UK HPI Visa

Summary

The UK High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is for recent graduates of universities on the UK's Global Universities List. It is unusual among UK work routes because it does not require a job offer or employer sponsor before applying.

The route is limited to people whose qualifying degree was awarded in the last 5 years by an eligible non-UK university. It gives 2 years of permission for most applicants, or 3 years for PhD or other doctoral graduates, but it cannot be extended and does not count toward UK settlement by itself.

Irish citizens normally do not need this pathway because of Common Travel Area rights.

Eligibility

You may be a fit if:

• You are not already a British or Irish citizen.
• You were awarded a bachelor's-level, postgraduate, PhD, or doctoral qualification in the last 5 years.
• The university was on the UK's Global Universities List for the month and year your qualification was awarded.
• The degree was awarded by a non-UK university.
• You can get the required Ecctis confirmation that the qualification is valid and at the right level.
• You can prove English, usually through a qualifying English-taught degree, an approved English test, a previous successful UK visa application, or an exempt citizenship.
• You can show the required savings, unless an exemption applies because you have already been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months.
• You have not already been granted the HPI visa, UK Graduate visa, or Doctorate Extension Scheme.

What This Route Allows

The HPI visa can let you live in the UK, look for work, work in most jobs, be self-employed, volunteer, travel in and out of the UK, and bring eligible dependants.

It can be especially useful for recent graduates who want a UK job-search runway without asking an employer to sponsor them before they arrive.

What This Route Is Not

• A route for graduates of ordinary universities that are not on the Global Universities List.
• A route for UK university graduates; the UK Graduate visa may fit those cases instead.
• A route that can be extended.
• A direct settlement route.
• A substitute for Skilled Worker or another long-term route if you want to remain in the UK permanently.

Next Steps

1. Find the Global Universities List for the month and year your degree was awarded.
2. Confirm that the university name matches the list exactly enough to be comfortable relying on it.
3. Apply to Ecctis for the required qualification check.
4. Confirm how you will prove English.
5. Prepare savings evidence unless you qualify for the UK-residence exemption.
6. Apply from inside or outside the UK.
7. Use the HPI period to secure a longer-term route if you want to stay after it expires.

Sources

• GOV.UK — High Potential Individual visa
• GOV.UK — HPI visa: eligibility
• GOV.UK — HPI Global Universities List
• GOV.UK — HPI visa: knowledge of English
• GOV.UK — HPI visa: costs and savings