Scale-up Worker visa
The Scale-up visa is a work visa for individuals who have an employment offer at degree-level of above from a Scale-up sponsor.
The Scale-up visa is a work visa for individuals who have an employment offer at degree-level of above from a Scale-up sponsor.
The applicant must be employed in the job for which they are being sponsored for the first 6 months of their visa. After the first 6 months, they are permitted to leave their sponsored job and to work (without sponsorship) full-time at any skill level.
To be eligible for a Scale-up Worker visa, you must:
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Have an offer of employment from an approved Scale-up sponsor for at least 6 months
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Hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer
The job offer must meet the following requirements:
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You must be sponsored for a job in an occupation code listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations that is identified as eligible for the Scale-up route
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Your salary must equal or exceed all of the following:
| a) £33,000 per year; and |
| b) £10.10 per hour; and |
| c) the going rate for the relevant occupation code |
Scale-up visa: table of eligible occupations
Scale-up visa: list of approved employers (‘Scale-up Worker’ must be listed in the ‘Route’ column in the table)
To apply for a Scale-up you must also:
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Prove your knowledge of English at level CEFR B1 (you will meet this if you have been previously granted with a Student visa to study with us)
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Prove that you have held a minimum of £1270 in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days prior to application. You do not need to show funds if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application.
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You may also need to submit a valid Tuberculosis (TB) certificate if you have lived in a country that requires TB testing
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Submit a valid ATAS certificate, if this is required for your employment
You can apply for a Scale-up visa from your country of nationality or from the UK if you are eligible. You must apply online.
The visa will be granted for 2 years.
Work: you must be employed in the job for which you are being sponsored for the first 6 months of your visa; after six months, you are permitted to leave your sponsored job and to work (without sponsorship) full-time at any skill level.
You are not permitted to work as a professional sportsperson or coach.
If you are switching from a Tier 4/Student visa, you must abide by your Tier 4/Student visa conditions until when your Scale-up is visa is granted.
Study: study is permitted. You must obtain an ATAS certificate if this is required by your programme.
Public funds: Scale-up visa holders cannot access public funds
Family members: if your family members are eligible, they can apply to come to/stay in the UK as your Dependants.
You can extend your visa as many times as you like (each grant will be valid for 3 years) as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. You may be able to apply for UK settlement after having spent 5 years in the UK with a Scale-up visa.