High Potential Individual (HPI) visa

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1. Overview

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.

How long you can stay

An HPI visa usually lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot extend your HPI visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

Check you can apply for another type of visa to stay in the UK.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

How long it takes

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

  • 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
  • 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

  • pay the application fee
  • pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
  • prove you have enough personal savings

Check how much money you’ll need.

What you can and cannot do

With an HPI visa you can:

You cannot:

  • apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
  • work as a professional sportsperson
  • extend this visa
  • apply to settle permanently in the UK

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with an HPI visa.

Studying with an HPI visa

You can only study with an HPI visa if your chosen course is not eligible for a Student visa. If your course is eligible for a Student visa, you can apply for a Student visa instead, or extend your Student visa if you already have one.

You may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you’re studying or researching sensitive topics.

2. 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:

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:

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

3. Knowledge of English

You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application.

Level of English

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

  • passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
  • having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18
  • having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries or territories:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • the British overseas territories
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • USA

4. How much it costs

When you apply for a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

  • pay £210 for Ecctis to check your qualification is valid (£252 if you’re applying from the UK)
  • pay the £822 application fee
  • pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 for each year you’ll be in the UK
  • support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll have to pay the healthcare surcharge when you apply.

If you’re eligible for an HPI visa for:

  • 2 years - it will cost £2,070
  • 3 years - it will cost £3,105

If you work in public sector healthcare

If you get a job in public sector healthcare after you have paid the healthcare surcharge, you may be able to get a refund.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months.

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

5. Documents you'll need to apply

Before you apply, you must pay for Ecctis to check your qualification is valid.

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

  • a valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality
  • proof of your knowledge of English

You’ll also need to provide the statement Ecctis sends to you when they’ve checked your qualification.

If you had to apply to Ecctis to confirm that your qualification was taught in English, the statement is called an ‘Academic Qualification Level Statement and English Language Proficiency Statement’. Otherwise, it’s called an ‘Academic Qualification Level Statement’.

Other documents you might need

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

6. Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

There’s a different process if you are already in the UK and are switching to the HPI visa from another visa.

When to apply

You must apply within 5 years of being awarded a qualification from an eligible university.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

  • have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit
  • use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you do need an appointment:

  • the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application
  • you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)

Apply for an HPI visa

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Start now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

7. Your partner and children

Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa will end on the earlier date.

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

  • your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
  • your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
  • your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependant when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove one of the following:

  • you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
  • you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
  • you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture

If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

  • communicate regularly with each other
  • support each other financially
  • care for any children you have together
  • spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Your child

They must:

  • live with you, unless they’re living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
  • not be married or in a civil partnership

You’ll need to provide evidence of their address, such as:

  • a bank statement
  • credit card bills
  • driving licence
  • NHS registration document
  • an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

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

Example

You - or your partner or child - would need to have £600 to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£285 for your partner and £315 for your child).

You would also need to have £1,270 available to support yourself for your own application.

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

  • you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
  • your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they’ll only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year.

Healthcare surcharge

Each family member will have to pay the healthcare surcharge when they apply.

If you’re eligible for a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa for 2 years, it will cost:

  • £2,070 for each adult family member 
  • £1,552 for each child aged under 18 at the time you apply

If you’re eligible for a HPI visa for 3 years, it will cost:

  • £3,105 for each adult family member
  • £2,328 for each child aged under 18 at the time you apply

If one of your family members works in public sector healthcare

If one of your family members gets a job in public sector healthcare after they have paid the healthcare surcharge, they may be able to get a refund.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.

They’ll also need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of an application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They’ll either:

  • have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit
  • use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

If they do need an appointment:

  • the visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application
  • they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

Apply from inside the UK (switch their visa)

If you switch your visa, your partner or child’s current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to switch their visa, either:

  • at the same time as you
  • at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your HPI visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:

  • completed the course they were sponsored to study
  • studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

How to apply

The application form will tell you if you can include your partner and children in your application or whether they need to apply separately.

If your partner or child apply separately, they’ll need to either:

They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity. They’ll either:

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

The form you fill in depends on if:

You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

What your partner or child can and cannot do

Your partner or child can:

  • work, except as a sportsperson or coach
  • study
  • travel abroad and return to the UK

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

If their application is successful, they’ll get a full list of what they can and cannot do.

8. Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

When to apply

You must apply within 5 years of being awarded a qualification from an eligible university.

If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also have either:

  • completed the course you were sponsored to study
  • studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you’re currently in the UK:

You must leave the UK and apply for an HPI visa from abroad if you’re in one of these categories.

Fees

Each person applying will need to pay:

You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. There’s no fee for this.

If you’ve been in the UK for less than 1 year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to switch to an HPI visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Start now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • you need to attend an interview
  • of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.