Scale-Up Visa Solicitors
If you have a job offer from a qualifying scale-up business in the UK, our Solicitors, who have over 25 years of experience in UK immigration law, can help with your Scale-Up Visa application.
The Scale-Up route is a sponsored work visa for workers recruited by fast-growing UK businesses that meet the Home Office definition of a qualifying scale-up employer. Its requirements are set out in Appendix Scale-Up of the Immigration Rules. The route requires a job offer from a licensed scale-up sponsor at a salary of at least £34,600 per year, or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. After six months of qualifying employment, the worker is free to change employers or go self-employed without needing further sponsorship. This distinguishes the route from the Skilled Worker route, where sponsorship is required throughout the visa period.
At Law Lane Solicitors, we advise both scale-up businesses applying for a sponsor licence and individual workers applying for leave under this route. We act from our offices in Stratford, Holborn, and Croydon. We hold an accredited quality mark in Immigration and Asylum and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The Scale-Up route is attractive to workers who want the flexibility to move employers after the initial period without reapplying. It requires careful planning at the outset, because the qualifying conditions for the unsupported period and for any subsequent extension need to be met. We advise on the application process and on the transition from the sponsored period to the unsupported period.
Our Scale-Up Visa Legal Services
We advise on the following:
- Confirming whether the proposed employer meets the qualifying scale-up employer criteria under the Immigration Rules.
- Advising on the salary and occupation code requirements applicable to the Scale-Up route.
- Advising on the difference between the Scale-Up route and the Skilled Worker route, and which is more appropriate for a given applicant.
- Preparing and submitting the visa application with a complete document bundle.
- Advising on the six-month qualifying period and the conditions that must be met before the worker can move to the unsupported period.
- Advising on the English language requirement and evidence needed.
- Advising on the financial maintenance requirement for applicants who have been in the UK for less than 12 months.
- Advising on switching to the Scale-Up route from inside the UK, including from Student and Graduate routes.
- Advising on employment during the unsupported period, including the types of work permitted.
- Advising on extension applications and the requirements that apply at the point of extension.
- Advising on dependant applications for the partner and children of a Scale-Up Visa holder.
- Reviewing refusals and advising on administrative review or fresh applications where appropriate.
Why Choose Law Lane Solicitors for Scale-Up Visa Advice?
The Scale-Up route involves two distinct periods of leave, each with different requirements. The sponsored period requires qualifying employment with the endorsing scale-up employer. The unsupported period allows the worker to change employer or go self-employed, but requires independent evidence that the worker is still working at or above the applicable salary threshold. An applicant who does not meet the conditions for the unsupported period may find their extension refused. We advise on both periods from the outset.
The definition of a qualifying scale-up employer is specific. The employer must have experienced a minimum rate of annualised growth of at least 20 per cent per year for three years and must have had at least ten employees at the start of the growth period. Not every fast-growing business meets this definition. We check the position before the application is prepared.
We also advise on the comparison between the Scale-Up and Skilled Worker routes. For some workers, the freedom offered by the Scale-Up route after six months is more important than any other consideration. For others, the Skilled Worker route offers more certainty and a clearer path to settlement.
Get in Touch
If you have received a job offer from a qualifying scale-up employer and want advice on the Scale-Up Visa, contact our immigration team today.
Book a consultation and receive clear advice on the application process and the conditions attached to the route.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk

Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding service provided by Law Lane Solicitors Limited. The entire team is highly professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to supporting their clients. In particular, I would like to thank Salman Shah and Mariya Hussain for their exceptional work. I had six very complicated immigration cases, and throughout the process they handled everything with great professionalism, expertise, and care. Salman Shah and his team worked diligently on each case, always providing clear guidance and support. Thanks to their hard work and commitment, all of our cases were successfully approved. I highly recommend Law Lane Solicitors Limited to anyone seeking reliable and professional immigration legal services.“ – T on Trustpilot (March ’26)
Frequently Asked Questions – Scale-Up Visa
What is the Scale-Up Visa?
The Scale-Up Visa is a sponsored work visa for workers who have a job offer from a qualifying scale-up employer in the UK. After six months of qualifying employment, the worker is free to work for any employer or go self-employed, without needing further sponsorship. The visa is valid for two years in the first instance.
What is a qualifying scale-up employer?
A qualifying scale-up employer is a business that has achieved annualised growth of at least 20 per cent per year in either turnover or employment, measured over a three-year period, and that had at least ten employees at the start of that growth period. The Home Office maintains a list of qualifying employers. Not every rapidly growing business will meet the criteria.
What is the salary requirement?
The minimum salary for the Scale-Up route is £34,600 per year, or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. This threshold is lower than the general Skilled Worker threshold but reflects the nature of the route and the qualifying employer criteria. The going rate for the occupation code must always be met.
How does the Scale-Up route differ from the Skilled Worker route?
The principal difference is that after six months of qualifying employment under the Scale-Up route, the worker is no longer required to remain with the sponsoring employer and does not need a new certificate of sponsorship to change employer. Under the Skilled Worker route, sponsorship is required for the duration of the visa, and a change of employer requires a new application.
What can I do during the unsupported period?
During the unsupported period, the worker can take up any employment, become self-employed, or set up a business. The worker is not required to remain with the original scale-up sponsor. The work must be in an occupation that is classified at the Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6 or above and must be paid at or above the qualifying salary threshold.
What are the English language requirements?
Applicants must demonstrate English at level B1 or above. The evidence required depends on the applicant’s nationality and qualifications. We confirm the appropriate evidence for each applicant before submission.
Can I switch to the Scale-Up route from inside the UK?
Yes, applicants on certain other routes, including the Student and Graduate routes, can switch to the Scale-Up route without leaving the UK, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and have a qualifying job offer.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, partners and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Dependants can work and study in the UK during the visa period. The main applicant must meet the financial requirements for dependants where applicable.
Does the Scale-Up route lead to settlement?
Yes. Workers who have completed five years of continuous qualifying residence in the UK, including time on the Scale-Up route, may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided they continue to meet the salary and occupation requirements and the other conditions for settlement.
What happens at the extension stage?
An extension application requires the worker to show that they meet the conditions for the period of leave being applied for. During the unsupported period, the worker must provide independent evidence of qualifying employment or self-employment at or above the applicable salary threshold.
What if my employer loses its qualifying scale-up status?
If the sponsoring employer ceases to meet the qualifying scale-up employer criteria after the initial leave has been granted, this should not affect the worker’s existing leave during the sponsored period. However, the position at the extension stage may be affected. We advise on the appropriate steps if this situation arises.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation. At that meeting, we confirm eligibility, advise on the requirements, and set out the cost of preparing and submitting the application. Please call or email to arrange a time.
Get in Touch
Whether you are applying for the first time, extending your leave, or dealing with a problem mid-course, our immigration team is ready to help.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Book a consultation with our immigration team and start your studies in the UK with your immigration status in order.
Immigration Team
Tahir Shahab Khan
Supervising Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Salman Shah
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Sikandar Ali Jatoi
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Ahmed Syed
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Muhammad Azeem
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Nuresa Begum
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Oraz Shiriyev
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Sarah Akram
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Kashif Haroon
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Suzana Husain
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Christian O. Nwaorah
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Akbar Mohammed Mir
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Noemaan Fahim
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