The Scale-up visa UK is the most flexible UK work-visa route in 2026: just 6 months of sponsorship is required, and after that the holder can change employer, take on multiple jobs, or become self-employed without notifying the Home Office. From 22 July 2025 the salary threshold is £39,100 (plus a £17.13 hourly floor), from 8 January 2026 the English requirement is B2 CEFR, and from 8 April 2026 the application fee is £937. The route requires a Scale-up sponsor — defined by HMRC-assessed 20% annual growth or by an approved endorsing body — and leads to settlement after 5 years.
Designed for high-growth UK businesses, the Scale-up visa pairs the discipline of a sponsored route with the freedom of an unsponsored one — sponsorship cliff at 6 months, employer change without notification thereafter, no Immigration Skills Charge for the sponsor, and a clean 5-year qualifying clock to Indefinite Leave to Remain. The salary trade-off is £39,100 minimum (vs £41,700 on Skilled Worker), and the bar is RQF Level 6 graduate roles only.
Scale-up Visa UK 2026: Complete Application Guidance
The Scale-up visa was introduced on 22 August 2022 as part of the UK's points-based system, sitting alongside the standard Skilled Worker route but with a fundamentally different design: only the first 6 months of permission are tied to a sponsoring employer. This unique structure has made the route popular with senior professionals and specialists joining UK fintech, biotech, AI and other fast-growth sectors where mobility between employers in the first 2-3 years is commercially valuable.
What is the Scale-up Visa?
The Scale-up visa is a hybrid UK work visa that requires sponsorship by a qualifying high-growth UK business for the first 6 months only. After that period the holder operates without sponsorship — free to change employer, become self-employed, take additional work, or move between roles without informing the Home Office or applying for a new visa. Initial grant is 2 years, extendable by 3 years at a time with no cap on extensions, leading to ILR after 5 years.
Permission breaks into two phases. The sponsored phase runs for the first 6 months and ties the worker to the sponsoring employer in the role on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The unsponsored phase runs for the remainder of the 2-year grant and any subsequent extensions — during this phase the worker can work for any UK employer, multiple employers, or be self-employed, with no notification requirement. Both phases count toward the 5-year qualifying period for settlement.
What Scale-up Visa Holders Can and Cannot Do
- Can: Work in the sponsored role for the first 6 months at the salary and skill level on the CoS.
- Can: Take supplementary employment alongside the sponsored role during the first 6 months.
- Can (after 6 months): Change employer, work multiple jobs, become self-employed or start a business — all without Home Office notification.
- Can: Study (a tradeable points option exists but is not normally needed).
- Can: Bring partners and dependent children under 18.
- Cannot: Access public funds.
- Cannot: Work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach at any time on the route.
Scale-up Visa UK Requirements 2026
An applicant must score 70 points: 20 for valid sponsorship by an approved Scale-up sponsor, 20 for the job being at RQF Level 6, 20 for salary at or above £39,100 and the SOC 2020 going rate, and 10 each for English at CEFR B2 (from 8 January 2026) and meeting the £1,270 maintenance funds requirement. Applicants must be 18+, hold a CoS valid for at least 6 months of work, and meet basic suitability under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules.
Mandatory Points Breakdown
| Points Category | Points | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship | 20 | Valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved Scale-up sponsor |
| Job at appropriate skill level | 20 | Role at RQF Level 6 (graduate level) under an eligible SOC 2020 occupation code |
| Salary | 20 | At least £39,100 AND 100% of the SOC 2020 going rate AND £17.13 hourly floor |
| English language | 10 | CEFR B2 from 8 January 2026 (was B1 before that date) |
| Financial requirement | 10 | £1,270 held for 28 days, or A-rated sponsor certifies first-month maintenance |
| Total required | 70 | All five mandatory categories must be met |
From 8 January 2026 new Scale-up visa applicants must demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 (upper-intermediate) — the same uplift that affected the Skilled Worker route on the same date. The application date is the date the application fee is paid, not the date documents are prepared or the biometric appointment is attended. Existing Scale-up holders extending under prior B1 grants do not need to retest, but anyone applying fresh after 8 January 2026 must meet B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. See the wider B1 to B2 English level uplift guide for accepted SELT providers and qualifying degree rules.
