UK Scale-up Worker Visa Checklist — £937, 2 Years + 3-Year Extensions
The Scale-up Worker visa is for people joining a fast-growing, Home Office approved scale-up business. Its distinguishing feature: after 6 months you can leave and take other work — including self-employment — without sponsorship. It costs £937, runs 2 years and renews in 3-year blocks, with settlement after 5 years. Verified against GOV.UK, September 2026.
Stage A — Who it is for
- ☐ A confirmed job offer of at least 6 months with an approved scale-up business.
- ☐ A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- ☐ A job on the eligible occupation list, at or above the minimum salary.
- ☐ Evidence of your English — speaking, reading, writing and understanding.
Stage B — Documents
- ☐ CoS reference number; English evidence; a valid passport.
- ☐ Job title and annual salary; the occupation code; the employer name and sponsor licence number.
- ☐ If relevant: proof of money, partner/child relationship evidence, TB test (listed countries), ATAS (sensitive research), and certified translations.
Stage C — Fees and length
- ☐ Fee: £937 per person; IHS usually £1,035 a year.
- ☐ Savings: at least £1,270 for 28 days (exempt if you have been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months).
- ☐ Length: 2 years, renewed in 3-year blocks without limit; ILR after 5 years.
Stage D — Applying and what you can do
- ☐ Apply up to 3 months before your start date; 3 weeks from outside the UK, 8 weeks inside; paid priority available.
- ☐ You can: do the sponsored job; after 6 months leave and be self-employed or change employer; study; bring partner and children; travel; apply for ILR.
- ⛔ You cannot: claim public funds, or work as a professional sportsperson. In the first 6 months, changing employer needs an updated visa.
Get it right the first time
- Know the 6-month line — freedom to change work or self-employ starts after it.
- Check the occupation list and the minimum salary for your role.
- Budget the IHS on top of £937.
- Plan the 5-year settlement clock from the start.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Scale-up Worker visa different from Skilled Worker?
After 6 months with your sponsoring scale-up business you can leave and take other work, including self-employment, without sponsoring or notifying the Home Office — a freedom the Skilled Worker route does not give.
How long can I stay on a Scale-up Worker visa?
2 years, renewable indefinitely in 3-year blocks. After 5 years you can apply for settlement (ILR).
What does the Scale-up Worker visa cost?
£937 per person, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £1,035 a year, and at least £1,270 in savings under the 28-day rule unless exempt.
Do I need an English test?
Yes. You must show you can speak, read, write and understand English.
Can I change employer after 6 months?
Yes. After 6 months you can leave and work elsewhere or be self-employed; during the first 6 months, changing employer needs an updated visa.
When can I settle?
After 5 years on the route you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Official source: gov.uk — Scale-up Worker visa, how much it costs and documents pages, retrieved 2026-09-27. Confidence A (official pages, quoted verbatim). The eligible scale-up employers and occupation list, and each job’s exact minimum salary, are not reproduced here — check the official lists.
Related: see the UK visa checklist for other routes. Prepare your identity documents with the UK passport photo page, the digital file requirements guide, and check a finished photo with the passport photo checker. If your passport is near expiry, read the photo validity guide.