The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups, delivered by the UK Government, provides targeted financial support to help high-growth businesses attract international talent. The scheme is designed to reduce the cost of recruiting overseas specialists by reimbursing eligible visa application fees for new hires and their dependants.
Funding is available to UK-based scale-up businesses operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technology sectors. Organisations can apply for up to £25,000 per year, with a maximum of £5,000 per international employee recruited. The scheme supports hires made through eligible visa routes, including Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Scale-up visas, with costs reimbursed for fees incurred from June 2026 onwards.
The programme aims to remove financial barriers to international recruitment, enabling fast-growing businesses to access the specialist skills they need to scale more quickly and compete globally. Funding is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so early application is encouraged.
Overall, the scheme provides a practical route for innovative businesses to strengthen their workforce, accelerate growth and support the UK’s wider ambition to build world-leading sectors in key areas of economic development.
Location: UK
Value: £25,000
Grant Deadline: 01-03-2027