Master prompt
Scale-up visa — sponsor for 6 months then full mobility
Scale-up visa for Indian applicants joining fast-growing UK companies; sponsor for first 6 months, then unsponsored work for remainder.
UKScale-upAppendix Scale-upTechMobility
Scale-up visa (Appendix Scale-up) is a 2021-introduced route for skilled migrants joining fast-growing UK companies. Unique feature: sponsor required for first 6 months, then full work mobility (any employer / self-employment) for remainder of visa.
For [CLIENT_NAME] joining [EMPLOYER] in [ROLE_TITLE]:
§1 — APPENDIX SCALE-UP REQUIREMENTS (150-180 words)
Employer requirements:
▪ UK company on the "Scale-up Sponsor Register" (separate from standard sponsor licence)
▪ Demonstrated growth: 20%+ annualised over 3 years in either:
- Revenue, OR
- Headcount
▪ Minimum 10 employees at start of 3-year period
▪ Genuine vacancy with growth-supporting role
Applicant requirements:
▪ Genuine job offer at RQF Level 6+
▪ Salary: GBP 36,300+ minimum AND meets going rate for SOC code [VERIFY]
▪ English: B1 CEFR (most Indian applicants meet via prior degree)
▪ Maintenance: GBP 1,270 × 28 days
▪ Tradeable points not available (no PhD discount, no Immigration Salary List discount)
For [CLIENT_NAME] [SALARY_GBP] at [EMPLOYER]:
▪ Salary meets / falls short of GBP 36,300
▪ [EMPLOYER] on Scale-up register: [verify]
▪ Growth evidence: [EMPLOYER_GROWTH]
§2 — THE 6-MONTH SPONSOR REQUIREMENT (120-150 words)
Unique mechanic:
▪ Applicant works for sponsor for first 6 months (sponsor maintains usual reporting + compliance duties)
▪ At 6 months: applicant gains "Scale-up unsponsored" status
▪ Unsponsored status allows: any role, any employer, self-employment, multi-job
▪ Salary must remain at or above GBP 36,300 [VERIFY] across the rest of the visa to maintain status
▪ Visa duration: 2 years initially; extension to total 5 years possible
If applicant leaves sponsor before 6 months:
▪ Visa becomes invalid
▪ Must apply for new visa (different sponsor or different route)
▪ Cannot use Scale-up route again for same employer
Strategy: clarify with sponsor that 6-month commitment is required; if applicant + sponsor agree, this route offers the best long-term mobility.
§3 — PATH TO ILR (80-100 words)
Scale-up is a settlement route:
▪ 5 years continuous residence on Scale-up → ILR
▪ Continuous residence per Appendix CR (max 180 days absence per 12-month period)
▪ At ILR application: must show continued residence + salary at threshold + KOL (Life in UK test + B1 English)
This makes Scale-up attractive for senior/mid-career talent who:
▪ Want to join a Scale-up for 6 months, then move
▪ Want eventual ILR (vs GBM which is NOT a settlement route)
▪ Want full work freedom after 6 months
§4 — INDIAN APPLICANT FIT (100-120 words)
Scale-up is well-suited to Indian applicants who:
▪ Are joining UK fintech / health-tech / AI-tech startups
▪ Have specialist skills in demand at scale-up companies
▪ Want eventual ILR (vs GBM workers in IT services)
▪ Are senior enough to negotiate salary at GBP 36,300+ floor
Common Indian Scale-up applicants:
▪ Senior software engineers joining fintech (Monzo, Revolut, Wise, Octopus Energy)
▪ Data scientists at AI scale-ups
▪ Product managers at growth-stage companies
▪ Specialised engineering / scientific roles at climate-tech / biotech
§5 — APPLICATION + FEES (80-100 words)
▪ Application fee: GBP 822 outside UK; GBP 822 inside UK [VERIFY]
▪ IHS: GBP 1,035/year × duration
▪ Standard processing: 3 weeks outside UK; 8 weeks inside UK
▪ Priority: 5 working days; Super Priority: next working day
Documents:
□ CoS from Scale-up sponsor
□ Passport
□ TB test (IOM India)
□ English language evidence (degree-taught-in-English typically; if not, IELTS UKVI Academic 4.0 each skill)
□ Maintenance (GBP 1,270 × 28 days OR sponsor-certified)
□ Police certificates from all 12+ month residences
§6 — RISKS + CONSIDERATIONS (80-100 words)
▪ Sponsor must remain on Scale-up Register throughout the 6-month sponsored period
▪ If sponsor's growth metrics no longer qualify (revenue/headcount drops): can lose Scale-up status
▪ Salary monitoring: if applicant's salary drops below threshold post-6-month, may invalidate status
▪ Limited route — fewer than 100 sponsors at any time (compared to thousands of Skilled Worker sponsors)
▪ Sponsor revocation can affect existing applicants
§7 — RECOMMENDATION (60-80 words)
Recommend Scale-up if:
▪ Applicant has firm offer from a Scale-up Register sponsor
▪ Plans to commit to sponsor for first 6 months
▪ Wants long-term UK career flexibility
▪ Salary GBP 36,300+ secured
Recommend Skilled Worker instead if:
▪ Sponsor is not on Scale-up Register
▪ Salary close to threshold (Skilled Worker has more discount options)
▪ Applicant prefers ongoing sponsor relationship
End with: "DRAFT — for OISC/IAA-registered adviser or solicitor review. Verify [EMPLOYER]'s Scale-up Register status BEFORE accepting offer — the register is publicly maintained by Companies House / UKVI. The 6-month sponsor commitment is binding; leaving early invalidates the visa."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt