Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups
The UK Government has launched the Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups (VFRS4SU), a targeted grant scheme to help UK scale ups in Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies hire internationally by reimbursing eligible visa application fees for specialist hires and their dependants.
- Opening date:
- Closing date: (Midnight)
Contents
Summary
The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups provides financial support to UK-based scale-ups operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies sectors.
The scheme aims to reduce cost barriers to hire internationally, improving recruitment speed and certainty in sectors central to the UK’s growth and innovation ambitions by reimbursing visa fees for eligible hires and their dependants.
Businesses can apply for funding up to £25,000.00/year, with a maximum award of £5,000.00 for each international hire and their dependants. There is limited funding available and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis: applications are processed in the order they are received, and grants are awarded until the total budget is fully allocated.
The scheme will reimburse eligible visa fees incurred on or after 9 June 2026.
Please note: Individuals cannot apply directly for the Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups (VFRS4SU).
Eligibility
The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups is open to UK-based scale ups operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies sectors. To qualify, a business must meet all the following criteria:
Be a UK-based Scale-Up: an enterprise that achieves an average annualised growth rate exceeding 20 per cent in either employment or turnover over a continuous three-year period (the observation period), starting with at least 10 employees at the beginning of this period
Operate in at least one of the three priority sectors in the scope, as defined in the Industrial Strategy IS-8 Sectors list definitions below:
Clean Energy
The Clean Energy Industries are the industries which directly contribute to the clean power transition. These are the companies that are part of the supply chain, manufacturing and services relating to the deployment, construction, and maintenance of clean energy assets and products
Life Sciences
Businesses involved in developing and/or producing their own pharmaceutical products and all businesses whose primary business involves developing and producing medical technology products, ranging from single-use consumables to complex hospital equipment, including digital health products
Digital and Technologies
The Digital and Technologies sector develops and applies advanced technologies and digital tools to drive transformative changes in our economy and society. These technologies are foundational, enabling other innovations and transformation across other sectors. Many are emerging, novel, and untested, and will therefore take some time to be fully developed and realise their potential for high economic growth.
Technologies related to Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Defence, and Life Sciences are excluded as they are covered in separate Sector Plans
Hold a valid UK visa sponsor licence
Have already established a presence in the UK, meaning the applicant either (i) is incorporated in the UK and registered with Companies House; or (ii) is an overseas company registered with Companies House as having a UK establishment (a place of business or branch in the UK). For the purposes of criterion (d), a UK establishment is a place of business or branch of an overseas company in the UK and requires some degree of physical presence in the UK through which business is carried on. An independent agent acting for the company, or an occasional location (e.g. a hotel used during periodic visits), does not constitute a UK establishment
Recruit eligible hire(s) under an immigration route designated as eligible for the Scheme which are the Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and Scale Up visa routes
Pass DBT’s standard due diligence and assurance checks prior to grant award
Have a valid UK bank account to receive reimbursements
Objectives
The scheme aims to reduce cost barriers to hire internationally, improving recruitment speed and certainty in sectors central to the UK’s growth and innovation ambitions by reimbursing visa fees for eligible hires and their dependants.
Dates
To apply for the VFRS4SU grant, you must register on the Grants Hub portal, applications will be accepted from 16 June 2026. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within 30 working days of submission, with payment issued thereafter for successful applications.
How to apply
Before starting your application, please ensure you have the following information to hand:
your organisation’s legal name
organisation type
registered address
Companies House number
the breakdown of eligible roles
job titles
outline of role responsibilities
outline of person specification
contract type (duration of the contract and terms),
eligible hire salary
and confirmation of the visa (including evidence of payment defrayal).
Application and decision-making process
To apply for the VFRS4SU grant, you must register and submit your application through the Grants Hub portal.
Successful applicants will be designated as VFRS4SU Grant Partners and will be required to enter into a grant funding agreement (GFA) with DBT.
Decisions on eligibility and funding awards are final and are not subject to appeal, unless explicitly stated otherwise in the scheme guidance.
Supporting information
Register on the Grants Hub portal: Available grants - Department for Business and Trade