DB
Department for Business and Trade

Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups

Visa-fee reimbursement for eligible international hires at UK scale-ups.

OpenDepartment for Business and TradeUnited Kingdom

This scheme reimburses eligible visa fees for international hires and their dependants. It is for UK-based scale-ups operating in Clean Energy, Life Sciences, or Digital and Technologies.

A qualifying business must meet the scheme’s scale-up definition, hold a valid UK visa sponsor licence, have an established UK presence, and recruit through an eligible immigration route.

The work funded is the…

In scope are UK-based scale-ups operating in Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies. Clean Energy Industries directly contribute to the clean power transition, including supply chain, manufacturing and services relating to the deployment, construction, and maintenance of clean energy assets and products. Life Sciences includes businesses developing and/or producing their own pharmaceutical products, and businesses whose primary business involves developing and producing medical technology products, including digital health products. Digital and Technologies develops and applies advanced technologies and digital tools. For Digital and Technologies, technologies related to Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Defence, and Life Sciences are excluded as they are covered in separate Sector Plans.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.One-off
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.2 Mar 2027
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.—
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.—
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.—
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.£1.3M

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Last verified: 27 Aug 2026Funder reference: visa-fees-reimbursement-scheme-for-scale-ups-1Source: www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk