The UK Government has introduced the Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale-Up companies (VFRS4SU). This is a new funding initiative designed to reduce the cost of hiring skilled international workers for businesses operating in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences and Digital/Technology sectors.
The scheme launched on 9 June 2026, and enables eligible UK scale-ups to reclaim visa application costs for overseas hires and their dependants. The aim is to help fast-growing businesses access global talent while reducing recruitment expenses. The scheme is intended to improve recruitment speed and certainty for businesses operating in sectors that are central to the UK's growth and innovation agenda.
What funding is available?
Eligible businesses can claim:
- Up to £5,000 per international hire (including dependants)
- Up to £25,000 per business per year
This will apply to visa fees incurred on or after 9 June 2026. Funding is being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Which businesses are eligible?
To qualify, a business must:
1. Be a UK scale-up
The company must demonstrate:
- Average annual growth of more than 20% in either turnover or employment
- Sustained over a continuous three-year period
- Starting with at least 10 employees at the beginning of that period
2. Operate in an eligible sector
The scheme is currently open to businesses operating in one or more of the following priority sectors:
- Digital and Technologies – Businesses involved in advanced technologies and digital tools.
- 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
- Clean Energy – Businesses which directly contribute to the clean power transition by being part of the supply chain, manufacturing and services relating to the deployment contraction and maintenance of clear energy assets and products.
3. Hold a valid sponsor licence
Businesses must already possess a valid UK sponsor licence to recruit overseas workers.
4. Have an established UK presence
The business must be:
- Incorporated and registered in the UK; or
- An overseas company with a registered UK establishment and genuine business presence.
5. Recruit through eligible visa routes
The scheme currently covers individuals who are hired under the following visa routes:
- Skilled Worker visas
- Global Talent visas
- Scale-Up Worker visas
6. Pass due diligence checks
Applicants will be subject to standard assurance and eligibility checks by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and must hold a valid bank account.
Why this matters
For many growing businesses, visa costs have become a significant barrier to accessing specialist skills that are difficult to source domestically. The reimbursement scheme will go some way to lowering the costs of recruitment for successful businesses and assist with companies who are looking to grow headcount in the UK.
The scheme has a limited budget and grants are being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so it will be important to make applications quickly. Applications will be accepted from 16 June 2026 onwards and the scheme is set to close on 1 March 2027 (or earlier if funding is exhausted).
Further details about the scheme can be found here. Please get in touch with our immigration team if you would like help with accessing the scheme or support with immigration and visa advice.
