The Scale-up Visa Route opened to businesses on 22nd August 2022. In comparison to the Skilled Worker Route and the Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker Route, the Scale-up Route offers businesses a more flexible work visa.
Overview
Unlike other sponsored routes, employers sponsoring workers under the Scale-up route need only confirm that an applicant will work for them for at least the initial six months of their visa. After this period, the immigration status of Scale-up visa holders is not tied to their sponsoring employer. This means that Scale-up workers can undertake additional or alternative work (including employment, self-employment and voluntary work) without being sponsored. Scale-up workers also have the flexibility to remain without sponsorship after 2 years based on previous PAYE earnings, settle in the UK after 5 years and be joined or accompanied by a dependent partner and dependent children. Scale-up sponsors are also not required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge. This flexibility should enable UK businesses to compete more effectively for the internationally sought-after and highly skilled workers they need.
The visa will be available to foreign nationals recruited by a UK-Scale-up sponsor. To qualify as a Scale-up sponsor, employers must provide proof of revenue over the past three years and evidence of employment growth of 20 percent over this same period. Applicants under this visa route will need to have been granted a high-skilled job offer that meets government-established salary requirements. Once an application has been submitted, applicants will benefit from fast-track application processing and reduced sponsorship requirements. Company sponsorship will only be required for an initial six-month period. After this period, eligible individuals will be permitted to apply for long-term settlement in the UK. Qualified applicants will include scientists, engineers, architects, programmers, and more.
For additional information on qualification requirements contact our Specialist Immigration team.
The government stated that the route would be an essential phase for encouraging the expansion of highly skilled workers and innovative businesses in the UK. For the Latest Updates continue to check the government of the UK’s website for information.
