High Potential Individual Visa: UK Immigration Route

Holders of the High Potential Individual visa are able to do the following while staying in the UK:

• Take on most paid roles
• Look for employment
• Self employment
• Live in the UK with your partner and children
• Do voluntary work
• Travel abroad and return to the UK

You are not permitted to:

• Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
• Work as a professional sportsperson
• Extend your High Potential Individual visa
• Apply to settle permanently in the UK

High Potential Individual Visa Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

Only those who have been awarded qualifications from eligible global universities will be granted a High Potential Individual Visa and you must have been awarded the qualifying qualification within the past five years.

It is important to double-check that your qualification was successfully completed during the correct period and that the institution awarding your degree was on the global universities list at the time that you graduated.

Also, the qualification you received must be at the same level as any one of the following:

• a UK bachelor’s degree
• a UK postgraduate degree
• a UK PhD or doctoral level qualification

If you are unsure if the degree taught is eligible you are advised to seek advice before starting the application process. Otherwise, your application could be refused and have a long-term impact on your future immigration status.

As well as having a qualifying university degree level academic qualification, you must also provide evidence of the following:

• A qualifying knowledge of English language ability
• Enough personal savings to support yourself during your time in the UK – although you are exempt if you have already been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

You will not be eligible for a High Potential Individual Visa if you have already been given a Graduate Visa in the past, have been part of the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme student or already been a holder of a High Potential Individual visa.

Part of the High Potential Investment visa is to show that you met the English language requirement and have a good knowledge of the English language. You must be able to show your knowledge is equal to a B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

The Home Office will accept any of the following as prove of your English language skills:

• You can prove your knowledge of English for the HPI visa by doing any of the following:
•  Gaining a pass in a Secure English Language Test (SELT) via an approved provider
• A GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, which was gained through study at a UK school while you were under 18 years of age
• A degree-level academic qualification or degree that was predominately taught in English

You may be exempt from the English language ability skills if you from a country that is classed as a majority English speaking country – for example New Zealand, Canada or Barbados.

Documents Required for High Potential Individual Visa Application

When applying for a High Potential Individual Visa you will need to provide supporting documents alongside your application fee.

These will include:

• A valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality
• Proof of your knowledge of English
• A statement from Ecctis verifying they’ve your qualification is eligible and at least equal to a UK degree or UK postgraduate degree
•  If your qualification was taught in English then you will need to provide an Academic Qualification Level Statement and English Language Proficiency Statement, also referred to as a Academic Qualification Level Statement
• Your biometric residence permit (BRP) or online proof of your immigration status, if you’re switching to this visa from another visa
• Proof of your relationship with dependents applying with you
• A negative tuberculosis test result depending on your national country

All supporting documents must be provided in English or Welsh otherwise you will need to provide a certified translation copy to the Home Office.

The way to apply for the High Potential Individual visa depends on whether you are outside the UK or already in the UK and planning to switch from another visa route.

If you are currently resident outside of the UK then you must use the online immigration route. As part of the process you will need to prove your identity either by having your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to receive a biometric residence permit) or using the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity documents.

If you are already in the UK on a different visa then you may be able to switch to a High Potential Individual visa without having to leave the country.

You are not able to switch from a High Potential Individual visa if you are currently in the UK on any of the following visa routes:

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

In addition, your application for a High Potential Individual visa will be refused if you are currently on immigration bail or you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, such as on compassionate grounds.

Furthermore, if you plan to switch to this visa from a Student visa, one of the following must apply to you:

• The start date of your job is after the completion date of your course
• You’ve been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months

If you do apply for a High Potential Individual visa while in the UK you must not leave the country while you are awaiting your visa decision otherwise your application will be cancelled.

There are significant costs involved in applying for a High Potential Individual Visa so it is advisable to seek professional advice to avoid any unnecessary delays or costs.

As well as the application fee of £880, you will need to pay £210 (£252 if applying from inside the UK) for Ecctis to verify your qualification as well as the annual immigration health surcharge of £1035.

The Home Office also have a financial requirement for the visa which means you will need to have at least £1,270 of personal savings to support yourself. You will need to provide proof of funds unless you have been living in the UK for at least 12 months.

