UK to Reimburse Visa Costs for High-Growth Firms Hiring Overseas Talent

LONDON, June 10, 2026: The UK government has announced a new scheme that will reimburse fast-growing businesses up to £25,000 a year in visa-related costs when they recruit highly skilled workers from overseas, including expenses for dependants.

The initiative is aimed at helping scale-up companies attract specialist talent in sectors such as technology and digital services, life sciences, and clean energy.

Under the Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale-Ups, eligible businesses will be able to claim up to £5,000 per employee, with a maximum annual reimbursement of £25,000 per company. While the financial cap limits total support, there is no specific restriction on the number of employees who may qualify.

The government is also introducing a faster process for overseas companies seeking a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence. This visa route allows foreign businesses to send staff to Britain to establish operations. Applications that currently take several weeks are expected to be processed in around 10 days.

The announcement comes as concerns grow over employment opportunities for young people in Britain. A recent review led by Alan Milburn found that the UK is facing its most serious worklessness challenge in 25 years, with economic inactivity among young people reaching record levels.

Critics argue that the new measures fail to prioritise domestic workers. Migration Watch UK said the policy would make it easier and cheaper for overseas workers to enter the country at a time when many British graduates are struggling to secure employment.

The group described the plan as damaging for young workers and claimed that existing Skilled Worker visa rules have already been used for roles that were traditionally filled by local employees.

Callum Price of the Institute of Economic Affairs also questioned the approach, arguing that the government should focus on making the UK a more attractive place for businesses and skilled workers generally, rather than directing public funds toward selected companies.

Before the 2024 general election, Labour considered introducing measures requiring employers to prioritise British candidates. Similar rules existed until 2019, when the government under Boris Johnson removed them as part of wider reforms to the UK’s points-based immigration system.

For official details, see the government’s Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale-Ups and the government announcement.