What is a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa? Complete Guide 2025

What is the High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa?

The High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa provides a special opportunity for recent graduates from globally recognised universities to live and work in the UK. This visa is designed for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional promise in their academic pursuits and are ready to contribute to innovation within their professional fields.

To be eligible for the HPI visa, you must have graduated from an institution on the approved global universities list within the last five years. Your degree must be equivalent of :

• UK’s Bachelor’s degree
• UK’s Master’s degree
• UK’s PHD or doctoral degrees.

If you graduated from a UK university, you have to apply for a Global Talent Visa.

You don not require a job offer, giving holders the freedom to seek employment, become self-employed, or explore opportunities upon arrival in the UK.

Most graduates can stay in the UK for up to two years under this visa, while those with PhDs or equivalent doctoral-level qualifications can stay for three years. Although the HPI visa itself does not lead directly to permanent residency, it does offer the possibility to transition to other visa categories, such as the Skilled Worker visa, which can eventually lead to settlement.

This visa also allows for dependent family inclusion, enabling partners and dependent children to live in the UK, provided they meet the necessary eligibility criteria. This feature makes the HPI visa an attractive option for talented individuals seeking to advance their careers in the UK without immediate constraints.

HPI Visa Eligibility Criteria

As the name suggests, the High Potential Individual Visa is aimed at attracting top-tier talent globally. To be eligible, candidates must ensure to meet the below-listed requirements:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• They must have earned a degree-level qualification within the past five years from an institution listed on the UK’s Global Universities List.
• A minimum IELTS score of 4.0 is required, which indicates a satisfactory level of English proficiency at CEFR Level B1.
• Applicants need to show they have enough money to support themselves without needing public assistance.
• If the applicant comes from a high-risk country, they must provide a valid certificate of tuberculosis test.
• No prior visa under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as a High Potential Individual. 
• Nationals from certain countries may need to register with the police shortly after arriving in the UK. This is a standard immigration requirement for individuals from specific regions.
• Standard suitability checks for criminality and previous immigration law violations apply. 

Points-Based System for the HPI Visa

This visa operates under the UK’s points-based immigration system, requiring applicants to earn a total of 70 points to qualify. These points are awarded based on education, English language proficiency, and financial maintenance.

Here’s how the points are distributed:

Requirement	Points
Degree from a university on the Global Universities List	50 points
English language proficiency at CEFR Level B1	10 points
Proof of sufficient funds (£1,270)	10 points
Total	70 points

Cooling-Off Period for Previous Visa Holders

You cannot apply for the HPI visa if you’ve previously been granted permission under the Graduate Visa, the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, or a prior HPI visa. This restriction ensures the visa is used as intended—a one-time opportunity for global graduates.

HPI Academic Requirements

Every year, the UK government publishes a list of eligible universities from around the world. This includes universities ranked in the top 50 by at least two of the following ranking systems:

• Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings
• The Academic Ranking of World Universities

The degree must have been awarded within the past five years from the visa application date.
In addition, Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) must confirm that the overseas qualification is equivalent to or exceeds the standard of a recognised UK bachelor’s or UK postgraduate degree and will verify the date the degree was awarded.

Suitability and Validity Requirements

To successfully apply for the High Potential Individual Visa, applicants must meet both suitability and validity requirements. These checks ensure that the application is complete and the applicant poses no risk to the UK.

Suitability Requirements:

Applicants will be refused if they:

• Have a criminal conviction with a prison sentence of 12 months or more.
• Have been deported, excluded, or removed from the UK.
• Have breached UK immigration laws (except for permitted overstays).
• Have provided false or misleading information on their application.
• Are considered a risk to public security or public good.

Validity Requirements

To be considered valid, your application must:

• Use the correct online form for the HPI visa.
• Include all required supporting documents (e.g., Ecctis verification, proof of English proficiency).
• Pay the correct application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
• Submit biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) if required.
• Provide translations for any documents not in English or Welsh.

Failure to meet these requirements can result in an automatic rejection of the application.

HPI Visa Qualifying Universities List 2025

The High Potential Individual Visa extends to graduates from a diverse array of top universities worldwide. The list of eligible institutions is subject to annual review and updates to reflect global educational standings. Therefore, prospective applicants must regularly check the official UK government site, particularly the gov.uk platform, for the most current information.

