Scale-Up Visa UK Requirements, Salary and ILR Pathway 2026
Written by Bill Zahr
Last Updated 12 September 2026
What is the Scale-Up Visa?
The Scale-Up Worker visa was introduced to allow high-growth UK businesses to recruit international talent at senior and specialist level while offering that talent greater career mobility than the standard Skilled Worker route provides. It is a Worker route under the points-based system, operating through the Sponsor Management System, but the sponsorship obligation ends after six months.
The Scale-Up Sponsor Qualifying Employer Criteria
Not all employers with a sponsor licence are eligible to assign Scale-Up certificates. A scale-up sponsor must demonstrate that the business is a qualifying high-growth company. The qualifying criteria require the business to have demonstrated annualised growth of at least 20% per year in employees or turnover over a three-year period, with a minimum of 10 employees at the start of that period.
Eligibility Requirements 2026
Salary Threshold
| Scale-Up salary threshold — September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Minimum salary from April 2026 | £40,800 per year |
| Previous threshold (to March 2026) | £39,100 per year |
| Hourly floor | £19.35 per hour |
| Going rate requirement | Must also meet going rate for the SOC code — whichever is higher |
Skill Level RQF Level 6
From 22 July 2025, the Scale-Up route like the Skilled Worker route requires the role to be at RQF Level 6 or above. Roles below this level were removed from the eligible occupation lists on that date. Workers sponsored before 22 July 2025 on roles that are no longer eligible may continue to extend or vary their visa under the previous occupation tables, but new entrants to the route must be in a qualifying RQF Level 6 or above occupation.
English Language
From 8 January 2026, the English language requirement for Scale-Up visa applications rose from B1 to B2 CEFR. New applicants must demonstrate B2 through an approved Secure English Language Test unless exempt as a national of a majority English-speaking country.
The Six-Month Sponsored Period and What Follows
For the first six months of the Scale-Up visa the worker must be employed by and paid through PAYE by the sponsoring employer in the role specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The employer's sponsor management obligations under the SMS continue throughout this period reporting changes in role, salary, or working pattern within 10 working days.
After six months of continuous PAYE employment with the scale-up sponsor, the worker's immigration status becomes unrestricted. They may work for any employer in any eligible role, take on additional employment, or work self-employed without a new CoS and without informing the Home Office. The existing Scale-Up visa continues to authorise this unrestricted work for its remaining duration.
Scale-Up Visa Duration and Extension
| Scale-Up visa duration and extension | |
|---|---|
| Initial visa duration | 2 years |
| Extension period | Further 3 years (available once) |
| Extension basis | PAYE earnings record — not new employer sponsorship |
| Extension salary requirement | At or above the applicable Scale-Up salary threshold for the extension period |
| Total maximum leave on Scale-Up route | 5 years (qualifying period for ILR) |
The extension does not require a new Certificate of Sponsorship. Instead, the worker demonstrates earnings at or above the applicable salary threshold through PAYE records for the preceding 24 months. This is the defining structural advantage of the Scale-Up route career freedom during the second and third years without employer dependency.
Scale-Up Visa Costs 2026
| Scale-Up visa fees — 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Application fee — from outside UK | £827 |
| Application fee — switching from within UK | £716 |
| IHS per year | £1,035 per year |
| Immigration Skills Charge (large employer) | £1,320 per year — paid by employer |
| Immigration Skills Charge (small employer/charity) | £480 per year — paid by employer |
Scale-Up to ILR The Settlement Pathway
Time spent on the Scale-Up visa counts toward the five-year qualifying period for ILR under SET(O). After five continuous years on the Scale-Up route or a combination of Scale-Up and other qualifying work routes the worker can apply for ILR provided they meet the salary threshold, the absence requirement (180 days maximum per rolling 12-month period), English at B1 CEFR (B2 from March 2027), the Life in the UK Test, and the Good Character requirement.
The same proposed extension of the qualifying period from five to ten years discussed for the Skilled Worker route applies equally to Scale-Up. The consultation closed February 2026 outcome pending. Five years remains the qualifying period as of August 2026.
Switching from Scale-Up to Skilled Worker
A Scale-Up visa holder who secures qualifying employment with an employer holding a standard Skilled Worker sponsor licence may switch to the Skilled Worker route from within the UK without leaving. The switch gives the certainty of a defined ILR pathway under the Skilled Worker rules. The new employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship and the worker applies to vary leave to the Skilled Worker category.
Frequently Asked Questions
What salary do I need for the Scale-Up visa in 2026?
£40,800 per year from April 2026, or the going rate for your occupation code under Appendix Skilled Occupations whichever is higher. The hourly floor is £19.35.
Do I need to stay with the same employer on the Scale-Up visa?
Only for the first six months. After six months of continuous PAYE employment with the sponsoring employer, you can work for any employer, change jobs freely, or work self-employed without a new CoS or any notification to the Home Office.
Does the Scale-Up visa lead to ILR?
Yes. Time on the Scale-Up visa counts toward the five-year ILR qualifying period. After five years on the route you can apply for SET(O), subject to meeting the salary, absence, English language, Life in the UK Test, and Good Character requirements.
How do I extend the Scale-Up visa?
After the initial two-year visa, you can apply for a three-year extension based on your PAYE earnings record for the preceding 24 months. You do not need a new employer sponsorship. Your earnings must meet the applicable salary threshold throughout.
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Bill Zahr (LLB Hons) leads Noble Rose Immigration Service with a methodical, "law-first" approach. Guided by the ethos ‘Navigare per Legem’, Bill combines rigorous legal expertise with genuine empathy to navigate complex UK immigration cases. Formerly of a top-tier UK firm, he ensures every client receives transparent, elite, and personalised care.
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