The High-Potential Individual visa UK (HPI) is a type of visa that allows graduates of specific global universities to work in the United Kingdom for a period of up to two years.
For more information on UK work visas and how we can assist you, please contact one of our trusted high potential individual visa solicitors today. Contact us online or by phone at 02033939272.
The High Potential Individual (HPI) route enables individuals who have obtained their qualifications from an eligible university to work in the United Kingdom for a period of up to two years. The university must be included in the list of global universities that have been approved.
Individuals who have earned a PhD or another doctoral-level qualification are permitted to remain for a maximum of three years. After that period, the visa cannot be extended; however, you may be able to transition to a Skilled Worker visa or other eligible UK visas. To qualify for the High Potential visa UK route, a job offer is not required.
A High potential visa UK is only available to individuals who have received their qualifications from institutions on the eligible global universities list.
To qualify, you must have received the qualification within the last five years. Furthermore, the qualification you have obtained must be equivalent to any of the following:
Additionally, it is imperative that you:
You are ineligible to apply if:
Proof of proficiency in English is required to qualify for the High Potential Individual visa route. It is recommended that you achieve a minimum of level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. This can be accomplished by:
You must have a minimum of £1,270 in cash funds available, except the exemption listed below.
The money must have been held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, with the last day not exceeding 31 days before the date of your High Potential Visa application.
If you have been in the United Kingdom with permission for 12 months or more at the time of your application and are seeking permission to remain, you will satisfy the financial requirement and will not be required to submit financial documentation.
To verify the validity of your qualifications, you must pay for Ecctis before applying.
When applying, you will be required to submit a valid passport or other travel document that verifies your identity and nationality.
evidence of your proficiency in the English language
Additionally, you will be required to submit the statement that Ecctis sends to you after they have verified your qualifications.
The statement is referred to as a “Academic Qualification Level Statement and English Language Proficiency Statement” if you were required to apply Ecctis to verify that your qualification was taught in English. Otherwise, it is referred to as a “Academic Qualification Level Statement.
To obtain a high-potential visa UK, you must submit an online application.
You will be required to verify your identity as part of the high potential visa application
procedure. Either you will be requested to:
If an appointment is required:
If you are currently in the United Kingdom on a different form of visa, you may be able to transition to a high-potential individual visa. You are required to apply online.
Your companion or offspring must also submit separate applications to exchange their visas. They have the option to submit an application jointly with you or at any point prior to the expiration of their current visa.
If you are already in the UK on any of the following visas, you are not eligible to apply to transfer to a High Potential Individual visa:
Furthermore, it is not possible to register for a High Potential Individual visa while in the United Kingdom:
You will need to pay the following fees as part of the High Potential Individual visa UK:
Fees | Cost |
High Potential Individual visa application fee | £822 |
Ecctis qualification verification | £210 (£252 if applying from inside the UK) |
Immigration health surcharge | £1,035 |
If you want to remain in the UK for more than a year, you will need to pay the immigration health surcharge.
Furthermore, to obtain entry clearance, it is necessary to satisfy the financial requirement of possessing £1,270 in currency funds to sustain oneself during one’s stay in the United Kingdom. If you are applying for a visa, you must have had the funds available for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, with 28 of those days occurring within 31 days of your application.
Unless you have been in the United Kingdom with a valid visa for a minimum of 12 months, you will typically be required to demonstrate that you satisfy the financial requirements when you submit an application.
Additionally, your companion and children will be required to demonstrate their ability to potentially support themselves while in the UK if they are traveling with you.
A High Potential Individual visa permits a maximum of two years of residence in the United Kingdom, unless the applicant has completed a PhD or other doctoral-level qualification, in which case they may remain for three years.
While it is not possible to extend your stay in the UK on an HPI visa, you may seek to transfer to another UK visa when your HPI visa is about to expire if you wish to remain in the country and continue your stay.
HPI visa holders are permitted to bring specific family members to the United Kingdom.
The following are considered eligible family members:
Civil partner, spouse, or unmarried partner
Child under 18 Child over 18 if they are currently granted permission to be in the UK as your dependent
Your family members will be granted the same amount of leave in the United Kingdom as you.
To be eligible, you must provide documentary evidence that your family members are related to you, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate. Alternatively, in the case of an unmarried companion, you must demonstrate that you have been residing together for a minimum of two years.
In addition, you must demonstrate that any dependent children do not lead an independent existence, meaning they reside with you and are not married or in a civil partnership.
To apply, each member of your family must complete an individual online form.
The HPI visa does not directly result in permanent settlement in the UK, as it has a maximum validity period of 3 or 2 years. Visa holders are generally required to either depart the United Kingdom upon the conclusion of this period or file for a change of visa in the United Kingdom prior to the expiration of their current visa.
After the HPI expires, it may be feasible to obtain permanent settlement by transitioning to an alternative visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa. Holders of the Skilled Worker visa are eligible to petition for indefinite leave to remain after a period of five years in the United Kingdom.
If you hold an HPI visa, the time you spend in the UK cannot count towards the residency requirement for ILR if you later apply using a different visa.
The High Potential Individual visa route is one of the most appealing visa options, specifically designed to attract overseas talent from top global universities to the United Kingdom.
Rees Clayton is available to assist if you are considering applying for a High Potential Individual visa or are uncertain about your eligibility. We have a wealth of experience as expert immigration lawyers, assisting clients in obtaining entry clearance into the United Kingdom under a variety of visa categories.
Our team is capable of providing you with comprehensive guidance throughout the application process, guaranteeing that you satisfy the eligibility criteria and effectively navigate the complicated rules of UK immigration regulations. We can also assist in the pursuit of an administrative review or appeal to challenge the decision if your application has been rejected.
Contact one of our trusted high potential individual visa lawyers today to find out how we can help you. Contact us online or by phone at 02033939272.
