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UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa Eligibility
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Free • UK
1. Was your degree awarded by a university on the Global Universities List for that year?
2. When was your degree awarded?
3. Highest qualifying degree?
4. Can you prove English at CEFR B1 and hold £1,270 for 28 consecutive days?
UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa Overview
UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to UK
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
UK HPI Visa Eligibility Requirements
Degree Awarded
You must have been awarded an overseas bachelor's or postgraduate degree from an eligible university.
Awarding University
Your degree must be from a university on the Global Universities List for the year you graduated.
Graduation Date
You must have graduated no more than 5 years before the date of your HPI visa application.
English Language
You must prove your knowledge of English to at least CEFR level B1.
Financial Requirements
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply.
Official UK Government HPI Visa Guidance
UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Checking the current year’s Global Universities List instead of the list for your graduation year.
Applying more than 5 years after the degree award date.
Submitting unverified Ecctis (UK NARIC) confirmation — this is mandatory for non-UK degrees.
Treating the £1,270 as a balance to be added later — funds must sit for 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before applying.
Assuming HPI time counts towards ILR — it does not unless you switch to a qualifying route.
Improve your chances
- 1
Get Ecctis Visa & Nationality Statement plus AQUALS confirming your degree before applying.
- 2
Apply as early as possible after graduation to maximise UK runway under the 5-year window.
- 3
Use the HPI period strategically: secure a Skilled Worker CoS or Global Talent endorsement before it expires.
- 4
PhD holders should apply for HPI (3 years) — far more flexible than starting on a Graduate visa.
- 5
Maintain clean immigration history; HPI refusals frequently turn on character/financial rules, not on the degree.
Visa duration & fees
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Visa length — Bachelor’s / Master’s | 2 years |
| Visa length — PhD / Doctorate | 3 years |
| Application fee | £822 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 per year |
| Financial requirement | £1,270 held 28 consecutive days |
| Extension | Not extendable — must switch route |
Switching pathways after HPI
| Switch to | Notes |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Need CoS + £38,700 salary (or discount); time on HPI does NOT count towards ILR. |
| Global Talent | Need endorsement; time can count towards ILR after switch. |
| Innovator Founder | Need endorsed innovative business plan + funds. |
| Spouse / Family | If relationship qualifies — separate financial threshold applies. |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa Eligibility criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
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