High Potential Individual Visa

Work in the UK without a job offer

Office scene

High Potential Individual Visa allows you to live and work in the UK without first needing a job offer

Read on to learn more about the High Potential Visa and how to make an application.

Most importantly, consider getting specialist legal advice and representation for your visa application. This is because the underlying rules and process are complex and you, as a layperson, may not be able to interpret the rules and apply them to your circumstances correctly.

A refusal with prejudice may also make a future application much more complex or even impossible in certain circumstances. Getting specialist legal advice and representation at an early stage is therefore advisable to maximize the prospects of success.

1. What is a High Potential Individual Visa?

The UK government has introduced a new High Potential Individual (HPI) visa to make it easier for internationally mobile professionals, with high potential to make contributions to the UK economy, to come and work in the UK.

What sets the High Potential Individual visa apart from other visa routes is that there will be no job offer requirement, giving professionals the flexibility to work, change jobs or employers without any restrictions.


2. Who is eligible for the HPI visa?

To be eligible for the HPI visa, it is required that you have obtained a qualification from an eligible university outside of the UK within the past 5 years. Click the relevant sections below to see if your university is eligible for the HPI visa:

High Potential Individual visa: Eligible Universities List 2022

This list of universities relates to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2022 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

USA

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Columbia University

USA

Cornell University

USA

Duke University

USA

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland)

Switzerland

ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

Switzerland

Harvard University

USA

Johns Hopkins University

USA

Karolinska Institute

Sweden

Kyoto University

Japan

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

USA

McGill University

Canada

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Singapore

National University of Singapore

Singapore

New York University

USA

Northwestern University

USA

Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University

France

Peking University

China

Princeton University

USA

Stanford University

USA

Technical University of Munich

Germany

Tsinghua University

China

University of British Columbia

Canada

University of California, Berkeley

USA

University of California, Los Angeles

USA

University of California, San Diego

USA

University of Chicago

USA

University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

USA

University of Melbourne

Australia

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

USA

University of Pennsylvania

USA

University of Queensland (UQ)

Australia

University of Texas at Austin

USA

University of Tokyo

Japan

University of Toronto

Canada

University of Washington

USA

Yale University

USA

Zhejiang University

China
High Potential Individual visa: Global Universities List 2021

This list of universities relates to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2021 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)USA
Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)Hong Kong
Columbia UniversityUSA
Cornell UniversityUSA
Duke UniversityUSA
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland)Switzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Switzerland
Harvard UniversityUSA
Johns Hopkins UniversityUSA
Karolinska InstituteSweden
Kyoto UniversityJapan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)USA
McGill UniversityCanada
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)Singapore
National University of SingaporeSingapore
New York University (NYU)USA
Northwestern UniversityUSA
Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research UniversityFrance
Peking UniversityChina
Princeton UniversityUSA
Stanford UniversityUSA
Tsinghua UniversityChina
University of British ColumbiaCanada
University of California, BerkeleyUSA
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)USA
University of California, San DiegoUSA
University of Chicago USUSA
University of Hong KongHong Kong
University of MelbourneAustralia
University of Michigan-Ann ArborUSA
University of Munich (LMU Munich)Germany
University of PennsylvaniaUSA
University of Texas at AustinUSA
University of TokyoJapan
University of TorontoCanada
University of WashingtonUSA
Yale UniversityUSA
High Potential Individual visa: Global Universities List 2020

The list published in 2020 will be used to assess qualifications awarded between 1 November 2020 and 31 October 2021.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2020 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)USA
Columbia UniversityUSA
Cornell UniversityUSA
Duke UniversityUSA
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneSwitzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Switzerland
Harvard UniversityUSA
Johns Hopkins UniversityUSA
Karolinska InstituteSweden
Kyoto UniversityJapan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)USA
McGill UniversityCanada
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)Singapore
National University of SingaporeSingapore
New York University (NYU)USA
Northwestern UniversityUSA
Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research UniversityFrance
Peking UniversityChina
Princeton UniversityUSA
Stanford UniversityUSA
Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München)Germany
Tsinghua UniversityChina
University of British ColumbiaCanada
University of California, BerkeleyUSA
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)USA
University of California, San DiegoUSA
University of ChicagoUSA
University of Hong KongHong Kong
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUSA
University of MelbourneAustralia
University of Michigan-Ann ArborUSA
University of PennsylvaniaUSA
University of Texas at AustinUSA
University of TokyoJapan
University of TorontoCanada
University of WashingtonUSA
University of Wisconsin-MadisonUSA
Washington University in St LouisUSA
Yale UniversityUSA
High Potential Individual visa: Global Universities List 2019

The list published in 2019 will be used to assess qualifications awarded between 1 November 2019 and 31 October 2020.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2019 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country
Australian National UniversityAustralia
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)USA
Carnegie Mellon UniversityUSA
Columbia UniversityUSA
Cornell UniversityUSA
Duke UniversityUSA
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland)Switzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Switzerland
Harvard UniversityUSA
Heidelberg UniversityGermany
Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyHong Kong
Johns Hopkins UniversityUSA
Karolinska InstituteSweden
Kyoto UniversityJapan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)USA
McGill UniversityCanada
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)Singapore
National University of SingaporeSingapore
New York UniversityUSA
Northwestern UniversityUSA
Peking UniversityChina
Princeton UniversityUSA
Stanford UniversityUSA
Tsinghua UniversityChina
University of British ColumbiaCanada
University of California, BerkeleyUSA
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)USA
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)USA
University of Chicago USUSA
University of Hong KongHong Kong
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUSA
University of MelbourneAustralia
University of Michigan-Ann ArborUSA
University of PennsylvaniaUSA
University of Texas at AustinUSA
University of TokyoJapan
University of TorontoCanada
University of WashingtonUSA
Yale UniversityUSA
High Potential Individual visa: Global Universities List 2018

The list published in 2018 will be used to assess qualifications awarded between 1 November 2018 and 31 October 2019.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2018 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country
Australian National University (ANU)Australia
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)USA
Carnegie Mellon UniversityUSA
Columbia UniversityUSA
Cornell UniversityUSA
Duke UniversityUSA
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland)Switzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Switzerland
Harvard UniversityUSA
Heidelberg UniversityGermany
Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyHong Kong
Johns Hopkins UniversityUSA
Karolinska InstituteSweden
Kyoto UniversityJapan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)USA
McGill UniversityCanada
National University of SingaporeSingapore
New York UniversityUSA
Northwestern UniversityUSA
Peking UniversityChina
Princeton UniversityUSA
PSL Université Paris (Paris Sciences & Lettres)France
Stanford UniversityUSA
Technical University of MunichGermany
Tsinghua UniversityChina
University of British ColumbiaCanada
University of California, BerkeleyUSA
University of California, Los AngelesUSA
University of California, San DiegoUSA
University of Chicago USUSA
University of Hong KongHong Kong
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUSA
University of MelbourneAustralia
University of Michigan-Ann ArborUSA
University of PennsylvaniaUSA
University of Texas at AustinUSA
University of TokyoJapan
University of TorontoCanada
University of WashingtonUSA
University of Wisconsin-MadisonUSA
Yale UniversityUSA
High Potential Individual visa: Global Universities List 2017

The list published in 2017 will be used to assess qualifications awarded between 1 November 2017 and 31 October 2018.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2017 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country
Australian National University (ANU)Australia
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)USA
Carnegie Mellon UniversityUSA
Columbia UniversityUSA
Cornell UniversityUSA
Duke UniversityUSA
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland)Switzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Switzerland
Harvard UniversityUSA
Heidelberg UniversityGermany
Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyHong Kong
Johns Hopkins UniversityUSA
Karolinska InstituteSweden
Kyoto UniversityJapan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)USA
McGill UniversityCanada
National University of Singapore (NUS)Singapore
New York UniversityUSA
Northwestern UniversityUSA
Peking universityChina
Princeton UniversityUSA
Stanford UniversityUSA
Technical University of MunichGermany
Tsinghua UniversityChina
University of British ColumbiaCanada
University of California, BerkeleyUSA
University of California, Los AngelesUSA
University of California, San DiegoUSA
University of ChicagoUSA
University of Hong Kong (HKU)Hong Kong
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUSA
University of MelbourneAustralia
University of Michigan-Ann ArborUSA
University of PennsylvaniaUSA
University of TokyoJapan
University of TorontoCanada
University of WashingtonUSA
University of Wisconsin-MadisonUSA
Washington University in St. LouisUSA
Yale UniversityUSA
High Potential Individual visa: Global Universities List 2016

The list published in 2016 will be used to assess qualifications awarded between 1 November 2016 and 31 October 2017.

Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2016 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists)Country
Australian National University (ANU)Australia
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)USA
Columbia UniversityUSA
Cornell UniversityUSA
Duke UniversityUSA
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland)Switzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Switzerland
Harvard UniversityUSA
Heidelberg UniversityGermany
Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyHong Kong
Johns Hopkins UniversityUSA
Karolinska InstituteSweden
Kyoto UniversityJapan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)USA
McGill UniversityCanada
National University of Singapore (NUS)Singapore
New York UniversityUSA
Northwestern UniversityUSA
Peking UniversityChina
Princeton UniversityUSA
Stanford UniversityUSA
Technical University of MunichGermany
Tsinghua UniversityChina
University of British ColumbiaCanada
University of California, BerkeleyUSA
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)USA
University of California, San DiegoUSA
University of California, Santa BarbaraUSA
University of ChicagoUSA
University of Hong Kong (HKU)Hong Kong
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUSA
University of MelbourneAustralia
University of Michigan-Ann ArborUSA
University of PennsylvaniaUSA
University of Texas at AustinUSA
University of TokyoJapan
University of TorontoCanada
University of WashingtonUSA
University of Wisconsin-MadisonUSA
Yale UniversityUSA

3. Am I eligible for the HPI Visa if my degree is from a UK university?

No, only qualifications from an relevant university outside the UK make you eligible for the HPI visa. If your qualification is from a UK university, you may be eligible for another type of work visa such as the Graduate Visa, Skilled Worker Visa, Innovator Visa etc.

To see if you are eligible for a UK visa please feel free to book an online or office consultation with our immigration lawyers for specialist advice.


4. How long is the HPI visa granted for?

The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa offers you the opportunity to reside and work in the UK for 2 or 3 years depending on your qualification.


Those with an eligible bachelors or masters degree will be granted 2 years visa while an eligible PhD or a doctoral qualification will get you a 3 years visa.


5. Are there any other requirements that I must fulfill to be eligible for the HPI visa?

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 verify that your qualification is valid and at the right level.

You must also be able to show 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.


6. Can I extend my HPI Visa?

You cannot extend your HPI visa. However, you may switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa, Innovator visa or any other suitable visa depending on your circumstances.

7. What can I do with an HPI Visa?

The HPI visa allows you to:

  • work in most jobs
  • look for work
  • work as self-employed
  • live in the UK with your partner and children, if they’re eligible
  • do voluntary work
  • travel abroad and return to the UK

However, you will not be able to:

  • apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
  • work as a professional sportsperson
  • extend this visa unless you can switch to another visa
  • apply to settle permanently in the UK unless you switch into a visa that allows you to settle

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

8. Can I bring my spouse and children to the UK with the HPI Visa?

Yes your partner and children may also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependents’ so long as they meet the relevant eligibility requirements outlined in the Immigration Rules.

If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will normally 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.

9. How much money do I need to support my family for the HPI Visa application?

You or your partner must have the following amount of money available to support your stay in the UK:

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

10. Will I have to pay Healthcare Surcharge for my family?

Each family member will have to pay the healthcare surcharge as follows:

  • 2 years visa – it will cost £1,248 for each family member
  • 3 years visa – it will cost £1,872 for each family member

If one of your family members gets a job in public sector healthcare afterward, they may be able to get a refund.

11. Can you help me make an application for the HPI Visa?

Whether it’s an application for the HPI visa, dependent visa, or indefinite leave to remain / settlement or citizenship, our specialist immigration lawyers are always on hand to provide expert advice and representation to increase your prospects of success.

21. What can I do if my application for the HPI Visa has been refused?

If your High Potential Individual Visa application has been refused you may be able to make an Administrative Review application to challenge the decision.

Our specialist immigration lawyers can advise on the merits of making a fresh application or challenging the decision by way of an Administrative Review application.

Looking to make an application for the High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa?

Maximize your chances of success by getting specialist legal advice for your application. Use the button below to book your online, phone or office consultation.