Visa fees reimbursement scheme opens for UK scale-ups
13 Jun 2026
If your employer is a UK scale-up, they may now be able to claim back the visa fees paid for your Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or Scale-Up visa application. The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme launched on 9 June 2026 and covers eligible hires and their dependants on all three routes.
The grant pays a "maximum award of £5,000.00 for each international hire and their dependants", with a yearly cap of "up to £25,000.00/year" per organisation. To qualify, employers must operate in Clean Energy, Life Sciences, or Digital and Technologies, hold a valid UK Sponsor Licence, and meet the scale-up threshold: an average annualised growth rate exceeding 20 per cent in employment or turnover over three years, starting with at least 10 employees. Applications are assessed through DBT's standard due diligence checks before any grant is paid.
Organisations can register from 16 June 2026. The scheme closes on 1 March 2027 at midnight. Successful applicants receive a decision within 30 working days of submission and are paid through the grants.businessandtrade.gov.uk portal.
If you are on a Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or Scale-Up visa, it is worth letting your employer or HR team know about this scheme. It will not affect your immigration status, but it could reduce the cost of sponsoring you or bringing dependants to the UK.
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