Scale-up Visa

Office scene

The UK government has introduced a “scale-up” visa for professionals “with a high skilled job offer from a qualifying scale-up at the required salary level”.

Scale-up is: a business whose annual average revenue or employment growth rate over a three-year period is more than 20%, with a minimum of 10 employees at the start of the three-year period.

The visa is for highly skilled people who have a job offer from an eligible UK company paying at least a £33,000 annual salary.

Overview

A Scale-up Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business (aka ‘scale-up business’).

Your UK employer must meet specific eligibility criteria to sponsor scale-up workers.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Scale-up Worker visa, you must:

  • have a confirmed job offer to work for an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
  • have a job offer to do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
  • be paid a minimum salary in your new job

Review the table at the bottom of the page to see if your job and salary make you eligible for the Scale Up visa.

Proficiency in English

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK with a Scale-up Worker visa for 2 years. You’ll need to apply to extend your visa when it expires.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can extend your visa as many times as you like by 3 years, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

Looking for advice on a UK visa, immigration or citizenship application? Click the button below to book an online, email or telephone consultation with specialist UK immigration and citizenship lawyers.

Scale-up Visa Eligible Jobs and Salaries

The table is sorted in order of occupation code, with the smallest numbers at the top. You may be able to use your web browser to search for it on the page.

The annual salaries for these jobs are based on a 39-hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by your employer.

If you work in healthcare or education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs. The ‘going rates’ for these jobs are based on the national pay scales set by the relevant independent body, for example the NHS.

View the the national pay scales for healthcare jobs and eligible teaching and education leadership jobs by area of the UK.

If you do not know your job’s occupation code, you can search for your job in the ONS occupation coding tool.

