Scale-up
What is the Scale-up Worker route?
The Scale-up Worker route is for talented individuals recruited by a UK Scale-up Sponsor who have the skills needed to enable the Scale-up business to continue growing.
Key features
- Work: all work is permitted (including self-employment and voluntary work) except work as a professional sportsperson.
- Dependants: the spouses or partners and/or children of Scale-up Workers are permitted to join or remain with the main applicant in the UK and undertake work and study (subject to certain restrictions).
- Switching: migrants can switch from within the UK into this route from most other UK immigration routes.
- Settlement: Scale-up Workers may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years’ continuous residence in the UK.
How we can help
Our team’s in-depth knowledge and involvement in Home Office lobbying and policy direction make us extremely well placed to advise on Scale-up Worker applications. We assist on the entire application process, from obtaining a Scale-up sponsor licence to advising on complex business structures to ensure that clients meet the immigration requirements for future extension and settlement applications.
Our legal fees
Fixed fees
We work on a fixed fee basis. Our fees for individual Scale-up Worker applications typically range from £5000+ plus VAT and disbursements depending upon the issues, urgencies and complexities involved.
Disbursements
You can expect the main disbursements to include:
- Home Office filing fees (click here for the government’s visa/entry clearance fee calculator and here for a list of all Home Office fees);
- Immigration Health Surcharge fees, if applicable;
- Optional premium service fees for in-country and out-of-country applications; and
- Other ancillary disbursements such as Ecctis fees, biometric enrolment, translations, courier and postage charges, etc.
Latest Insights
15 September 2026
Multi-factor authentication for Sponsorship Management System users: what sponsors need to know
The Home Office is rolling out mandatory multi-factor authentication for users of the Sponsorship Management System. Sponsors should prepare now to…
4 September 2026
Home Office publishes Immigration Rules changes: what you need to know
On 3 September 2026, the Home Office published a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 584), introducing a range of updates across…
4 September 2026
Natasha Chell writes for Free Movement on Skilled Worker visa curtailment and compliance challenges
Natasha Chell has written for Free Movement on cancellation of Skilled Worker permission following end of sponsorship, and the compliance challenges…
