The government has announced measures to support scale-up businesses and high potential firms.
The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups provides financial support to UK-based scale-ups operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies sectors. The scheme will reimburse eligible visa fees incurred on or after June 9, 2026.
Businesses can apply for funding up to GBP 25,000 per year, with a maximum award of GBP 5,000 for each international hire and their dependents. Funding is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis: applications are processed in the order they are received, and grants are awarded until the total budget is fully allocated.
To qualify, a business must meet all the following criteria:
- be a UK-based scale-up: an enterprise that achieves an average annualized growth rate exceeding 20 percent in either employment or turnover over a continuous three-year period (the observation period), starting with at least 10 employees at the beginning of this period;
- operate in at least one of the three priority sectors in the scope: Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies;
- hold a valid UK visa sponsor license;
- have already established a presence in the UK;
- recruit eligible hire(s) under an immigration route designated as eligible for the scheme, which are the Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and Scale-up visa routes;
- pass DBT’s standard due diligence and assurance checks prior to grant award;
- have a valid UK bank account to receive reimbursements.
Meanwhile, the Office for Investment fast-track referral process for a UK Expansion Worker sponsor license is intended to support eligible high-potential international businesses to expand into the United Kingdom more quickly. If accepted, processing time may take around 10 working days (versus eight weeks standard).
To be eligible, businesses must:
- be receiving ongoing support from the Office for Investment (OfI);
- operate in one of the eight sectors identified as a priority under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy;
- meet at least one of the following growth criteria:
- Has received at least GBP 1 million venture capital or institutional investment
- Has committed at least GBP 2 million capital investment for UK expansion
- Is part of a government-recognized, high-growth program (for example, the Global Entrepreneur Program).
Applications referred by OfI to the Home Office for fast-tracking that are later identified by the Home Office as complex will not be processed within 10 working days and will be subject to standard timelines.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.