Six months tied to one employer, then free to work for anyone
The UK Scale-up visa starts with an offer from a licensed, fast-growing British company paying at least about $52,300 (£39,100) a year. Here's the cost, the fine print and the road to settlement.
Your first visa lasts two years, and extensions come three years at a time for as long as you qualify. Fees below are Home Office figures from April 2026, converted to dollars at September 2026 rates.
Scale-up Visa
For US citizens with a job offer from a fast-growing UK company. After 6 months, can work without employer sponsorship.
- Government cost
- $715
- Processing time
- ~3 days
- Timeline
- 2 years, extendable, leads to settlement
- Difficulty
- Hard
Key requirements
- Job offer from a UK scale-up company
- Salary meets threshold
- English language proficiency
About that data card
It lists the cost as "$715." The application fee has been £937, about $1,250, since April 2026, and the yearly health surcharge comes on top. The processing figure of 3 is in weeks, not days: decisions from outside the UK usually take three weeks, and eight from inside.
Who it fits
A visa for people a growing company already wants
This is a paycheck visa. The employer needs a Scale-up license, which means proving 20% yearly growth in staff or turnover over three years. About 60 companies hold one.
- Fits: a job offer on the eligible occupations list paying about $52,300 (£39,100), or the job's going rate if that's higher
- Doesn't fit: retirees, people working remotely for a U.S. company, or anyone without an offer
- If your employer isn't a Scale-up sponsor: the Skilled Worker visa needs about $55,760 (£41,700)
What you'll pay
$1,250
Application fee, per person
£937, since April 2026
$1,380
Health surcharge, per adult, per year
£1,035, paid up front
$1,700
Savings to show, main applicant
£1,270 held 28 days, unless your employer covers it
$4,020
Two-year visa, one person
Fee plus two years of surcharge
$8,040
Two-year visa, a couple
Before children and savings
$4,310
Settlement fee, per person
£3,226, after five years
The six-month deal
Your sponsor steps away at month six
Your employer sponsors you for the first six months only. Change jobs inside that window and you have to apply to update your visa. After it, you can switch employers, add a side job or go self-employed without a new sponsor.
- At your first extension, you need 12 months of salaried pay at a rate of at least about $52,300 (£39,100) a year. Self-employed income doesn't count.
- Your partner and children can come with you, and your partner can work.
- Extensions run three years at a time, with decisions in about eight weeks.
From job offer to landing
Get your certificate
Your employer assigns a certificate of sponsorship. From then, you have three months to apply.
Apply online
Pay the fee and the surcharge. The rule is B2 English, but U.S. nationals don't have to prove it.
Prove who you are
Scan your passport in the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or book a visa application center.
Wait about three weeks
That's the standard wait from the U.S. Priority service, where offered, costs about $670 (£500) more.
Staying for good
Five years to settlement, if the rules hold
Time on Scale-up, Skilled Worker and Global Talent visas can add up to the five years. Keep trips abroad to 180 days or fewer in any 12 months, and pass the Life in the UK test. Citizenship can follow 12 months after settlement.
The settlement wait may get longer
The Home Office has consulted on raising the standard wait from five years to ten. The consultation closed in February 2026. As of September 2026, no new rules are in force. The government has said it wants changes to reach people already on a route, so plan for five years and leave room for more.
People who can help with the move
Clearview Relocation
UK Relocation
Clearview's immigration consultants advise companies and individuals on UK visas, and its relocation team handles removals. Helpful when your new employer has never sponsored anyone before.
Aury Lambert
Attorney Relocation Guide
If your job needs a professional license, Aury consults for lawyers and other regulated professionals on licensing and cross-border practice. She's a New York-licensed lawyer based in the UK.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad, so a British salary gets reported to the IRS correctly each year.
Simon Conn
International Mortgage Lending
A broker with over 40 years in overseas property finance, for the point where renting gives way to buying.
Marshmallow
Auto Insurance in the UK
Car insurance built for drivers who are new to the UK.
Scale-up visa questions
Can I change jobs on a Scale-up visa?
Yes. In your first six months you'd have to apply to update your visa before switching employers. After six months, you can work for any employer, take on extra work or become self-employed without a new sponsor.
How long does it take to get a Scale-up visa from the U.S.?
Usually three weeks from applying and proving your identity. Applications made from inside the UK usually take eight weeks.
How much salary do I need for a UK Scale-up visa?
At least £39,100 a year, about $52,300 at September 2026 rates, or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. The job also has to be on the list of eligible occupations, and the employer must hold a Scale-up sponsor license.
Do Americans need an English test for the Scale-up visa?
No. Since January 2026 the required level is B2, but U.S. nationals don't have to prove their English.
Does the Scale-up visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes, currently after five years, and time on Skilled Worker or Global Talent visas can count toward it. Settlement costs £3,226 (about $4,310) per person and requires the Life in the UK test. The government has consulted on raising the wait to ten years, but as of September 2026 that hasn't become law.
Can I come to the UK as a visitor and switch to a Scale-up visa?
No. People on a visit visa can't switch to the Scale-up visa inside the UK. You'd need to leave and apply from abroad.
Do I still pay U.S. taxes on a Scale-up visa?
Americans living abroad are taxed on their worldwide income, so you keep filing U.S. returns. For 2026, you can exclude up to $132,900 of foreign earned income if you qualify. UK income tax for 2026 to 2027 runs from 20% to 45% above a £12,570 personal allowance.
Can my spouse work in the UK on a Scale-up dependant visa?
Yes. Partners and children can join you as dependants, and your partner can work in almost any job except as a sportsperson or coach. Each family member pays the £937 application fee (about $1,250) plus the yearly health surcharge.
Is a Scale-up offer your way into Britain?
Talk to an Expatsi advisor about your UK options and the order to tackle them in.
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