The High Potential Individual visa (or HPI visa) gives you permission to live and work in the United Kingdom for up to three years if you’ve graduated from a top university around the world.
This UK visa allows talented postgrads to live and seek work in the UK based on their potential to innovate in their fields. It’s available to those who have graduated with a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD from a qualifying university within the last five years.
Who is eligible for the HPI visa?To be eligible for the High Potential Individual visa, you have to have been awarded qualification from an eligible university within the last five years. Your qualification must come from an overseas school—it can’t be from a UK university and must be on the same level as:
- A UK bachelor’s degree
- A UK master’s degree
- A UK postgraduate degree
- A UK PhD or doctorate
Applicants must apply to Ecctis, a global service for qualifying international educational credentials, to make sure their qualification is at the right level.
Qualifying universities are announced each year and may vary based on the year in which you completed your studies. Check the visa requirements at
gov.uk (and the list below) to make sure your university is on the list for the month and year you were awarded your qualification.
Other eligibility criteria:
- Age requirement: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Prior visa requirement: You must not have been previously granted a Graduate Visa or entry into the UK under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme.
- English language requirement: You must demonstrate at least B1 level English proficiency if you are not from an English-speaking country.
- Financial requirement: You need a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days to show you can support yourself in the UK.
- Security check: You must pass a security check required by the UK government for all visa holders.