switching into the Scale-up route must meet one of the following conditions: they must have completed their course, be studying a full-time degree-level course with a job start date after course completion, or be a PhD student who has completed at least 24 months of study.

Suitability and Entry Requirements

Applicants must not fall under the refusal grounds in Part Suitability. Those applying from inside the UK must not be in breach of immigration laws, except where limited overstaying exceptions apply, and must not be on immigration bail.

Applicants applying from outside the UK must obtain entry clearance before travelling. Where applicable, a valid tuberculosis test certificate must be provided.

Points-Based System Explained

Applicants must score a total of 70 points to qualify for a Scale-up visa.

Fifty points are awarded in one of two ways. A sponsored application scores 50 points through sponsorship, a job at the appropriate skill level, and meeting the salary requirement. An unsponsored application scores 50 points if the applicant has worked for at least six months as a Scale-up Worker during their most recent permission on this route and meets the UK earnings requirement.

All applicants must also score an additional 20 points, made up of 10 points for meeting the English language requirement at level B2 (or B1 in limited extension cases) and 10 points for meeting the financial requirement.

Key Takeaways

The Scale-up visa is aimed at high-growth UK businesses and highly skilled workers.

Applicants can transition from sponsored to unsponsored status after six months, offering greater job flexibility.

The route allows dependants and leads to settlement.

Strict validity, sponsorship timing, and eligibility rules apply.

Applicants must meet points, salary, English language, and financial requirements.