High-growth businesses operating in the priority sectors of clean energy, life science and digital technology can now apply for funding of up to £25,000 per year to cover the visa costs of international workers and their dependants.
Funding is available on a first come, first served basis and a maximum of £5,000 will be awarded per worker. The scheme will reimburse eligible visa fees incurred on or after 9 June 2026 in the Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Scale-Up Worker visa routes.
To qualify, a business must be a Scotland or UK-based scale-up business, meaning that it has an average annualised growth rate exceeding 20% in either employment or turnover over a continuous three-year period, with at least ten employees at the beginning of this period. It must also operate in at least one of the three priority sectors – see below.
This new funding scheme makes the Scale-Up Worker sponsor licence an even more attractive option for high-growth businesses. Find out more here.
What visa costs can be reimbursed?
The scheme applies to eligible visa fees incurred on or after 9 June 2026. Funding is available for international workers and their dependants under the following immigration routes:
- Skilled Worker visa;
- Global Talent visa; and
- Scale-up Worker visa.
This could be particularly useful for fast-growing businesses that need access to specialist international talent but are managing the cost of recruitment, relocation and immigration compliance.
Who can apply for the scheme?
To qualify, a business must be a UK-based scale-up operating in at least one of the three eligible priority sectors. A scale-up business is one that has achieved an average annualised growth rate of more than 20% in either employment or turnover over a continuous three-year period. The business must also have had at least 10 employees at the start of that period.
Businesses must also:
- hold a valid UK sponsor licence;
- have an established presence in the UK;
- have recruited eligible workers through the Skilled Worker, Global Talent or Scale-up Worker routes;
- pass Department for Business and Trade due diligence and assurance checks; and
- have a valid UK bank account to receive reimbursement.
A business will usually meet the UK presence requirement if it is incorporated and registered with Companies House, or if it is an overseas company registered with Companies House as having a UK establishment.
Which sectors are eligible?
The UK Government has designated three priority sectors and scale-up businesses operating in at least one of these sectors are eligible for the Reimbursement Scheme.
Clean Energy – Businesses operating in this sector must be directly contributing to the clean energy transition. This includes supply chain businesses involved in manufacturing or services relating to the deployment, construction or maintenance of clean energy assets and products.
Life Sciences – Businesses operating in this sector must be developing or producing their own pharmaceutical products. This includes all businesses whose primary operations involve developing and producing medical technology products, ranging from single-use consumables to complex hospital equipment and including digital health products.
Digital & Technologies – Businesses operating in this sector must be developing and applying technologies and digital tools to drive transformative changes in the UK economy and society. These technologies must be foundational in enabling other innovations and transformation across other sectors. They may be emerging, novel or untested, and will therefore take some time to be fully developed and realise their potential for high economic growth. Note that technologies related to advanced manufacturing, life sciences (other than digital health products), defence and life sciences are excluded, as they are covered by other sector strategies.
How Thorntons can help
Thorntons’ specialist immigration team supports high-growth businesses with international recruitment and sponsor licence matters. We can advise on Skilled Worker and Scale-up Worker sponsor licences, help assess whether your business qualifies for the reimbursement scheme, and support you with the wider immigration process when recruiting international staff.
