To register as a Scale Up Sponsor, your employer will need to demonstrate that they have had an annualised growth of at least 20% for the previous 3-year period in terms of turnover or staffing. Companies will also need to have had a minimum of 10 employees at the start of this 3-year period.
Your sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors.
Once a Scale-up Sponsor has an A-rated licence, they can issue a CoS and sponsor you for 6 months in an occupation skilled to at least RQF level 6, with a salary that is equal to or exceeds: £33,000 per year, the going rate for the occupation code and £10.58 per hour.
Your Certificate of Sponsorship must have been issued not more than 3 months before the date of your Scale-up Visa Sponsored Application.
How long your Scale Up licence is valid for
A sponsor licence is valid for 4 years, unless you surrender it or it is revoked before then. Unlike most other sponsored work routes, you cannot renew your Scale-up licence beyond 4 years. If you wish to continue to have the option of sponsoring overseas workers after this period, you must apply to be licensed on another route (for example, Skilled Worker), if you have not already done so.
How to keep your licence
If you are granted a licence, you must comply with all of your sponsor duties. If you do not, we may take action against you, including:
- downgrading your licence rating
- suspending your licence
- revoking your licence
- eporting you to the police or other relevant authorities
How Our Immigration Advisers Can Help
Cartier Enterprises is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading immigration advisers for business immigration.
Our team of immigration advisers has experience in assisting all types of sponsor licence applications. Our advisers are experts in the immigration options for Scale Up businesses and will guide you through the complex Home Office rules and policies.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to businesspersons as part of a professional and friendly service.
