Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups

What it funds

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. Qualifying businesses can apply for funding up to £25,000.00/year, with a maximum

Who can apply

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 equip

Key criteria

• ✓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

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.