Scale-up Salary Threshold and £17.13 Hourly Floor
From 22 July 2025 the general Scale-up salary threshold rose from £36,300 to £39,100 per year. The threshold operates as a floor — every applicant must clear £39,100 — but the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code must also be met. Where the going rate exceeds £39,100, the higher figure applies. The general threshold sits below the Skilled Worker £41,700 salary threshold, which is the primary numerical advantage of the Scale-up route on the entry-stage application.
| Salary Test | Threshold | Application |
|---|---|---|
| General threshold (from 22 July 2025) | £39,100 | Floor — must be cleared regardless of going rate |
| Going rate (occupation-specific) | 100% of SOC 2020 rate | Higher of £39,100 or going rate applies |
| Hourly floor | £17.13 per hour | Capped at 48 working hours per week regardless of contract hours |
| Pre-22 July 2025 threshold | £36,300 | Legacy — applies only where CoS issued before 22 July 2025 |
RQF Level 6 Skill Requirement
The job must be at RQF Level 6 graduate-level roles — the same skill bar that applies to Skilled Worker since 22 July 2025. Sub-degree roles (RQF Level 3-5) that may be eligible on the Skilled Worker route via the Temporary Shortage List or Immigration Salary List are not eligible on the Scale-up route. The SOC 2020 code chosen by the sponsor must appear in the eligible occupations list for Scale-up published in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
What is a Scale-up Sponsor?
A Scale-up sponsor is a UK business that has been granted a Scale-up route licence by the Home Office. Two qualifying pathways exist, and the sponsor needs to satisfy only one. The route is deliberately narrow — Scale-up sponsorship is not available to every business, and many high-growth firms still use the wider Scale-up sponsor licence requirements framework via the Skilled Worker route where they do not qualify here.
Sponsor Qualifying Pathways
| Pathway | Requirement | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC-assessed growth | Annual growth of at least 20% in turnover or staffing over a 3-year period | HMRC-verified accounts; minimum 10 employees at start of measurement period |
| Endorsing body | Endorsement from an approved Home Office endorsing body confirming high-growth status | Endorsement letter; the endorsing bodies for Scale-up Worker list is published on gov.uk |
Scale-up sponsors are NOT liable for the Immigration Skills Charge — saving £1,320 per worker per year for medium and large sponsors, or £480 per year for small and charitable sponsors. The £525 Certificate of Sponsorship fee still applies. Over a 2-year initial grant, a medium/large Scale-up sponsor saves £2,640 per sponsored worker compared to sponsoring the same worker on the Skilled Worker route.
Scale-up Visa Fees from 8 April 2026
All Scale-up application fees rose on 8 April 2026 as part of the Home Office's annual fee uplift. Unlike most other sponsored work routes, the Scale-up route does not have separate fee tiers for ≤3 year and >3 year applications — a single fee applies regardless of grant duration. The complete schedule is in the Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026.
| Fee Type | Amount from 8 April 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (worker) | £937 | Up from £880; applies inside or outside UK, all grant durations |
| Application fee (each dependant) | £937 | Same as main applicant per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035/year adult; £776/year under 18 | Paid upfront for full grant period — see NHS surcharge billed per year of leave |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (employer) | £525 | Paid by sponsor at CoS assignment |
| Immigration Skills Charge | Not payable | Scale-up route is exempt — sponsor cost advantage |
| Priority service | +£500 | Decision within 5 working days |
| Super Priority service | +£1,000 | Decision by next working day |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026.
Total Cost Worked Example — 2-Year Initial Grant
- Worker pays: £937 application fee + £2,070 IHS (2 × £1,035) = £3,007 upfront.
