UK introduces new HPI visa for university graduates, see how to apply

The United Kingdom has revealed that it will begin issuing a new visa that allows holders of first degrees, masters, and doctorates to travel to the country and work in fields such as science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship by May 30, 2022.

The visa – high potential individual (HPI) visa, allows applicants to relocate to the UK without a prior job offer or sponsorship.

However, graduates of Nigerian universities do not qualify to be issued this visa.

The UK government said that in order to qualify for the HPI visa, applicants needed to have been awarded a degree from a university that is ranked top 50 as published in the global universities list by the Home Office.

The government noted that the list would be compiled annually and would comprise institutions included in the list of the top 50 universities in at least two of the following ranking systems: Times Higher Education World University rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds World University rankings, and the Academic Ranking of the World Universities.

Also, the applicants must have been awarded a degree, equivalent to or not less than a UK bachelor’s degree. Nigerian universities do not appear in any of these global rankings.

According to the UK Minister of Safe and Legal Migration, Kevin Foster, the High Potential Individual visa route is targeted at attracting high-skilled foreign university graduates, who will be allowed to work and stay in the UK for two or three years.

On the expiration of the visa, the holders could switch to permits under the skilled worker, start-up and innovator, exceptional talent, or scale-up route for continued stay in the UK.

Foster said: “The new High Potential Individual route will make it as simple as possible for internationally mobile individuals who demonstrate high potential to come to the UK. It will enable those who have already demonstrated their potential through academic achievement to come to the UK without a prior job offer.

“If you’ve been resident in the UK for more than 12 months, you might not need to meet this requirement. Graduates with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree will be given a two-year visa. Ph.D. or other doctoral-level graduates will get visas valid for three years. This visa can only be granted once and will not be available to those who have already had a Graduate visa.”

High Potential Individual visa financial requirement

The High Potential Individual visa requires you to have cash funds of at least £1,270 available. You must have held the money in a bank account for at least 28 days before your date of application.

This financial requirement is waived for those who have been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more at the date of application and who are applying to extend into the High Potential Individual Route.

There will likely be an immigration health surcharge (IHS) which is usually £624 for each year you’ll be in the UK. If you qualify for the High Potential Individual visa the cost will be:

• £1,248 on the two-year route
• £1,872 on the three-year route

You will have to pay the IHS fee for any dependants over the age of 18 who will be joining you.

High Potential Individual visa application cost

The application for a High Potential Individual visa will cost £715 for the main applicant as well as any dependants joining you. With the addition of the IHS, your overall application fee will be £1963 on the two year route and £2587 for three years.

See also: Global Talent visa immigration route opens for top award winners

Does the High Potential Individual route lead to indefinite leave to remain?

There is no option to extend the HPI visa and so it does not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, you will be able to apply from within the UK to switch into another immigration route which may lead to settlement such as a Skilled Worker visa, Start-up visa or Innovator visa.

How does the High Potential Individual visa compare to the Graduate visa?

Both visas grant recently graduated individuals the opportunity to find work in the UK without a sponsored job offer, but the High Potential visa has some slight advantages.

The main difference between the HPI visa and the Graduate visa is that the HPI is only available to graduates of overseas universities. If you are an international student who has completed a UK degree, then you could apply for a Graduate visa instead.

The window for application is longer with the HPI visa because you’re able to apply for five years after your graduation, whereas the Graduate visa requires you to be in possession of a UK Student visa when you apply.

The application for a High Potential Individual visa can be made either from within the UK or from overseas. Whereas you have to be in the UK already to apply for a Graduate visa.