For the academic year running from 1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025, the qualifying universities have been designated based on their demonstrated excellence in higher education. It is crucial for potential applicants to consult this list to verify their university’s eligibility before applying for the HPI visa.

Country	University
Australia	University of Melbourne
Canada	McGill University University of British Columbia University of Toronto
China	Fudan University Peking University Shanghai Jiao Tong University Tsinghua University Zhejiang University
France	Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University
Germany	Technical University of Munich Heidelberg University University of Munich (LMU Munich)
Hong Kong	University of Hong Kong The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Japan	Kyoto University University of Tokyo
Singapore	Nanyang Technological University (NTU) National University of Singapore
Sweden	Karolinska Institute
Switzerland	Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
USA	California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Columbia University Cornell University Duke University Harvard University Johns Hopkins University Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) New York University Northwestern University Princeton University Stanford University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Chicago University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Pennsylvania University of Texas at Austin University of Washington Yale University

Other academic years:
1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024
1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022
1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021
1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020

Permitted activities under High Potential Individual Visa

What You Can Do:

• Employment Opportunities: You can engage in most types of employment, including self-employment, allowing you to explore various career paths or start your own business.
• Job Searching: You have the liberty to look for suitable employment that matches your skills and ambitions.
• Family Inclusion: The visa permits you to live in the UK with your partner and children. Dependents can include your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and your children under 18—or over 18 if they were dependents at 18 and are still dependent.
• Volunteering and Travel: HPI visa holders are free to take part in volunteering opportunities, provided the role is genuinely unpaid and does not replace a paid position.
• Study: If you plan to pursue advanced studies in sensitive subjects, you may need to secure an ATAS certificate before starting your course. This requirement applies to specific research areas like engineering, science, and technology, ensuring alignment with UK security regulations.

What You Cannot Do:

• Access to Public Funds: You are not eligible to claim most benefits.
• Professional Sport: The visa does not allow you to work as a professional sportsperson. If your career goals are in this direction, you would need to consider applying for a specific Sportsperson visa.
• Visa Extension and Settlement: This visa category does not support extensions beyond the initial grant period, nor does it provide a direct pathway to permanent settlement in the UK.

HPI Visa Duration

This visa allows you to stay for up to two years, or three years with a PhD, providing a significant period to contribute professionally in the UK. No job offer is needed to start the application process. 

English Language Requirement for High Potential Visa

High Potential Individual Visa applicants are required to show English language skills at least at Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. 

You can meet the English language requirement by:

• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
• Achieving a passing score on a SELT from an approved provider
• Holding a degree taught in English or having a GCSE, A Level, or Scottish Highers in English, earned while attending school in the UK.
• Having proof of meeting B1 level in a prior successful UK visa application.

Financial Requirements 

Applicants for the High Potential Individual Visa must demonstrate their financial independence to ensure they can support themselves upon arrival in the UK. 

The key requirements are as follows:

• Applicants must show they have access to at least £1,270 in cash funds.
• These funds must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before submitting the visa application.

However, those who are applying for permission to stay and have already been residing in the UK with valid permission for 12 months or more at the time of application are exempt from showing these funds.

Scholarship Restrictions for HPI Visa Applicants

If you received financial sponsorship from a government or an international scholarship agency covering tuition fees and living costs for studying in the UK within the last 12 months, you must provide written permission from your sponsor to apply for the High Potential Individual Visa.

Without this consent, your application may be refused.

HPI Application Fees

updated as of Jan 2025.

Cost Category	Amount (£)	Details
Qualification Verification (Ecctis)	£210 (Outside the UK) £252 (Inside the UK)	Mandatory fee to confirm your qualification meets UK standards.
Visa Application Fee	£822	Required to submit your HPI visa application.
Healthcare Surcharge (IHS)	£2,070 (2 years) £3,105 (3 years)	Grants access to NHS services during your stay. Refunds possible if working in public healthcare.
Maintenance Funds (Personal Savings)	£1,270	Proof of funds to support yourself in the UK, held for 28 consecutive days before applying.
Dependent Maintenance Funds	£285 (Partner) £315 (First Child) £200 (Each Additional Child)	Proof of funds required for family members joining you in the UK.
Total Estimated Cost	£4,372 – £5,449	Total includes Ecctis, application fee, and healthcare surcharge. Excludes dependent costs.

