The UK Scale-up Visa is an opportunity for fast-growing organisations to drive their expansion efforts by hiring skilled talent from overseas that is often in short supply domestically.
If you are an international marketing specialist invited to the UK via this visa route, you can play a pivotal role in enhancing a company’s growth trajectory and market presence. The Scale-up Visa also provides the flexibility to advance your career in one of the world’s leading economies.
This guide will provide the necessary information you need to make the most of this exciting opportunity.
An Overview of the Scale-up Visa
The Scale-up Visa allows foreign nationals to come to the UK and do an eligible job for a rapidly growing UK business called a scale-up business. The sponsoring business must have approval from the Home Office to hire foreign workers under the scale-up route.
The Scale-up Visa is a lower-cost alternative to other work visas, notably the Skilled Worker Visa. Its minimum income threshold stands at £36,300 annually, and it doesn’t attract the Immigration Skills Charge that employers must pay when sponsoring skilled workers.
Individuals who successfully apply for this visa can live, work, and study in the UK for an initial two years. When their visa expires, they can apply for an extension of an additional three years. Scale-up workers who have lived in the UK continuously for five years may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Furthermore, the scale-up route has flexible requirements. Visa holders are only obligated to work for their sponsors for six months of their visa’s validity. Afterwards, they can remain with the sponsor, get another job, or become self-employed.
The Scale-up Visa Requirements
Sponsoring organisations and the individuals they intend to sponsor are expected to meet certain Eligibility criteria for the visa application to be successful.
Intending scale-up workers must:
- Be aged 18 and above
- Have a job offer to do a job on the list of eligible occupations.
- Meet the required skills for the role at an RQF 6 level.
- Have a confirmed employment offer of at least six months from an approved scale-up business.
- Have a certificate of sponsorship from the employer with information about the role.
- Be paid a minimum income of at least £36,300 annually or the going rate for the role, whichever is higher.
- Have at least £1,270 to support themselves in their first month in the UK.
- Be proficient in English up to a B1 level.
Additionally, before an organisation can sponsor foreign talent for the scale-up route, they must either:
- Be endorsed by a Home Office-approved body
- Be an eligible fast-growing or scale-up business
Note that an eligible fast-growing business meets the following requirements:
- Has recorded either personnel or turnover growth by 20% on average annually in the three years immediately before the Home Office approved them as a scale-up sponsor.
- Has had a minimum of 10 employees at the start of the three years.
Furthermore, an organisation approved to sponsor scale-up workers will be on the list of eligible sponsors and have ‘Scale-up Worker’ indicated under their ‘Route’ column.
Documents Required for the Scale-up Visa Application
You must provide certain documents to prove your eligibility when applying for the scale-up visa. These documents include the following:
- Your passport or other valid travel document.
- Your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer
- Details of your job title, occupation code, and annual salary.
- The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number
- A proof of your language proficiency, either with a Secure English Language Test (SELT) result or an approved academic qualification taught in English.
- Your bank statement, which proves you have sufficient funds to support yourself, except your certificate of sponsorship, indicates your employer can support you.
Note that if your documents are not in English or Welsh, you’ll need to provide a certified translation.
How to Apply for the Scale-up Worker Visa
You can apply for the Scale-up Worker Visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK, listed on your certificate of sponsorship. The application process is usually online through the UK government website.
You must complete the application form, upload your supporting documents, and pay the visa fees and Immigration Health Surcharge.
You’ll need to verify your identity as part of your application. The process varies depending on your country of origin and the type of passport you hold, and you’ll be told which option applies to you during the online application.
The most common option is to visit a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your home country and submit your fingerprints and photograph. The other option is to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan and upload your identity document.
The Cost and Processing Time of the Scale-up Worker Visa
The application fee for the UK Scale-up Visa is £822. If you’re applying with your partner and children, they’ll each need to pay the application fee as well. Then, you must pay a healthcare surcharge of £1,035 each year you stay in the UK.
Other associated costs will depend on the service you use. For instance, you might be charged a service fee at the VAC. You’ll also need to pay if you use a document translation service.
Once you’ve submitted your application and proven your identity, the Home Office will process your request and provide you with a decision within three weeks.
If you want a faster decision, you may be able to use the priority service for an additional £500, and the Home Office will process your application within five working days. You may also be able to choose the super-priority service for £1000 to get a decision by the next working day.
Receiving an invitation from a UK sponsor to work as a marketing specialist via the scale-up worker route doesn’t grant you permission to enter the UK. To legally live and work in the UK, you must meet the visa requirements and submit a formal visa application following the Home Office guidelines.
The process may seem daunting. However, you can hire an immigration lawyer to advise and guide you through your application.
Meta Title: A Guide to the UK Scale-up Visa for Migrant Marketing SpecialistMeta Description: As a marketing specialist invited to the UK via the Scale-up Visa, it’s essential to understand the criteria and application process of this immigration route.