- Sponsor pays: £525 CoS only — no ISC = £525 at CoS assignment.
- Combined Day-1 cost: £3,532 — significantly below the equivalent Skilled Worker total (~£6,800+ for a medium/large sponsor) due to the ISC exemption.
How to Apply for a Scale-up Visa
Applications are submitted online on gov.uk and may be filed up to 3 months before the CoS start date. The CoS itself is valid for 3 months from the date the sponsor assigns it. Standard Home Office Home Office decision wait times are 3 weeks for entry clearance and 8 weeks for in-country applications, with priority and super-priority options available.
- Step 1: Secure a job offer from a licensed Scale-up sponsor at RQF Level 6 and £39,100+ salary.
- Step 2: Sponsor pays £525 CoS and assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship valid for the role.
- Step 3: Take an approved SELT at CEFR B2 (or qualify by UK degree, taught-in-English degree with ECCTIS confirmation, or majority-English nationality).
- Step 4: Complete the online application on gov.uk no earlier than 3 months before CoS start.
- Step 5: Pay £937 application fee and IHS at £1,035 per adult per year of the grant.
- Step 6: Verify identity — UK Immigration: ID Check app for eligible passports, or biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre.
- Step 7: Upload supporting documents — passport, English evidence, financial evidence, TB certificate where required.
- Step 8: Receive decision — typically 3 weeks for entry clearance, up to 8 weeks for in-country applications.
The 6-Month Sponsorship Cliff Explained
The defining feature of the Scale-up route is the 6-month sponsorship cliff. The clock starts on the date the visa begins (or the CoS start date if later), and the worker is tied to the sponsor for that initial period in exactly the same way a Skilled Worker is tied to their sponsor. After 6 months, the route shifts into an unsponsored phase that operates more like the HPI route for top-100 university graduates — no employer notifications, no fresh applications for job changes, and no CoS to renew.
Sponsored Phase (Months 0-6)
- Tied to sponsor: The worker must remain employed by the sponsor in the role on the CoS.
- Change of employer mid-phase: Requires a fresh Scale-up application with a new sponsor's CoS — not a free transfer.
- Same employer, different role: Permitted without notification, provided the new role meets the salary and skill criteria.
- Supplementary employment: Permitted alongside the sponsored role, in any occupation, up to 20 hours per week.
- Sponsor reporting duties: The sponsor must report start date, salary changes, and termination via the Sponsorship Management System.
Unsponsored Phase (Month 7 Onwards)
- Full employment freedom: The worker can change employer, work multiple jobs, or be self-employed without any Home Office notification.
- No sponsor reporting: The original sponsor's reporting duties end at the close of the sponsored phase.
- No fresh CoS needed: The original CoS satisfied the requirement at the entry stage and is not needed again for the visa itself.
- Earnings record matters: The worker must keep PAYE evidence — the extension and ILR applications later test earnings against the £39,100 threshold.
- Restricted activities still apply: No public funds and no professional sport at any point on the route.
The 6-month cliff is the practical reason senior specialists and engineers favour Scale-up over Skilled Worker: a sponsored UK role is the entry ticket, not the long-term constraint. For workers entering on Scale-up with the intention of moving to consultancy or founding a startup within the first 24 months, the route avoids both the Innovator Founder endorsement burden and the Skilled Worker employer-tie. The cliff is also when the £1,320/year Immigration Skills Charge ends conceptually — though Scale-up sponsors never pay it in the first place.