Occupation codeJob typeRelated job titlesAnnual going rate
1115Chief executives and senior officialsChief executive
Chief medical officer
Civil servant (grade 5 and above)
Vice president
£67,300(£33.19 per hour) 
1121Production managers and directors in manufacturingEngineering manager
Managing director (engineering)
Operations manager (manufacturing)
Production manager
£33,000(£16.27 per hour) 
1122Production managers and directors in constructionBuilding Services manager
Construction manager
Director (building construction)
Owner (electrical contracting)
£34,900(£17.21 per hour) 
1123Production managers and directors in mining and energyOperations manager (mining, water & energy)
Quarry manager
£37,500(£18.49 per hour) 
1131Financial managers and directorsInvestment banker
Treasury manager
£43,600(£21.50 per hour) 
1132Marketing and sales directorsMarketing director
Sales director
£54,900(£27.07 per hour) 
1133Purchasing managers and directorsBid manager
Purchasing manager
£39,300(£19.38 per hour) 
1134Advertising and public relations directorsAccount director (advertising)
Head of public relations
£45,400(£22.39 per hour) 
1135Human resource managers and directorsHuman resources manager
Personnel manager
Recruitment manager
£36,400(£17.95 per hour) 
1136Information technology and telecommunications directorsIT Director
Technical director (computer services)
Telecommunications director
£56,100(£27.66 per hour) 
1139Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classifiedManager (charitable organisation)
Research director
£40,600(£20.02 per hour) 
1150Financial institution managers and directorsBank manager
Insurance manager
£36,600(£18.05 per hour) 
1161Managers and directors in transport and distributionFleet manager
Transport manager
£30,900(£15.24 per hour) 
1172Senior police officersChief superintendent (police service)
Detective inspector
Police inspector
£52,000(£25.64 per hour) 
1173Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related servicesFire service officer (government)
Prison governor
Station officer (ambulance service)
£36,300(£17.90 per hour) 
1181Health services and public health managers and directorsDirector of nursing
Health Service manager
Information manager (health authority: hospital service)
£38,400(£18.93 per hour) 
1184Social services managers and directorsCare manager (local government: social services)
Service manager (welfare services)
£29,400(£14.50 per hour) 
2111Chemical ScientistsAnalytical chemist
Chemist
Development chemist
Industrial chemist
Research chemist
£26,700(£13.17 per hour) 
2112Biological scientists and biochemistsBiomedical scientist
Forensic scientist
Horticulturist
Microbiologist
Pathologist
£29,700(£14.64 per hour) 
2113Physical scientistsGeologist
Geophysicist
Medical physicist
Meteorologist
Oceanographer
Physicist
Seismologist
£36,500(£18.00 per hour) 
2114Social and humanities scientistsAnthropologist
Archaeologist
Criminologist
Epidemiologist
Geographer
Historian
Political scientist
Social scientist
£25,900(£12.77 per hour) 
2119Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
For Scale-up purposes, occupation code 2119 includes researchers in research organisations other than universities.
Operational research scientist
Research associate (medical)
Research fellow
Researcher
Scientific officer
Scientist
Sports scientist
University researcher
£33,000(£16.27 per hour) 
2121Civil engineersBuilding engineer
Civil engineer (professional)
Highways engineer
Petroleum engineer
Public health engineer
Site engineer
Structural engineer
£35,000(£17.26 per hour) 
2122Mechanical engineersAeronautical engineer (professional)
Aerospace engineer
Automotive engineer (professional)
Marine engineer (professional)
Mechanical engineer (professional)
£33,400(£16.47 per hour) 
2123Electrical engineersElectrical engineer (professional)
Electrical surveyor
Equipment engineer
Power engineer
Signal engineer (railways)
£37,000(£18.24 per hour) 
2124Electronics engineersAvionics engineer
Broadcasting engineer (professional)
Electronics engineer (professional)
Microwave engineer
Telecommunications engineer (professional)
£34,700(£17.11 per hour) 
2126Design and development engineersClinical engineer
Design engineer
Development engineer
Ergonomist
Research and development engineer
£34,100(£16.81 per hour) 
2127Production and process engineersChemical engineer
Industrial engineer
Process engineer
Production consultant
Production engineer
£33,100(£16.32 per hour) 
2129Engineering professionals not elsewhere classifiedAcoustician (professional)
Ceramicist
Food technologist
Metallurgist
Patent agent
Project engineer
Scientific consultant
Technical engineer
Technologist
Traffic engineer
£32,700(£16.12 per hour) 
2133IT specialist managersData centre manager
IT manager
IT support manager
Network operations manager (computer services)
Service delivery manager
£38,000(£18.74 per hour) 
2134IT project and programme managersImplementation manager (computing)
IT project manager
Programme manager (computing)
Project leader (software design)
£40,000(£19.72 per hour) 
2135IT business analysts, architects and systems designersBusiness analyst (computing)
Data communications analyst
Systems analyst
Systems consultant
Technical analyst (computing)
Technical architect
£36,600(£18.05 per hour) 
2136Programmers and software development professionalsAnalyst-programmer
Database developer
Games programmer
Programmer
Software engineer
£33,300(£16.42 per hour) 
2137Web design and development professionalsInternet developer
Multimedia developer
Web design consultant
Web designer
£26,000(£12.82 per hour) 
2139Information technology and telecommunications professionals not elsewhere classifiedIT consultant
Quality analyst (computing)
Software tester
Systems tester (computing)
Telecommunications planner
£31,800(£15.68 per hour) 
2141Conservation professionalsConservation officer
Ecologist
Energy conservation officer
Heritage manager
Marine conservationist
£23,600(£11.64 per hour) 
2142Environment professionalsEnergy manager
Environmental consultant
Environmental engineer
Environmental protection officer
Environmental scientist
Landfill engineer
£27,900(£13.76 per hour) 
2150Research and development managersCreative manager (research and development)
Design manager
Market research manager
Research manager (broadcasting)
£38,200(£18.84 per hour) 
2211Medical practitioners
(National pay scales apply)
Anaesthetist
Consultant (Hospital Service)
Doctor
General practitioner
Medical practitioner
Paediatrician
Psychiatrist
Radiologist
Surgeon
  
2212Psychologists
(National pay scales apply)
Clinical psychologist
Educational psychologist
Forensic psychologist
Occupational psychologist
Psychologist
Psychometrist
  
2213Pharmacists
(National pay scales apply)
Chemist (pharmaceutical)
Dispensary manager
Pharmaceutical chemist
Pharmacist
Pharmacy manager
  
2214Ophthalmic opticians
(National pay scales apply)
Ophthalmic optician
Optician
Optologist
Optometrist
  
2215Dental practitioners
(National pay scales apply)
Dental surgeon
Dentist
Orthodontist
Periodontist
  
2216VeterinariansVeterinarian
Veterinary practitioner
Veterinary surgeon
£32,500(£16.03 per hour) 
2217Medical radiographers
(National pay scales apply)
Medical radiographer
Radiographer
Sonographer
Therapeutic radiographer
Vascular technologist
  
2218Podiatrists
(National pay scales apply)
Chiropodist
Chiropodist-podiatrist
Podiatrist
  
2219Health professionals not elsewhere classified
(National pay scales apply)
Audiologist
Dental hygiene therapist
Dietician-nutritionist
Family planner
Occupational health adviser
Paramedical practitioner
  
2221Physiotherapists
(National pay scales apply)
Electro-therapist
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy practitioner
  
2222Occupational therapists
(National pay scales apply)
Occupational therapist  
2223Speech and language therapists
(National pay scales apply)
Language therapist
Speech and language therapist
Speech therapist
  
2229Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
(National pay scales apply)
Art therapist
Chiropractor
Cognitive behavioural therapist
Dance movement therapist
Family therapist
Nutritionist
Osteopath
Psychotherapist
  
2231Nurses
(National pay scales apply)
District nurse
Health visitor
Mental health practitioner
Nurse
Practice nurse
Psychiatric nurse
Staff nurse
Student nurse
  
2232Midwives
(National pay scales apply)
Midwife
Midwifery sister
  
2311Higher education teaching professionalsFellow (university)
Lecturer (higher education, university)
Professor (higher education, university)
Tutor (higher education, university)
University lecturer
£40,700(£20.07 per hour) 
2312Further education teaching professionals
(National pay scales apply)
FE College lecturer
Lecturer (further education)
Teacher (further education)
Tutor (further education)
  
2314Secondary education teaching professionals
(National pay scales apply)
Deputy head teacher (secondary school)
Secondary school teacher
Sixth form teacher
Teacher (secondary school)
  
2315Primary and nursery education teaching professionals
(National pay scales apply)
Deputy head teacher (primary school)
Infant teacher
Nursery school teacher
Primary school teacher
  
2316Special needs education teaching professionals
(National pay scales apply)
Deputy head teacher (special school)
Learning support teacher
Special needs coordinator
Special needs teacher
  
2317Senior professionals of educational establishmentsAdministrator (higher education, university)
Bursar
Head teacher (primary school)
Principal (further education)
Registrar (educational establishments)
£39,000(£19.23 per hour) 
2318Education advisers and school inspectorsCurriculum adviser
Education adviser
Education officer
School inspector
£25,500(£12.57 per hour) 
2319Teaching and other educational professionals not elsewhere classifiedAdult education tutor
Education consultant
Music teacher
Nursery manager (day nursery)
Owner (nursery: children’s)
Private tutor
TEFL
£21,300(£10.50 per hour) 
2412Barristers and judgesAdvocate
Barrister
Chairman (appeals tribunal, inquiry)
Coroner
Crown prosecutor
District judge
£29,600(£14.60 per hour) 
2413SolicitorsManaging clerk (qualified solicitor)
Solicitor
Solicitor-partner
Solicitor to the council
£34,300(£16.91 per hour) 
2419Legal professionals not elsewhere classifiedAttorney
Justice’s clerk
Lawyer
Legal adviser
Legal consultant
Legal counsel
Solicitor’s clerk (articled)
£49,700(£24.51 per hour) 
2421Chartered and certified accountantsAccountant (qualified)
Auditor (qualified)
Chartered accountant
Company accountant
Cost accountant (qualified)
Financial controller (qualified)
Management accountant (qualified)
£30,000(£14.79 per hour) 
2423Management consultants and business analystsBusiness adviser
Business consultant
Business continuity manager
Financial risk analyst
Management consultant
£30,900(£15.24 per hour) 
2424Business and financial project management professionalsChief knowledge officer
Contracts manager (security services)
Project manager
Research support officer
£37,300(£18.39 per hour) 
2425Actuaries, economists and statisticiansActuarial consultant
Actuary
Economist
Statistician
Statistical analyst
£32,800(£16.17 per hour) 
2426Business and related research professionalsCrime analyst (police force)
Fellow (research)
Games researcher (broadcasting)
Inventor
£29,700(£14.64per hour)
2429Business, research and administrative professionals not elsewhere classifiedCivil servant (grade 6, 7)
Company secretary (qualified)
Policy adviser (government)
Registrar (government)
£33,700(£16.62 per hour) 
2431ArchitectsArchitect
Architectural consultant
Chartered architect
Landscape architect
£35,000(£17.26 per hour) 
2432Town planning officersPlanning officer (local government: building and contracting)
Town planner
Town planning consultant
£28,500(£14.05 per hour) 
2433Quantity surveyorsQuantity surveyor
Surveyor (quantity surveying)
£30,600(£15.09 per hour) 
2434Chartered surveyorsBuilding surveyor
Chartered surveyor
Hydrographic surveyor
Land surveyor
£30,200(£14.89 per hour) 
2435Chartered architectural technologistsArchitectural technologist£27,900(£13.76 per hour) 
2436Construction project managers and related professionalsContract manager (building construction)
Project manager (building construction)
Transport planner
£28,700(£14.15 per hour) 
2442Social workers
(National pay scales apply)
Psychiatric social worker
Senior practitioner (local government: social services)
Social worker
  
2443Probation officersInspector (National Probation Service)
Probation officer
Youth justice officer
£28,700(£14.15 per hour) 
2449Welfare professionals not elsewhere classifiedChildren’s guardian
Rehabilitation officer
Social services officer
Youth worker (professional)
£24,000(£11.83 per hour) 
2451LibrariansChartered librarian
Librarian
Technical librarian
University librarian
£21,800(£10.75 per hour) 
2452Archivists and curatorsArchivist
Conservator
Curator
Keeper (art gallery)
Museum officer
£23,600(£11.64 per hour) 
2461Quality control and planning engineersPlanning engineer
Quality assurance engineer
Quality control officer (professional)
Quality engineer
£30,500(£15.04 per hour) 
2462Quality assurance and regulatory professionalsCompliance manager
Financial regulator
Patent attorney
Quality assurance manager
Quality manager
£33,200(£16.37 per hour) 
2463Environmental health professionalsAir pollution inspector
Environmental health officer
Food inspector
Public health inspector
Technical officer (environmental health)
£29,600(£14.60 per hour) 
2471Journalists, newspaper and periodical editorsBroadcast journalist
Editor
Journalist
Radio journalist
Reporter
£26,500(£13.07 per hour) 
2472Public relations professionalsAccount manager (public relations)
Information officer (public relations)
PR consultant
Press officer
Public relations officer
£25,700(£12.67 per hour) 
2473Advertising accounts managers and creative directorsAccount manager (advertising)
Advertising Manager
Campaign Manager
Creative Director
Projects Manager (advertising)
£31,900(£15.73 per hour) 
3213Paramedics
(National pay scales apply)
Ambulance paramedic
Emergency care practitioner
Paramedic
Paramedic-ECP
  
3415MusiciansComposer
Musician
Organist
Pianist
Song writer
Violinist
£27,500(£13.56 per hour) 
3416Arts officers, producers and directorsFilm editor
Production assistant (broadcasting)
Studio manager
Television producer
Theatrical agent
£30,000(£14.79 per hour) 
3512Aircraft pilots and flight engineersAirline pilot
First officer (airlines)
Flight engineer
Flying instructor
Helicopter pilot
£60,800(£29.98 per hour) 
3532BrokersForeign exchange dealer
Insurance broker
Investment administrator
Stockbroker
Trader (stock exchange)
£46,900(£23.13 per hour) 
3534Finance and investment analysts and advisersFinancial adviser
Financial analyst
Financial consultant
Mortgage adviser
Pensions consultant
£29,400(£14.50 per hour) 
3535Taxation expertsTax adviser
Tax consultant
Tax inspector
Taxation specialist
£38,000(£18.74 per hour) 
3538Financial accounts managersAccounts manager
Audit manager
Credit manager
Fund manager
Relationship manager (bank)
£29,100(£14.35 per hour) 
3545Sales accounts and business development managersAccount manager (sales)
Area sales manager
Business development manager
Product development manager
Sales manager
£35,400(£17.46 per hour)