High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
Eligibility
To be eligible for a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university.
Where you studied
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:
- 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024
- 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
- 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022
- 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021
- 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020
- 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019
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
Your qualification must be at the same level as:
- a UK bachelor’s degree
- a UK postgraduate degree
- a UK PhD or doctorate
You must apply to Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to check your qualification is valid and at the right level. Ecctis will not check if your university is eligible.
You must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years.
Other eligibility criteria
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.
You can apply for an HPI visa from inside the UK or outside the UK.
You can only apply for an HPI visa once.
You cannot apply for an HPI visa if:
- you have already been given a Graduate visa
- you have already come to the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme student