High Potential Individual Visa UK: Eligibility, Fees and Expert Help
Graduated from a top-ranked university outside the UK? Our London immigration solicitors help you secure your HPI visa — no job offer or sponsor needed. Call 0207 100 2525, available 24/7.
The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa lets recent graduates of top-ranked universities outside the UK live and work in the UK for two years (three for a PhD) — with no job offer and no employer sponsorship.
Since 4 November 2025 the eligible universities list has roughly doubled, so many graduates who didn’t qualify before now do. Places are capped at 8,000 a year, so timing matters. Our London immigration solicitors check your eligibility, prepare your application and plan your next visa before your HPI leave runs out.
Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype.
What Is the High Potential Individual Visa?
The High Potential Individual visa is an unsponsored UK work route under Appendix High Potential Individual of the Immigration Rules, for people awarded a degree by an eligible non-UK university in the last five years.
On an HPI visa you can:
- work in most jobs, at any skill or salary level, or be self-employed
- look for work — no job offer is needed to apply
- study (some courses need ATAS clearance)
- bring your partner and children as dependants
- travel in and out of the UK
You cannot:
- extend the visa
- use it to settle — time on HPI does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain
- claim most public funds
- work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
HPI Visa Changes in 2025–2026
Three rule changes reshape the HPI route: the eligible universities list was roughly doubled from 4 November 2025, an annual cap of 8,000 applications was introduced, and the English requirement rose from B1 to B2 on 8 January 2026.
| Change | In force | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible universities list expanded (roughly top 50 → top 100 in at least two global rankings) | 4 November 2025 | More graduates qualify, including from earlier years within the 5-year window |
| Cap of 8,000 applications a year | 4 November 2025 | The application year runs 1 November–31 October. Once the cap is reached, you’ll be told when you apply online |
| English level B1 → B2 | 8 January 2026 | New applicants must prove upper-intermediate English |
Source: Explanatory memorandum to HC 1333. For every 2026 rule change in one place, see our UK immigration rule changes 2026 timeline.
HPI Visa Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the HPI visa you need an eligible degree awarded in the last five years, B2 English, £1,270 in savings (unless exempt), and no previous Graduate or HPI visa.
- Eligible university — your university must be on the Global Universities List for the year your qualification was awarded (lists run 1 November–31 October). UK universities are not eligible.
- Qualification level — equivalent to a UK bachelor’s, postgraduate degree or PhD, confirmed by Ecctis.
- Five-year window — awarded within the 5 years before you apply.
- English at CEFR B2 — see below.
- Funds — £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days (unless you’ve been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or more).
- One-time route — you can’t apply if you’ve already had an HPI visa, a Graduate visa, or came to the UK on the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
Check the official GOV.UK HPI eligibility page.
Eligible Universities: How the List Works
A university is eligible only for the specific year it appears on the Home Office Global Universities List, so a university that qualifies now may not have qualified when you graduated — and vice versa.
The list is built from three global rankings: the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings. A university must rank high enough in at least two of the three in the relevant year.
The most common mistake we see is checking the current list instead of the list for the year your degree was awarded. Note also that Ecctis confirms your qualification’s level, not your university’s eligibility — you must check the list yourself.
English Language Requirement (B2)
From 8 January 2026, new HPI applicants must prove English at CEFR level B2.
You can prove it with:
- a B2 Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
- a degree taught in English, confirmed by Ecctis
- a UK school qualification in English (GCSE, A Level or Scottish equivalent) started before age 18
- nationality of an exempt majority English-speaking country (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand)
If you proved B1 in an earlier visa application, check carefully — a previous B1 pass may not meet the new B2 level. See GOV.UK: knowledge of English.
HPI Visa Fees and Costs 2026
The HPI visa costs £880 per applicant plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 a year — £2,950 in Home Office costs for a standard two-year visa.
| Cost | Main applicant | Partner | Child (under 18) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £880 | £880 | £880 |
| IHS — 2-year visa | £2,070 | £2,070 | £1,552 |
| IHS — 3-year visa (PhD) | £3,105 | £3,105 | £2,328 |
| Maintenance funds | £1,270 | £285 | £315 (first child), £200 (each additional) |
| Ecctis assessment | Separate fee — check Ecctis | ||
Example: a main applicant on a two-year visa with a partner pays £5,900 in Home Office fees and IHS, before Ecctis and legal fees. Maintenance funds are shown, not paid.
Source: GOV.UK: how much it costs. Our legal fees are listed on our immigration fees page.
Documents Required
You’ll need a valid passport, your Ecctis reference number, evidence of B2 English, and bank statements showing your funds unless you’re exempt.
- Current passport or travel document
- Ecctis reference (and Academic Qualification Level / English Language Proficiency statements if relying on an English-taught degree)
- English language evidence
- Bank statements covering 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of applying
- For dependants: marriage or civil partnership certificate, or evidence of 2+ years’ relationship, and children’s birth certificates
- TB test certificate if applying from a listed country
- ATAS certificate if required for your study
How to Apply (Inside or Outside the UK)
You apply online on GOV.UK, prove your identity by app or at a visa application centre, and usually get a decision within 3 weeks from outside the UK or 8 weeks from inside.
- Check the Global Universities List for your award year.
- Get your Ecctis assessment.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee and IHS.
- Prove your identity — via the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app or a biometrics appointment.
- Receive your decision and access your eVisa through your UKVI account. Physical vignettes and BRPs have been replaced by eVisas.
Switching inside the UK: you can switch from most visas, but not from a Visit visa, Short-term Student visa, Parent of a Child Student visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa, or if you’re on immigration bail. Students can usually only switch after completing their course. Don’t leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before a decision, or the application is treated as withdrawn.
Bringing Your Partner and Children
Your partner and children under 18 can join you as HPI dependants; each pays the £880 fee and IHS and must show their own maintenance funds.
Dependants can work (except as sportspeople or coaches) and study. Their leave usually ends on the same date as yours. Children born in the UK during your stay are not automatically British — they need dependant permission to travel and remain. See our guide to child visas to join parents.
HPI Visa vs Graduate Visa
The Graduate visa is for people who studied at a UK university; the HPI visa is for graduates of top-ranked universities outside the UK. You cannot hold both.
| HPI visa | Graduate visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you studied | Eligible non-UK university | UK university on a Student visa |
| Length | 2 years (3 for PhD) | 2 years (3 for PhD); falling to 18 months from 1 January 2027 |
| Apply from | Inside or outside the UK | Inside the UK only |
| Annual cap | 8,000 | None |
| English | B2 | Met through UK study |
| Extendable / leads to ILR | No / No | No / No |
If you studied in the UK on a Student visa, the Graduate route is usually the right one.
What Happens When Your HPI Visa Ends?
The HPI visa cannot be extended, so you must switch to another route — most often the Skilled Worker visa — before it expires.
Common next steps:
- Skilled Worker visa — needs a licensed sponsor and a qualifying job; leads to settlement
- Innovator Founder visa — for an endorsed business idea
- Global Talent or Scale-up visa — depending on your profile
- Family routes such as a spouse or partner visa
We recommend planning your switch at least 6 months before expiry, and using your HPI time to secure a sponsoring employer.
HPI Visa Refused? Your Options
Most HPI refusals come from using the wrong year’s universities list, insufficient English evidence, or funds not held for 28 days — and many can be challenged by administrative review.
HPI is a points-based route, so refusals normally carry a right to administrative review rather than an appeal (deadline: 14 days inside the UK, 28 days outside). If the refusal involves a human rights claim, immigration appeal rights may apply. Often a fresh, corrected application is quicker — we’ll advise which route is better.
Why Choose Adam Bernard Solicitors?
Our SRA-regulated immigration solicitors have advised more than 15,000 clients over 15 years from our offices in High Holborn and Upton Park. For HPI clients we:
- verify your university against the correct-year list before you pay any fees
- time your application around the annual cap
- handle partner and child applications together
- map out your Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder switch from day one
Call 0207 100 2525, 24/7, or book a free consultation.
High Potential Individual Visa FAQs
Do I need a job offer for the HPI visa?
How long does the HPI visa last?
Which universities are eligible for the HPI visa?
How much does the HPI visa cost in 2026?
Is there a cap on HPI visas?
What English level do I need for the HPI visa?
Can I get the HPI visa if I already had a Graduate visa?
Does the HPI visa lead to ILR?
How long does an HPI decision take?
This page is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Fees and rules last checked 9 October 2026 against GOV.UK.
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