Scale-up vs Skilled Worker — Comparison 2026
Both routes lead to settlement in 5 years and use the same SOC 2020 occupation framework. The differences sit on flexibility, cost, sponsor narrowness, and salary. The choice between routes is generally driven by whether the sponsoring employer is willing and able to grant a Scale-up CoS — and many fast-growth businesses qualify for both, in which case the Scale-up route is cheaper to the employer and more flexible for the worker.
| Feature | Scale-up Visa | Skilled Worker Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship duration | First 6 months only | Full visa duration including extensions |
| General salary threshold | £39,100 | £41,700 |
| Hourly floor | £17.13 | £17.13 |
| Skill level | RQF Level 6 only | RQF Level 6 (with TSL/ISL exceptions) |
| Application fee from 8 April 2026 | £937 (all durations) | £819-£1,865 (varies by duration and location) |
| Immigration Skills Charge | Not payable | £1,320/year large sponsor; £480/year small |
| Change employer | Free after 6 months | New CoS and SMS update required |
| Self-employment | Permitted after 6 months | Not permitted |
| English language | B2 CEFR (from 8 January 2026) | B2 CEFR (from 8 January 2026) |
| Initial grant | 2 years | Up to 5 years |
| Path to ILR | 5 years; £39,100 PAYE for 24 of last 36 months | 5 years; Skilled Worker route to settlement |
Comparison With Wider Work Visa Costs
Scale-up's £937 single-tier application fee compares favourably with the upper tiers of the in-country Skilled Worker fee (£1,865 for over-3-year applications). Across the full work-visa landscape, the work visa fee schedule comparison shows Scale-up sitting in the middle band — more than Health and Care Worker (£324 inside 3 years) but well below long-tenure Skilled Worker (£1,865 in-country) and the Senior or Specialist Worker route (£819-£1,865).
Extension and Settlement Pathway
Scale-up extension applications are made by the worker — no sponsor and no fresh CoS is required. The test is whether the worker has earned at or above the relevant salary threshold under PAYE for at least 50% of the most recent permission period. After 5 years of qualifying residence, settlement applications are made under ILR five-year qualifying period rules — and unlike most work routes, Scale-up has its own ILR-stage PAYE earnings test.
Extension Requirements
- Earnings test: PAYE earnings at or above £39,100 (where last CoS issued from 22 July 2025) for at least 50% of the previous grant period.
- No new sponsor: The applicant applies as an unsponsored worker — no CoS and no employer involvement.
- No limit on extensions: The route can be extended in 3-year blocks indefinitely, provided the earnings test is met.
- Application fee: £937 plus IHS for the extension period.
- Continuity of permission: Apply before current permission expires to maintain continuous residence for ILR purposes.
ILR Requirements After 5 Years
- Continuous residence: No more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period across the 5-year qualifying period.
- PAYE earnings history: Guaranteed basic gross PAYE earnings of at least £39,100 (where CoS issued from 4 April 2024) during 24 of the 36 months immediately before ILR application.
- Earlier CoS holders: £34,600 (CoS 12 April 2023 to 3 April 2024) or £33,000 (CoS on or before 11 April 2023) under the equivalent transitional rates.
- Knowledge of Life and English: Pass the Life in the UK settlement test and demonstrate English at B1 (or equivalent) at the ILR stage.
- Suitability: No criminal-record refusal under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules.
- £39,100 general salary threshold from 22 July 2025, plus £17.13 hourly floor over a 48-hour cap.
- £937 application fee from 8 April 2026 (up from £880), £1,035/year IHS, no Immigration Skills Charge.
- B2 CEFR English required for new applicants from 8 January 2026 (was B1 before that date).
- Sponsored for first 6 months only; full employment freedom thereafter — change employer, work multiple jobs, or self-employ without notification.
- RQF Level 6 graduate-level roles only — no sub-degree access via TSL or ISL.
- Sponsor qualifies via HMRC-assessed 20% growth OR an approved endorsing body.
- Initial 2-year grant; extensions in 3-year blocks with no cap, subject to £39,100 PAYE earnings test.
- ILR after 5 years with £39,100 PAYE earnings for 24 of last 36 months and standard Life in the UK / English requirements.
Where a Scale-up application has been refused on points scoring or evidential evaluation, the remedy is administrative review and the procedure sits inside the wider visa-refusal framework. Official information is on the gov.uk Scale-up Worker visa overview.
The Scale-up visa is a UK work visa for skilled professionals joining high-growth UK businesses. The defining feature is the 6-month sponsorship cliff: the worker is tied to the sponsoring employer for the first 6 months only, after which permission shifts into an unsponsored phase that allows free employer change, multiple jobs, and self-employment without Home Office notification. Initial grant is 2 years, with extensions in 3-year blocks and no cap on extensions, leading to ILR after 5 years.
From 22 July 2025 the general threshold is £39,100 per year, or 100% of the SOC 2020 going rate for the occupation — whichever is higher. An hourly floor of £17.13 also applies, calculated over a maximum 48-hour working week regardless of actual contracted hours. Older legacy thresholds (£36,300 before 22 July 2025) only apply where the Certificate of Sponsorship was issued before that date.
From 8 April 2026 the application fee is £937 (up from £880), applied as a single fee regardless of grant duration or whether the application is made inside or outside the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 per adult per year and £776 per child per year. For a 2-year initial grant, the total upfront worker cost is £937 + £2,070 IHS = £3,007. Each dependant pays the same £937 fee plus their own IHS.
Yes, but timing matters. During the first 6 months (the sponsored phase), changing employer requires a fresh Scale-up application supported by a new sponsor's Certificate of Sponsorship. After 6 months — the unsponsored phase — the worker can change employer, work for multiple employers, or become self-employed with no application, no CoS, and no Home Office notification. The unsponsored freedom continues across extensions, all the way to ILR.
The initial grant is 2 years. The route can be extended in 3-year blocks with no cap on the number of extensions, provided the £39,100 PAYE earnings test is met at extension stage. After 5 years of continuous residence the worker becomes eligible to apply for ILR, subject to meeting absence rules (180 days in any rolling 12 months) and the 24-month PAYE earnings history at the threshold.
From 8 January 2026 new Scale-up applicants must demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 (upper-intermediate) in reading, writing, speaking and listening — up from B1. The application date for the purposes of the rule is the date the fee is paid. Existing Scale-up holders extending under prior B1 grants do not need to retest. English can be proved by an approved SELT, a UK degree, an overseas degree taught in English (with ECCTIS confirmation), or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
No. The Scale-up route is one of the few sponsored UK work routes where the Immigration Skills Charge does not apply. The sponsor pays the £525 Certificate of Sponsorship fee at CoS assignment but is exempt from the £1,320 per year (large sponsor) or £480 per year (small/charitable) ISC liability that applies to Skilled Worker and Senior or Specialist Worker sponsorship. For a 2-year initial grant, that is a saving of £2,640 per worker for a medium or large sponsor.
Scale-up sponsors must qualify via one of two pathways. The HMRC-assessed pathway requires annual growth of at least 20% in turnover or staffing over a 3-year period, starting with a minimum of 10 employees at the beginning of the measurement period. The endorsing body pathway is available where the business is endorsed by an approved Home Office endorsing body. The endorsing bodies list is published on gov.uk. The licence is route-specific — a wider Skilled Worker licence does not automatically give a business Scale-up sponsorship rights.
Yes. Spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (2+ years' cohabitation) and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Each pays the £937 application fee from 8 April 2026 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. Dependent partners can work without immigration restrictions (with the standard exception of professional sport) and children can attend school. Dependants are granted permission to match the main applicant's stay and qualify for ILR alongside the main applicant.
Extensions are made by the worker, online on gov.uk. No new sponsor or Certificate of Sponsorship is required. The core test is the earnings rule: PAYE earnings at or above £39,100 (where the latest CoS was issued from 22 July 2025) for at least 50% of the most recent permission period. Apply before current permission expires, pay £937 plus IHS for the extension period, and expect a decision in around 8 weeks for in-country applications. There is no cap on the number of extensions, and each extension period adds toward the 5-year qualifying clock for ILR.