A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years. To apply, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years.
This route will allow eligible applicants to move to the UK and either accept an employment position or work on a freelance, self-employed basis (one of the few visa routes to allow this). Moreover, the visa will also allow the individual to spend time in the UK without undertaking any economic activity and they may (although are not required) use the time to apply for roles and seek employment or to study.
In addition, the HPI route will facilitate and allow individuals to be accompanied by their dependent family members and, although not a direct route to long-term settlement in the UK, HPI visa holders will be permitted to make in-country switching applications to remain in the UK under an alternative visa category (eg Skilled Worker) that does then offer a pathway to settlement.
The list of eligible universities is based on rankings of universities from around the world.
Check the list of eligible universities for the month and year you were awarded your qualification:
UK universities are not eligible. If you’re already in the UK on a student visa you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa.
Your qualification must be at the same level as:
a UK bachelor’s degree
a UK postgraduate degree
a UK PhD or doctorate
To apply for an HPI visa you must also:
prove your knowledge of English
prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
You do not need to have a job offer to apply.
Contact us for more information on this route.
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