How to Apply for a High-Potential Individual Visa

Applying from Outside the UK

To apply for a High Potential Individual visa from outside the UK, begin the process online. First, verify your qualifications with Ecctis, for which the fee is £210.

You’ll then need to complete the online application form, pay a fee of £822 and the health surcharge fee of £1035 for each year (2 or 3 years).

Depending on application instructions, you may need to visit a visa application centre to provide biometrics and receive a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), or use the UK Immigration ID Check app to scan your identity documents. 

If visiting a visa application centre, your passport may be retained during the process, and travelling to the nearest centre might be necessary. Ensure you meet the financial requirement by having £1,270 in savings, available for at least 28 consecutive days within 31 days prior to applying.

Applying from Inside the UK

If you are already in the UK on another visa, you can switch to a High Potential Individual visa by applying online. However, you cannot switch if you are on a Visit visa, Short-term student visa, Graduate visa, Parent of a Child Student visa, Seasonal worker visa, Domestic worker in a private household visa, or if under immigration bail. 

If your identity was verified for your current visa, you might not need to repeat this step. Your partner and children must apply separately but can do so concurrently with your application.

Documents You Need to Apply For a HPI Visa

• A valid passport is mandatory to prove your identity and nationality.
• Proof that you meet the required level of English, which can be an ‘Academic Qualification Level Statement and English Language Proficiency Statement’ if your degree was taught in English.
• An ‘Academic Qualification Level Statement’ from Ecctis confirming that your university qualification is eligible for the visa.
• Proof of sufficient funds to support your stay in the UK, showing you can meet the financial requirements without accessing public funds.
• If applicable, tuberculosis test results are required from residents of countries where this is a stipulation.

Applicants approved for the HPI visa from outside the UK may need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of arrival. This document confirms your visa status and permission to live and work in the UK.

Additional Documents

• Certified Translations: Any documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by certified translations.
• Proof of Relationships: If your family members are applying with you, provide documents proving your relationship, such as marriage or birth certificates.

Transition Options After a High Potential Individual Visa

The High Potential Individual Visa does not allow for direct extensions. However, it does offer pathways for visa holders to transition to other UK immigration routes, enabling them to extend their stay under different conditions.

Before their current leave expires, visa holders can apply to switch to another immigration route within the UK. Each route has specific requirements that must be met. Common options include switching to a Skilled Worker visa, which necessitates a job offer from a licensed sponsor meeting the salary and skill requirements.

• Skilled Worker Visa: Requires a job offer from a licensed UK employer.
• Global Talent Visa: For individuals recognised as leaders or emerging leaders in science, humanities, engineering, arts, or digital technology.
• Scale-up Visa: For highly skilled workers with job offers from rapidly growing UK businesses.
• Innovator Founder Visa: For entrepreneurs looking to establish innovative businesses in the UK.

Application Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes

To increase your chances of a successful HPI Visa application, follow these tips:

• Double-check documents: Ensure all documents are complete, correct, and up to date.
• Verify fees: Pay the exact application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge to avoid delays.
• Use the latest Global Universities List: Confirm your university is listed for your year of graduation.
• Provide clear financial evidence: Show proof of required funds (£1,270) held for at least 28 days.
• Submit biometric data on time: Attend your biometric appointment or use the UK Immigration ID Check app as instructed.

Processing Times for the High-Potential Individual Visa

When applying for the High Potential Individual Visa, the time it takes to receive a decision varies based on where you apply from. 

If you’re applying from outside the UK, you can normally expect a decision within two weeks. For applications submitted from within the UK, the typical processing time is between 2-4 weeks.

There are several factors that might prolong the processing period. If your supporting documents require additional verification, this could delay the decision. Similarly, if you are requested to attend an interview or if there are particular personal circumstances, such as a criminal conviction, these could also impact the time it takes to process your application. Being prepared for these possibilities can help manage expectations and plan accordingly.

Step	Action	Estimated Timeframe
Step 1	Verify qualifications with Ecctis	1–2 days
Step 2	Complete online application & pay fees	1 day
Step 3	Attend biometric appointment (if required)	Within 2 weeks
Step 4	UKVI reviews and processes the application	3 weeks (outside UK) / 8 weeks (inside UK)
Step 5	Receive decision and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)	1–2 weeks after approval

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