The UK’s High Potential Individual Visa – A Guide

The UK’s High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is a post-study work route that allows talented graduates from top global universities to live and work in the UK for up to two years (three if they hold a PhD), while exploring a wide range of career or business opportunities.

In this guide, I’ll explain how the HPI visa works, who can apply, and which universities are eligible. I’ll also cover what documents you’ll need, how to submit your application, and key things to know once you arrive in the UK. Let's dive in shall we?

The High Potential Individual visa is offered by the UK Government to Bachelors, Masters and PhD graduates from some of the world’s top universities. The visa allows graduates to stay in the UK and seek work for the following periods of time:

• Bachelors and Masters graduates – two years
• PhD graduates – three years

You won’t need an offer of employment in order to qualify for this visa. There aren’t any restrictions on the kind of work you can do, apart from being employed as a professional sportsperson.

The scheme is also open to students of all nationalities – as long as you’ve graduated from an eligible university in the past five years.

There are a few other conditions that you’ll need to satisfy in order to qualify for a HPI visa. Based on the official UK Government HPI visa guidelines, you must:

• Pass a security check
• Be fluent in the English language to at least the B1 level
• Have maintenance funds of at least £1,270

You can bring dependent family members with you to the UK, but you’ll need to show that you can financially support them while you’re in the UK.

What can you do on a High Potential Individual Visa?

If you're staying in the UK on an HPI visa, you won't need to have secured a job offer. You can seek work while on the visa. You can also:

• Work in most jobs (with the exception of being a professional sportsman)
• Volunteer
• Be self-employed
• Travel abroad and return to the UK

If you have a partner and/ or children, they can also apply to join you in the UK as dependants, if they are eligible. There's more information on who qualifies as a dependant on the government website.

What can you NOT do:

You will not be able to apply for most public funds while staying in the UK on an HPI visa, including benefits or the State Pension. Nor can you work as a professional sportsperson or extend the visa and apply to settle permanently in the UK. Consider it as a one-off opportunity.

Many of the world’s top-ranked universities are eligible for the HPI visa route. The list of eligible institutions includes universities that have appeared in the top 50 of two or more of the most prominent ranking systems (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities).

Visa applicants will need to have attended a university that appeared in these rankings in the year that they graduated. The UK Goverment maintains a list of eligible universities dating back to 2016.

Currently, there are 80 eligible universities which apply to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2025 and 31 October 2026. We have listed 40 of them for you below:

The first step when applying for a HPI visa is to confirm that your qualification is valid (i.e. it’s the equivalent of a UK Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree). You can do this by applying to Ecctis, the UK organisation responsible for the recognition of qualifications. Based on the UK Government's official HPI visa guidelines, this costs £210 if you’re applying from outside the UK, and £252 from within.

You’ll also need to provide a valid passport and proof of your English language proficiency.

If you’re applying for the HPI visa from outside the UK, the application process is online. When you prove your identity, you’ll either:

• Visit a visa application centre to get a biometric residence permit (BRP)
• Scan your passport/identity document using the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile app

Once you’ve finished the process, you’ll normally hear back within three weeks.

Please note that if you’re applying to switch from one of the following visas, you’ll first need to leave the UK and then apply from abroad:

• Graduate Route visa
• Short-term student visa
• Parent of a Child Student visa
• Visit visa
• Seasonal worker visa
• Domestic worker in a private household visa
• Immigration bail

If you’re applying within the UK to switch from an eligible visa, you’ll need to apply online. You’ll need to prove your identity by either:

• Attending a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to get a biometric residence permit (BRP)
• Scanning your passport/identity document using the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile app

You’ll usually find out the outcome of your application within eight weeks.

Any family members (your partner and/or children) will need to make their own application for a HPI visa, using your application number.

HPI costs and fees

There are several costs and fees associated with a HPI visa. These include:

• £252 for your Ecctis application
• A £880 application fee
• A healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions