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HIGH POTENTIAL
INDIVIDUAL

The high potential individual visa (HPI) is for international graduates who have within the last 5 years obtained a degree-level qualification from a university on the Global Universities List. It allows you to work in the UK for 2 or 3 years, depending on the number of points you secure. It is not a route to settlement, but you can bring your dependants, and you can switch to another visa if eligible.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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  • Work in the UK for 2 or 3 years

  • Be self-employed

  • Bring your family (dependants)

  • Volunteer

  • Leave the UK and return without issue

  • Switch to a different visa

  • Receive benefits (public funds)

  • Extend your HPI visa

  • Work as a sportsperson

  • Study, unless your course is not eligible for a student visa

  • Settle in the UK

WHAT YOU CAN'T DO

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REQUIREMENTS

Valid Passport​

  • ​You must have a passport which is valid for at least 6 months at the time you apply.

Academic Qualification

  • You must have been awarded a qualification within the last 5 years from a university on UKVI's Global Universities List. Your qualification must be equivalent to a UK bachelors or postgraduate degree.

  • Bachelors degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhD or doctorate qualifications from UK universities are not eligible for the HPI visa.

English Language

  • You must prove your English language ability to at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This can be done by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or, if you have an academic qualification taught in English, by applying to have your qualification verified by Ecctis for £210 + VAT.

English Language Exemption

  • Applicants who are nationals of any of the following countries do not need to provide their knowledge of English:​

    • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Canada

    • New Zealand

    • Australia

    • Dominica

    • St Kitts and Nevis

    • The Bahamas

    • Grenada

    • St Lucia

    • Barbados

    • Guyana

    • St Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Belize

    • Jamaica

    • Trinidad and Tobago

    • The British Overseas Territories

    • Malta

    • USA

Financial Requirement

  • Unless you have already been in the UK for 12 months or longer, you will need to show you have at least £1,270 available to you when you arrive in the UK. Additionally, you may have to pay the Ecctis qualification check mentioned above.

Additional Requirements

  • You may require a tuberculosis test depending on which country you are applying from. You could also be required to provide a criminal record certificate.

Restrictions

  • You cannot apply for a High Potential Individual visa if you have already received a Graduate visa or if you have entered the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) student.

Qualifications Awarded Between
1 November 2019 and 31 October 2020

  • Australian National University 

  • California Institute of Technology 

  • Carnegie Mellon University 

  • Columbia University 

  • Cornell University 

  • Duke University 

  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

  • ETH Zurich 

  • Harvard University 

  • Heidelberg University 

  • Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

  • Johns Hopkins University 

  • Karolinska Institute 

  • Kyoto University 

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • McGill University 

  • Nanyang Technology University

  • National University of Singapore 

  • New York University 

  • Northwestern University 

  • Peking University 

  • Princeton University

  • Stanford University

  • Tsinghua University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of California, Berkeley 

  • University of California, Los Angeles 

  • University of California, San Diego 

  • University of Chicago US

  • University of Hong Kong

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • University of Melbourne

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Texas at Austin

  • University of Tokyo

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • Yale University

Qualifications Awarded Between
1 November 2020 and 31 October 2021

  • California Institute of Technology 

  • Columbia University 

  • Cornell University 

  • Duke University 

  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

  • ETH Zurich 

  • Harvard University 

  • Johns Hopkins University 

  • Karolinska Institute 

  • Kyoto University 

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • McGill University 

  • Nanyang Technological University

  • National University of Singapore 

  • New York University 

  • Northwestern University 

  • Paris Sciences et Lettres - PSL Research University

  • Peking University 

  • Princeton University

  • Stanford University

  • Technical University of Munich

  • Tsinghua University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of California, Berkeley 

  • University of California, Los Angeles 

  • University of California, San Diego 

  • University of Chicago

  • University of Hong Kong

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • University of Melbourne

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Texas at Austin

  • University of Tokyo

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Washington University in St Louis

  • Yale University

Qualifications Awarded Between
1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022

  • California Institute of Technology 

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Columbia University 

  • Cornell University 

  • Duke University 

  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

  • ETH Zurich 

  • Harvard University 

  • Johns Hopkins University 

  • Karolinska Institute 

  • Kyoto University 

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • McGill University 

  • Nanyang Technological University

  • National University of Singapore 

  • New York University 

  • Northwestern University 

  • Paris Sciences et Lettres - PSL Research University

  • Peking University 

  • Princeton University

  • Stanford University

  • Tsinghua University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of California, Berkeley 

