High Potential Individual Visa (HPI) 

High Potential Individual Visa (HPI) 

The High Potential Individual Visa was announced in early 2022 and can be applied for from 30 May 2022. It  is a short-term work visa for individuals who graduated from top universities outside the UK. Applicants should have graduated within the last few years, starting from 2016 from one of the listed universities after 2016 to apply for this visa.

Each graduating year has a different list of universities. This means the applicant’s graduating year must correspond with the list of universities to be eligible to apply.

This new route is part of the UK’s promise to invite a highly skilled workforce into the country. This is fueled by labour shortages over the last few years. Applicants need not have a job offer to apply for the visa – they can apply for the visa and then reside in the UK during this time to look for a job. Once expired, applicants may be able to apply for a skilled worker visa and routes to settlement.

Some universities on the list are Caltech, Columbia, Cornell, ETH Zurich, Kyoto University, McGill University, University of Tokyo, and University of Melbourne.

However, applicants must note that there are conditions based on finances and English language requirements.  As a result, every applicant must satisfy these before they will be granted the visa.

The visa costs £715 for the application itself and £624 for immigration health surcharge depending on how many years the candidate is applying for. The maximum number of years an applicant can apply for is two years. Thus, for a one-year HPI visa, the cost will be £1339 and for two years it will be £1963.

For more information on the English language requirements, financial requirements and information on how to apply, please contact us.

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