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High Potential
Individual Visa

A work visa that
does not require sponsorship

A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years. To apply, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years.

The route is unsponsored, meaning you do not need to have a job offer in order to apply. Once in the UK, you will be able to work, or look for work, at any skill level.

Eligibility

To qualify for a HPI visa, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years. Your qualification must be at the same level as:

  • A UK bachelor’s degree
  • A UK postgraduate degree
  • A UK PhD or doctorate.

You must apply to Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to check your qualification is valid and at the right level. You must also be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

note:

You cannot apply for a HPI visa if you have already been given a Graduate visa or if you have already come to the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme student.

Your University

Eligible institutions are listed in the Home Office’s Global Universities List. The awarding institution must appear on the list in respect of the date when the applicant graduated with their degree.

UK universities are not eligible. If you’re already in the UK on a Student visa you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa.

Costs

When you apply for a High Potential Individual visa, you will need to have enough money to:

  • Pay the visa application fee – It costs £822 to apply.
  • Pay for Ecctis to check your qualification is valid – It costs £210 if you’re applying from outside the UK, or £252 if you’re applying from the UK.
  • Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – The IHS costs £1,035 per year, or £776 per year for under-18s.
  • Support yourself in the UK – You will usually need to show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account (unless you’re exempt).

note:

The visa application fee and the IHS must also be paid for any accompanying dependants.

How to apply

You must apply online for a High Potential Individual visa.

As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity and provide your supporting documents. To do this, you will need to do one of the following:

  • Attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) if you’re outside the UK.
  • Attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point if you’re inside the UK.
  • Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document, if you are eligible.

Processing times

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.

How long you can stay

A HPI visa usually lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.

You cannot extend your HPI visa once it expires. However, if you want to stay in the UK longer, you may be able to switch to another visa type such as a Skilled Worker visa, if you meet the requirements.

Permitted Activites

With a High Potential Individual visa, you can:

  • Work in most jobs
  • Look for work
  • Be self-employed
  • Bring dependant family members with you, if they are eligible.
  • Do voluntary work.
  • Travel abroad and return to the UK.

You cannot:

  • Apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension.
  • Work as a professional sportsperson
  • Extend this visa
  • Apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You can only study with an HPI visa if your chosen course is not eligible for a Student visa. If your course is eligible for a Student visa, you can apply for a Student visa instead, or extend your Student visa if you already have one.

How can we help

If you are interested in applying for a HPI visa, Smith Stone Walters can help. We will work with you from initial consultation to assess your eligibility right through to managing the application process on your behalf.

To find out how we can help, please contact us today.

Frequently asked questions

The HPI visa is a short-term visa which offers successful applicants a one-time, non-extendable period of leave. It does not lead to settlement in the UK.

If your long-term plan is to stay in the UK permanently and eventually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you will need to switch into another visa category before your HPI visa expires. For example, you could apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you find suitable employment from a UK sponsor and you meet the other eligibility requirements.
You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a High Potential Individual visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

You must apply within 5 years of being awarded a qualification from an eligible university.
With a High Potential Individual visa, you will have the flexibility to work in any job at any skill or salary level without requiring sponsorship from an employer, or be self-employed. This can also benefit employers, who can recruit workers from this niche talent pool into any role, even if they do not hold a sponsor licence.
To be eligible for a High Potential Individual visa, you must have been awarded a qualification in the last 5 years from an institution that appears on the Home Office’s Global Universities List.

The Global Universities List is compiled on an annual basis and is based on rankings of universities from around the world.

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