  • University of California, Los Angeles 

  • University of California, San Diego 

  • University of Chicago

  • University of Hong Kong

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • University of Melbourne

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • University of Munich

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Texas at Austin

  • University of Tokyo

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • Yale University

Qualifications Awarded Between
1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023

  • California Institute of Technology 

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Columbia University 

  • Cornell University 

  • Duke University 

  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

  • ETH Zurich 

  • Harvard University 

  • Johns Hopkins University 

  • Karolinska Institute 

  • Kyoto University 

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • McGill University 

  • Nanyang Technological University

  • National University of Singapore 

  • New York University 

  • Northwestern University 

  • Paris Sciences et Lettres - PSL Research University

  • Peking University 

  • Princeton University

  • Stanford University

  • Technical University of Munich

  • Tsinghua University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of California, Berkeley 

  • University of California, Los Angeles 

  • University of California, San Diego 

  • University of Chicago

  • University of Hong Kong

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • University of Melbourne

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Queensland

  • University of Texas at Austin

  • University of Tokyo

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • Yale University

  • Zhejiang University

Qualifications Awarded Between
1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024

  • California Institute of Technology 

  • Columbia University 

  • Cornell University 

  • Delft University of Technology

  • Duke University 

  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

  • ETH Zurich 

  • Fudan University

  • Harvard University 

  • Johns Hopkins University 

  • Karolinska Institute 

  • Kyoto University 

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • McGill University 

  • Nanyang Technological University

  • National University of Singapore 

  • New York University 

  • Northwestern University 

  • Paris Sciences et Lettres - PSL Research University

  • Peking University 

  • Princeton University

  • Shanghai Jia Tong University

  • Stanford University

  • Technical University of Munich

  • Tsinghua University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of California, Berkeley 

  • University of California, Los Angeles 

  • University of California, San Diego 

  • University of Chicago

  • University of Hong Kong

  • University of Melbourne

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Tokyo

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • Yale University

  • Zhejiang University

Qualifications Awarded Between
1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025

  • California Institute of Technology  

  • Columbia University 

  • Cornell University 

  • Duke University 

  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 

  • ETH Zurich 

  • Fudan University

  • Harvard University 

  • Heidelberg University 

  • Johns Hopkins University 

  • Karolinska Institute 

  • Kyoto University 

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • McGill University 

  • National University of Singapore 

  • New York University 

  • Northwestern University 

  • Peking University 

  • Princeton University

  • PSL Université Paris 

  • Shanghai Jiao Tong University

  • Stanford University

  • Technical University of Munich

  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong 

  • Tsinghua University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of California, Berkeley 

  • University of California, Los Angeles 

  • University of California, San Diego 

  • University of Chicago

  • University of Hong Kong

  • University of Melbourne

  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • University of Munich

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • University of Texas at Austin

  • University of Tokyo

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • Yale University

  • Zhejiang University

The current application fee for a High Potential Individual visa is £880.

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You must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year.

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You can only stay in the UK on the High Potential Individual visa for 2 years. You can stay for 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification. It is not possible to extend this visa.

TERM AND FEES

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PROCESSING

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Current processing times for High Potential Individual applications are approximately 3 weeks for applications made outside of the UK and approximately 8 weeks for applications made inside the UK.

Successful Application

If your application for a High Potential Individual visa is successful, you will receive a visa vignette inside your passport. This will confirm the length and conditions of your entry clearance.

Application Refused

If your application for a High Potential Individual visa is refused, you will receive a refusal letter outlining the reasons. There is no right of appeal but you may wish to consider an administrative review if you believe an error has been made.

OUTCOME

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HOW WE CAN HELP

High Potential Individual visas can be complex if you are unfamiliar with the application process or have a history of refusals. Mistakes can have a significant impact on future immigration applications to the Home Office, which means it is very important to have experts by your side who can make the process easier and give much needed confidence to make a strong application. 

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At Lace Law LLP, we offer comprehensive support throughout your High Potential Individual visa journey. From your initial consultation to the final decision, you will have a dedicated expert who will meticulously prepare your application, maintain regular communication, and promptly respond to any concerns along the way. We pride ourselves on this personal approach, which we feel not only provides a greater experience to you, but also increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.

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Don't let the process be more stressful than it needs to be. Contact us today to have a dedicated partner by your side on your immigration journey.

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