The UK has launched a scale-up visa process that allows businesses to sponsor skilled professionals for a 2-year stay.
The country says the visa aims to attract more talent into the country and close the digital skills gap.
The latest development comes as part of the government’s post-Brexit revamp of the UK’s immigration system.
Reports say that the ban on visa-free travel between the UK and the EU on 31 December 2020 significantly affected the talent pool available to British tech companies.
Since then, a persistent lack of digital skills has caused startups and scaleups to compete for talent.
According to UKtech News, data from Tech Nation revealed that tech job vacancies are at a 10-year high as companies struggle to find talent with the right skillsets.
It added that the businesses that meet the requirements can apply to sponsor their workers and successful applicants will be granted a 2-year stay without further sponsorship.
By contrast, temporary worker visas have a six-month maximum and after five years, applicants can apply for settlement.
The new visa requirements:
The Scale-up visa will be available to companies that have experienced growth of at least 20% for the previous 3 years and have created at least 10 new full-time jobs in the UK over the first 3 years.
This implies that a company must be able to show that it has a genuine demand for talented individuals from outside the EU and that those hires will make a positive contribution to the business.
Eligible skilled talent includes:
- Scientists
- Engineers
- Programmers
- Software developers
- Research and development professionals
- Economists
- Architects
- Technicians
- Financial and investment advisers
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UK to Issue Visa Allowing Foreign Graduates to Live and Work in the Country
UK Launches Scale-up 2-Year Visa for Skilled Professionals