Government opens visa fee reimbursement scheme for scale-ups

The government has launched the Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups, which reimburses eligible visa application fees for high-growth businesses hiring from overseas. The scheme opened on 9th June 2026, and applications are accepted from 16th June 2026.

It is aimed squarely at scale-ups in three priority sectors and is designed to take some of the cost out of recruiting international talent at the point it matters most: when a business is growing quickly and needs people in post.

What the scheme covers

Qualifying businesses can claim up to £25,000 a year, with a maximum of £5,000 for each international hire and their dependants. A few points are worth pinning down:

• It reimburses visa fees incurred on or after 9th June 2026 under the Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Scale-up routes.
• Funding is finite and awarded first come, first served until the budget runs out.
• The sponsoring employer applies, not the worker. Individuals cannot apply directly.

Who qualifies

To be eligible, a business must meet all of the following:

• Be a UK-based scale-up, meaning average annualised growth above 20% in either turnover or employment over a continuous three-year period, starting with at least 10 employees.
• Operate in at least one of the three priority sectors: Clean Energy, Life Sciences, or Digital and Technologies.
• Hold a valid sponsor licence and have an established UK presence registered at Companies House.
• Recruit under one of the eligible routes, pass the Department for Business and Trade’s due diligence checks, and hold a UK bank account to receive payment.

How and when to apply

Applications are made through the DBT Grants Hub and the scheme runs until 1st March 2027. Applicants are told the outcome within 30 working days, with payment to follow for successful claims. Decisions on eligibility and funding are final, with no appeal.

The reimbursement sits alongside two other measures: fast-track sponsor licence referrals for businesses using the UK Expansion Worker route, and a bespoke “concierge” service to help qualifying scale-ups with regulation, finance and access to talent.

The obvious limits are the narrow eligibility test and the capped, first-come-first-served pot. The sector and growth criteria will exclude most employers, and the funding will not last indefinitely. For businesses that do qualify and are planning overseas hires this year, the sensible move is to confirm eligibility and get an application in early rather than wait.

Our immigration team can assess whether your business qualifies and help you prepare a claim. If you would like to discuss it, please get in touch.