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Skills level and minimum pay requirement for a Scale-up worker
Jobs sponsored under the Scale-up Worker route must be at least RQF level 6, as listed in the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations.
The minimum annual salary is £36,300, with an hourly “going rate” based on a 37.5-hour week. Monthly pay must be proportional, and hourly pay must meet or exceed the going rate for the occupation (SOC 2020, Appendix Skilled Occupations, Table 1, option F). Hours beyond 48 per week aren’t counted.
The role can be part-time with no minimum hours, but pay must align with these requirements.
Salary thresholds and going rates for Scale-up are lower than those under the Skilled Worker route.
For advice, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
Requirement to stay in the sponsored position for six months
Scale-up workers must stay in their sponsored job for six months. Minor changes may not need a new visa, but significant job changes or employer changes will require a new visa application.
The sponsor is responsible for the employee during these six months. The visa may be curtailed if sponsorship ends or changes aren’t properly reported.
For guidance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Scale-up visa timeline
The Scale-up visa is initially granted for two years. After two years, you can extend it for three more years without sponsorship if you meet the income requirement.
After this three-year extension, you can apply for ILR if you meet the criteria or extend the visa again for another three years without sponsorship. There’s no limit to the number of extensions.
For assistance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
Income requirement for the unsponsored Scale-up visa extension
To extend the Scale-up visa for an unsponsored three-year period, workers must meet UK earnings requirements via PAYE for at least 12 of the previous 24 months—or 18 months if applying for a second extension after a three-year period.
Earnings thresholds depend on when the certificate of sponsorship was assigned:
After 4 April 2024: £36,300 annually (£3,025 monthly)
Between 12 April 2023 and 3 April 2024: £34,600
Before 11 April 2023: £33,000
Sick leave, maternity, or parental leave count if basic pay meets the threshold. Earnings must be monthly consistent; high pay in some months cannot offset lower pay in others. Income must come through PAYE from UK jobs; freelance, dividends, or overseas earnings don’t count.
There’s no limit on visa extensions in this category.
For advice, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
English language requirement
All Scale-up Worker applicants must meet the B1 English language requirement in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This is met if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, have graduated from a UK university, or from a university abroad where tuition was in English. For assistance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
Maintenance requirement
The maintenance requirement applies to applicants switching to the Scale-up Worker route within 12 months in the UK or applying from abroad. They must show at least £1,270 in savings held for 28 days before applying. This can be waived if the Scale-up sponsor certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship. For guidance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
Requirements for indefinite leave to remain
To qualify for indefinite leave to remain, you need five years of continuous residence on routes like Scale-up, Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator, T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Representative of an overseas business, or Tier 1 (except Graduate Entrepreneur). You must show PAYE earnings of at least £2,750 per month for 24 months in the last three years, counting only guaranteed basic pay (no bonuses). Sick, maternity, or parental leave counts if the job’s salary meets £34,600 per year. Passing the Life in the UK test is also required. For support, contact ZAR Immigration consultants