High Potential Individual Visa Processing Times and Decision Wait Period

When applying from overseas you should receive your visa decision within three weeks – assuming that there are no problems with your documents. If you are applying from within the UK then it could take up to eight weeks for your application to be processed.

If you’re eligible you can choose the ‘priority service’ when you apply. It costs £500
in addition to the application fee but your application can be processed within five working days.

In some circumstances you may be able to make use of the ‘super priority service’ when you apply. It costs £1000 in addition to the application fee and a decision is made by the end of the next working day.

What to Do If Your High Potential Individual Visa Application is Refused

If your application for a High Potential Individual visa is refused you will be sent details of why it was not approved.

It is possible to appeal the decision – although you may want to seek advice from a immigration specialist before doing so as it can be a detailed and complex process.

When applying for the HPI visa, you should ensure your qualification has been awarded by an approved educational institution within the correct time frame.

The HPI Global Universities list is updated annually and only includes institutions that have ranked in the top 50 of at least two of the following in the relevant year:

• QS World University Rankings
• Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
• Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

It includes universities from a wide number of countries such as the US, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

You can view the most up-to-date list at High potential individual visa global universities list

To qualify for the HPI visa, your qualification must have been awarded in the last five years and must be at a level (or equivalent) of:

• UK bachelor’s degree
• UK postgraduate degree
• UK PhD or doctorate

It is important to ensure your qualification is valid and at the right level by applying to Ecctis, which will assess if it meets the correct standard.

If you have previously had your qualification assessed by Ecctis, then you do not need to reapply.

Can You Switch to Another UK Visa After HPI?

The HPI visa holders are only permitted to stay in the UK for a temporary period of up to three years. It does not lead to settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you wish to stay in the UK longer, you must switch to another visa before your HPI visa expires.

There are a number of UK visas you can switch to, but you need to meet the criteria to be approved. Potential visa routes include:

• Skilled Worker visa – you must have a sponsored job offer that meets the required salary and skills.
• Global Talent visa – for leaders in sectors such as research, arts or technology.
• Innovator Founder visa – for entrepreneurs wanting to launch an innovative business in the UK.
• Scale-Up Worker visa – for employees working for fast-growing and approved UK companies
• Family visa – suitable for those who have a partner or qualifying family member who is a UK citizen or permanent resident.

You should ensure you apply for another visa before your HPI visa expires; otherwise, you could risk overstaying, which may lead to your application being rejected.

Reach out to London Immigration Lawyers for help in switching to a new visa route to extend your stay in the UK.

When deciding between the HPI visa route and the Skilled Worker visa pathway, it is important to understand the key differences and the limitations of each visa.

Broadly speaking, the HPI route is ideal for recent graduates looking to break into the UK job market, while the Skilled Worker is suitable for those with a job offer and who wish to live long-term in the UK.

If you need help deciding between the two visas, contact our team for personalised advice on which route is most suitable for you.

Bringing Dependants on a High Potential Individual Visa

You are permitted to bring certain dependents to the UK with you if granted an HPI visa.

Qualifying dependents are:

• Partner – spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (you must be able to prove a genuine, long-term relationship).
• Children – aged under 18 or over 18 if still dependent due to disability.

Other relatives, such as parents, siblings, or adult children (unless disabled), are not eligible.

You will need to provide paperwork to demonstrate how you are related, such as:

• Marriage certificate
• Birth/adoption certificate
• Proof of a genuine ongoing relationship, such as a shared bank account or evidence of joint tenancy.

When bringing dependents to the UK, you must demonstrate that you can financially support them during their stay. This is in addition to paying the HPI visa fee and the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge.

You should be able to prove you have access to the following funds for at least 28 days before applying:

• £285 for your partner
• £315 for one child
• £200 for each additional child

You will need to provide financial documents, such as bank statements or a letter from a UK employer, as part of your application.

Any accompanying dependents are permitted to work and study during their time in the UK.

If you need help submitting an application for your dependents to join you, get in touch today with London Immigration Lawyers.