United Kingdom•Europe

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High Potential Individual Visa

Work Dependents Allowed Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

21 days

Application Fee

7,577 GBP

Stay Duration

2 years

Renewable

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Remote Work

Allowed

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,200

Quality of Life

176/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Work visa for recent graduates from top global universities, no UK job offer required.

The UK High Potential Individual (HPI) visa lets graduates of top-ranked global universities live and work in the UK without a job offer. Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a UK bachelor's, master's, or PhD from an eligible university within the last 5 years. An annual cap of 8,000 applies.

The visa lasts 2 years (3 for PhD holders), cannot be extended, and does not count toward settlement. Total costs run roughly £3,202 for a 2-year stay: £880 application, £252 Ecctis assessment, and £2,070 healthcare surcharge. Dependents may join and a spouse can work; switching to Skilled Worker is possible.

This visa is ideal for internationally educated graduates who want to explore UK career options without needing an employer sponsor upfront.

Fee Breakdown

Application fee	880 GBP
Ecctis qualification assessment	252 GBP
Healthcare surcharge (2-year)	2,070 GBP
Healthcare surcharge (3-year, PhD)	3,105 GBP
Minimum savings required	1,270 GBP

Processing Tracks

Outside UK	3 weeks
Inside UK (switching)	2 months

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

2 years

Annual Cap & Quota

8,000 per year (cap introduced November 2025)

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

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Skilled Worker Visa

Validity5 years per grant (renewable indefinitely)

Processing5-56 days

View Visa Details

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Scale-up Visa

Validity2 years

Processing14-28 days

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Global Talent Visa

Validity5 years

Processing15-21 days

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Innovator Founder Visa

Validity3 years

Processing14-28 days

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Spouse/Partner Visa

Validity33 months

Processing3 months

View Visa Details

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must have been awarded a degree-level qualification from an eligible university on the Global Universities List within the last 5 years.

The qualification must be equivalent to a UK bachelor's, master's, or PhD/doctorate.

Must be at least 18 years old.

Must meet the English language requirement (at least B2 level).

Must have sufficient personal savings to support oneself in the UK (£1,270 for 28 days).

Must not have previously been granted a Graduate visa or entry under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme.

Must pass a security check.

KEY CRITERIA

Education

bachelor or higher

Min. Savings

1,270 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or travel document.

Academic Qualification Level Statement from Ecctis verifying the degree level.

Evidence of English language proficiency.

Evidence of sufficient funds (bank statements).

Tuberculosis test results (if applying from a country where required).

Biometric Residence Permit (if applicable).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No job offer required — arrive and search for work
Work in most sectors including self-employment
Bring partner and dependent children
International travel with UK re-entry
3-year stay for PhD holders

Worth Knowing

Cannot extend the visa
Time does not count toward settlement or ILR
Cannot apply for permanent settlement via this route
Annual cap of 8,000 applications (introduced November 2025)
Cannot work as professional sports personnel
Cannot claim public benefits
Eligible universities are non-UK institutions only

Application Process

Check your university is on the eligible institutions list

Obtain Ecctis qualification assessment (£252)

Gather proof of English language proficiency

Prepare bank statements showing £1,270 for 28 consecutive days

Apply online from outside UK or switch from within UK on another visa

Verified Claims (21)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps	Check your university is on the eligible institutions list; Obtain Ecctis qualification assessment (…	gov.uk
Dependent Visa	Dependents allowed, spouse can work	gov.uk
Fee Breakdown	Application fee: 880 GBP; Ecctis qualification assessment: 252 GBP; Healthcare surcharge (2-year): 2…	gov.uk
Fees	£880 application fee + £252 Ecctis assessment + £2,070–£3,105 healthcare surcharge	gov.uk
Forms	—	gov.uk
Included Nationalities	—	gov.uk
Job Offer Required	false	gov.uk
Application Portal	https://www.gov.uk/high-potential-individual-visa/apply-from-outside-the-uk	gov.uk