Visit the UK on a High Potential Individual Visa
With a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, you can live and work in the UK for at least 2 years if you have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university outside the UK within the last 5 years.
If you have been awarded a PhD or other doctoral qualification, you can stay in the UK for 3 years. However, you cannot apply for this visa if you have already been granted a Graduate visa or if you came to the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme student. Further study on a High Potential Individual visa is only permitted if your course is not eligible for a Student Visa.
A High Potential Individual visa allows you to do voluntary and paid work in most jobs, and to become self-employed. You may also travel overseas and return to the UK whilst on the visa and bring your partner and children to the UK with you if they are eligible.
UK High Potential Individual visa eligibility requirements
To be eligible to apply for the High Potential Individual visa, you must also meet certain other requirements. These include, but may not be limited to showing:
- That you have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university outside the UK within the last 5 years
- You can check the list of eligible universities here
- That Ecctis has reviewed your qualification and confirmed that it is at least equivalent to a bachelor’s, postgraduate, or PhD or doctorate degree awarded by a UK institution.
- That you have at least £1,270 in your bank account to support yourself whilst in the UK
- These savings need to be available for at least 28 days in a row within 31 days of applying for this visa
- An identity document that shows your nationality (e.g. a passport)
- Evidence of your relationship with any dependants (partner and/or children) you want to bring with you
- Any dependants will also need to lodge their own application in order to come to the UK with you
- Your tuberculosis test results (if you are from a country where you have to take one)
- A certified translation of your documents if they are not in English or Welsh
- That you can speak, write, read, and write English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale, unless you are from one of the following:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- any of the British Overseas Territories
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
NB: You do not need to have a job offer in order to apply for a High Potential Individual Visa. You can only apply for this visa once.
UK High Potential Individual Visa application process
Applications for the High Potential Individual visa can be made from inside or outside the UK.
If you are applying to switch to this visa whilst in the UK, you are not allowed to leave the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) until you are notified of the outcome of your application.
If you apply for a High Potential Individual visa from outside the UK, you’ll usually receive a decision within 3 weeks. If you apply from within the UK, receiving a decision may take up to 8 weeks.
UK High Potential Individual Visa costs
In addition to the visa fee, you will also have to pay a healthcare surcharge when you submit your application. The standard surcharge is payable for each year that the visa will be valid for. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be entitled to some of this money back. For example, individuals who get a job in the NHS may be able to apply for a refund of the healthcare surcharge.
You should also note that you will be charged a fee for the qualifications check by Ecctis, which will be at least £210.
If you’re unsure if this visa is right for you or how to apply, or have any other questions, you can seek advice from one of our qualified migration agents below.
Demetris Demetriou
Demetris is a dual-qualified lawyer in the UK (Solicitor) and Cyprus (Advocate) with 10+ years of experience in UK immigration. He completed his legal studies at University College London and City University London. Over the course of his career, he held key roles as Head of Immigration at Legal 500 firms and within the Big4, overseeing teams of 15+ fee earners handling 2000+ applications annually.
Demetris went on to co-establish his firm in London and continues to offer innovative solutions and strategic immigration planning to multinationals, SMEs, and private clients.
He personally represented 1500+ clients in 30+ visa routes including investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, sole representatives, students, family visas, global talent, UK ancestry, administrative reviews and appeals. Demetris has managed corporate relocations, conducted immigration law training and implemented post-Brexit immigration policies for corporate clients.
Demetris has been featured in various events and publications focusing on UK immigration, notably at the Cambridge Network, the Westminster Policy Forum and most recently at DGEMS, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.
If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.
Tatiani Preifelt
Tatiani has a wealth of expertise in global mobility and corporate immigration. Her ample skills were acquired within leading immigration practices including three out of the Big4 firms in both the UK and Sweden. Tatiani went on to co-establish her firm in London where she continues to advise clients predominantly in corporate, business and skilled work migration.
Having personally relocated to 10 different countries, Tatiani understands the importance of an expedient and successful immigration process and takes pride in delivering a seamless experience to her clients as well.
Over the course of her career, she has assisted over 500 individuals and businesses to obtain the appropriate visa permits in the UK.
Her awarded academic work at The University of Oxford, The London School of Economics, and at The Geneva University is in the fields of Political Science, International Human Rights Law, and Global Migration Governance.
She regularly provides immigration training and has recently participated as a speaker and panellist at DGEMS 2023, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.
If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.