Scale-up Worker Visa
The UK Scale-up Worker Visa is an immigration route officially introduced by the UK Home Office in 2022. It is designed to attract highly skilled professionals to join rapidly growing businesses in the UK. This route allows applicants to live and work in the UK and, under certain conditions, apply for permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
The visa is initially granted for 2 years and can be extended for another 3 years. After 5 years of continuous residence, the applicant may apply for permanent settlement (ILR). The Scale-up Worker Visa combines the advantages of a conventional work visa and a long-term residence route, offering greater flexibility and career development opportunities. Time spent under this visa can also be combined with other work visa categories to meet the 5-year residence requirement for ILR.
Suitable for
Professionals who wish to work in high-growth UK companies.
Highly skilled individuals seeking to relocate to the UK quickly and gain a pathway to permanent residency.
International talent eager to contribute to fast-developing industries in the UK, such as technology, finance, and the creative sectors.
Benefits and Advantages
1
No long-term sponsorship dependency
Unlike traditional work visas, the Scale-up Worker Visa requires sponsorship from an approved employer only for the first 6 months of employment.
After this period, visa holders are free to change employers or become self-employed without needing to apply for a new visa.
This offers a high level of career flexibility and independence.
2
Fast track to permanent residence
After 5 years of lawful residence in the UK under eligible categories and meeting the income and employment requirements, applicants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and enjoy the benefits available to UK permanent residents.
3
Family members can accompany the main applicant
Main applicants may bring their spouse or partner and children under 18 to live in the UK.
Partners are permitted to work full-time, and children are entitled to free high-quality education in the UK.
4
Access to free healthcare
The entire family will be entitled to free public healthcare provided by the UK National Health Service (NHS).
English language proficiency:
Applicants must have B1 level or above in English (equivalent to IELTS 4.0 or higher).
From 8 January 2025, the minimum requirement will increase to B2 level (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 or higher), or the applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a UK or equivalent institution taught in English.
Job offer from a Scale-up Sponsor:
The applicant must have a job offer from a UK government-approved Scale-up Sponsor, and the role must meet the minimum salary threshold — currently £39,100 per year or the “going rate” for the occupation, whichever is higher.
Eligible skilled occupation:
The sponsored role must be at RQF Level 6 or above, corresponding to graduate-level occupations.
General Application Requirements
Why 1st Visa?
1/ Extensive Experience in Visa Applications
With rich experience in visa application, our team of consultants can efficiently and accurately help clients prepare and apply for visas. We provide full-process consulting services and precise and personalized guidance, eliminating unnecessary troubles in the application process and ensuring a high success rate.
2/ Handling Complex Applications
Our experienced visa experts have dealt with various difficult situations in the visa application process, helping applicants prepare application materials while promptly handling and resolving various unexpected problems encountered during the application process. We strive to obtain positive visa application results for our clients and provide transparent services, enabling clients to keep track of their application and visa progress at any time.
3 / Numerous Successful Cases
Since our establishment, numerous successful cases have endorsed our brand and services. We have established a stellar reputation in the industry with high success rates, high customer satisfaction, and high referral rates.