Visa and Leave to Remain for UK Scale-up Worker

Visa and Leave to Remain for UK Scale-up Workers

What is the Scale-up Route?

The Scale-up visa is a points-based immigration route for migrant workers who have been hired by a UK Scale-up sponsor and possess the necessary skills to help the sponsor's business expand. This visa is intended to provide a fast-track and more flexible option for international workers with a qualifying job offer from an approved UK Scale-up company at the required skill level.

If applying for the Scale-up visa via the sponsored route, the applicant must work in the sponsored role for the first six months of their visa with an annual salary over £36,300 or the relevant going rate for the work they will be doing. After the initial six months, the Scale-up visa holder’s immigration permission is no longer tied to their employer. This means they can work for any employer or choose not to work. However, they are required to be working if they apply to extend the leave to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain through this route.

The dependant spouse or partner and children of the scale-up worker may also live and work in the UK for up to two years with a Scale-up dependant visa and exit and re-enter the UK freely. The visa can be extended up to three years, if eligible.

After five years of lawful continuous residence in the UK on the Scale-up route, or in combination with other eligible or eligible routes, the migrant worker may then apply for indefinite leave to remain, and after a further 12 months of residence in the UK the person may apply to become a British citizen by naturalisation.

Scale-up Visa Application

A company or other type of organisation with a valid A-rated Scale-up Sponsor License may employ a non-British citizen, and he/she will be granted Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain as a Scale-up Worker.

The application must include:

• žhave a confirmed job offer to work for an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months
• žhave a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from an employer with information about the role that he/she has been offered in the UK
• žhave a job offer to do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid a minimum salary

Passportia will:

• žassess and advise on the vacancy, job description, terms of employment;
• žassess an intended employee;
• žprovide a letter explaining why the job and employee qualify, documents needed, timings and expected government fees;
• žreview documents supplied;
• žapply for a Certificate of Sponsorship;
• žapply for Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain as applicable;
• assist in resolving any issues encountered.

To enquire about a quotation or which visa might be right for you - please fill in the form Need More Information or call a number on the right. No-win no fee arrangements may be available in certain circumstances. We look forward to hearing from you.