At First Law Solicitors, we advise fast-growing companies and high-value professionals on the Scale Up Worker Visa, a route designed to attract world-class talent to businesses that are rapidly expanding and innovating.
Our solicitors deliver end-to-end legal and compliance support to both sponsoring employers and individual applicants, ensuring every aspect of the process aligns with Home Office regulations and your company’s commercial goals.
Whether you are a founder seeking to expand a scale-up team or a skilled executive joining a high-growth business, we provide strategic immigration solutions that protect your position, accelerate approvals, and future-proof your UK status.
The Scale Up Worker Visa allows fast-growing UK businesses to sponsor highly skilled employees for an initial period and, after a defined stage, for those employees to continue working without ongoing sponsorship.
It combines the flexibility of independent employment with the structure of the Skilled Worker route. The purpose is to support dynamic UK companies that demonstrate exceptional growth in revenue or employment over a sustained period.
Eligible employers must hold a Scale Up Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office and meet strict economic growth criteria based on turnover and workforce expansion.
To qualify under this route, an applicant must:
The initial visa is granted for two years. After the first six months of sponsored employment, the worker becomes unsponsored and can change roles or employers freely without requiring a new Certificate of Sponsorship.
This feature makes the route particularly attractive for professionals in technology, finance, life sciences, and other innovation-driven sectors.
The July 2025 reforms introduced higher salary and skill thresholds to ensure only high-value employment qualifies under this route.
Scale-up workers must perform duties at RQF Level 6 or above and meet the £36,300 salary floor. Employers must evidence that the role is genuine, paid through PAYE, and aligned with the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2026) codes.
Under the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA), the Home Office automatically cross-checks sponsor payroll records with HMRC’s Real Time Information (RTI) system. If a sponsored worker’s pay falls below the qualifying level, the sponsor may face an immediate compliance audit.
Our solicitors proactively manage this risk for our corporate clients, ensuring robust reporting systems and compliance with the DUAA’s data-sharing requirements.
The visa is initially granted for two years and can be extended in three-year increments. After five continuous years of lawful residence, the applicant can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), provided they continue to meet the income and employment criteria.
Because the route transitions from sponsored to unsponsored employment, careful planning is essential to maintain lawful residence and ensure future settlement eligibility. We design each client’s timeline to align with Home Office expectations and long-term professional goals.
Partners and dependent children can accompany or join a Scale Up Worker in the United Kingdom. Family members have unrestricted rights to work and study, except as professional sportspeople or coaches.
We handle all related family applications to ensure synchronised visa expiry dates and secure digital status for all dependants.
From 1 January 2026, all Scale Up Worker Visas are issued as digital eVisas, replacing physical Biometric Residence Permits. Immigration status is verified and shared electronically through a UKVI digital account.
Our systems are fully aligned with the Data Use and Access Act 2025, ensuring all client documentation and signatures are securely managed using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and encrypted digital verification.
This digital-by-default system ensures faster processing and complete transparency between the applicant, sponsor, and the Home Office.
The Scale Up route provides a strategic progression opportunity for professionals currently on Graduate or Skilled Worker visas.
Our solicitors advise on eligibility transitions, ensuring continuity of lawful status and the protection of residence time towards settlement. We assess employment contracts, salary structures, and endorsement conditions to ensure a smooth and compliant switch.
Corporate Immigration Expertise: We act for innovative companies and professionals at the forefront of technology, finance, and science.
Strategic Route Planning: Every case is handled by a solicitor experienced in business immigration, ensuring long-term immigration stability.
Regulatory Precision: We maintain full compliance with DUAA 2025, RTI-linked salary audits, and the 2026 B2 English language standard.
Digital Security: Our firm uses bank-grade encryption and digital ID verification, ensuring all data is protected and fully compliant with UK data laws.
At First Law Solicitors, we go beyond visa applications; we build lasting legal frameworks for talent mobility and business growth.
If you are a UK scale-up business seeking to recruit top international talent, or a professional joining a high-growth company, contact First Law Solicitors today for expert legal guidance.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
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