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Pathway

UK Fast-Growth Company Work Visa

United Kingdom Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

The Scale-up Worker visa starts with six months in a job sponsored by an approved, fast-growing UK business. After that, you can work without continued sponsorship for the rest of the visa. The starting job normally must pay at least £39,100 or the required rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. New applicants need B2 English.

Job offer required?
Yes, from an approved scale-up sponsor
Sponsorship
At least the initial six-month period
Other requirements
An eligible occupation, the applicable salary, English, and personal checks

Summary

The UK Scale-up Worker visa is for a qualifying skilled job and salary initially sponsored by an approved scale-up business. Sponsorship is required for at least the first six months, after which the rules can allow more flexibility. Extensions and settlement still depend on meeting their own work, earnings, and residence conditions.

Keep evidence from the first job and later work
  1. Before applying Check the starting job Confirm that the employer, occupation, pay, and your English meet the Scale-up rules.
  2. First 6 months Complete the sponsored part of the job Keep the sponsorship certificate, contract, and pay records.
  3. After sponsorship ends Keep records of UK employment income You still need enough qualifying income recorded through PAYE payroll to extend or settle permanently.

The first six months do not give unrestricted work rights. Self-employment income does not replace the required PAYE earnings.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

The initial applicant needs an eligible higher-skilled occupation, certificate of sponsorship, at least six months' sponsored employment, the current salary and going rate, and normally £1,270 maintenance unless exempt or certified by the sponsor. A person granted Scale-up before 8 January 2026 under B1 can extend without upgrading to B2; someone switching from another route must meet B2.

Policy watch 2 developments we’re tracking
Scale-up Worker settlement applications will require B2 English
Enacted — not yet in effect

Scale-up Worker settlement applications will require B2 English

Current official stage: Immigration Rules laid with a deferred commencement date

From 26 March 2027, Scale-up Workers must meet B2 English at settlement unless exempt. The rule applies to people already on the route and is separate from the route's earnings and continuous-residence requirements.

Timing: The B2 settlement requirement takes effect on 26 March 2027. Applications made before that date remain subject to the rules then in force; applicants planning to file on or after it should prepare for B2 unless an exemption applies.

Last checked
References
Read the full briefing
The current five-year route to settlement may change
Consultation — not currently law

The current five-year route to settlement may change

Current official stage: Consultation closed; government analyzing feedback

The Scale-up Worker route currently has a five-year settlement path. The proposal would generally use a 10-year baseline with earned adjustments, but final rules and treatment of people already accruing residence have not been published.

Timing: The consultation ran from 20 November 2025 to 12 February 2026. GOV.UK currently says the government is analyzing feedback. No general implementation date has been announced, and current settlement rules remain in force unless and until Immigration Rules changes take effect.

Last checked
References
Read the full briefing

What This Route Allows

Initial permission lasts two years. After the first six months, the worker may change or stop the job, take other employment or be self-employed without updating UKVI. Eligible partners and children can join and generally work. The current application fee is £937 per person; public funds are barred and IHS applies.

You can extend a Scale-up visa for three years without an employer sponsor. You must show enough UK employment income, recorded through the PAYE payroll-tax system, for at least half of your most recent Scale-up permission. Income from self-employment does not count.

For permanent residence after a grant made under the rules from July 22, 2025, you need current PAYE employment paying at least £39,100 a year. You also need earnings at that level for at least 24 months of the previous three years. Earlier grants have different, lower thresholds.

You may qualify for permanent residence after five qualifying years on Scale-up and certain other work visas. You must meet the continuous-residence rules and pass Life in the UK. The main worker has no separate English test for permanent residence before March 26, 2027; B2 is required from that date. Adult dependents normally need B1 before that date and B2 from then on.

What This Route Is Not

The first six months are not open work permission. Losing or changing the sponsored job early can trigger sponsor reporting and curtailment. Later freedom does not remove PAYE evidence requirements for extension and settlement.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm the employer is licensed specifically for Scale-up and the occupation and salary meet both tests.
  2. Keep the certificate, contract and first six months' payroll evidence.
  3. After sponsorship ends, preserve monthly PAYE records even across job changes; do not rely on self-employment for the earnings test.
  4. Audit the date-specific threshold, qualifying routes and absences before extension or settlement.

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Discussed in these reports

Similar skilled worker pathways in other destinations.

Sources