Apply For A High Potential Individual Visa

The Home Office announced the opening of the High Potential Individual route on 30 May 2022.

The High Potential Individual Visa will allow graduates of top global universities who wish to work in the UK obtain the right to live here.

This includes those wanting to do self-employment and voluntary work (apart from a professional sportsperson or coach) and to study, except for a course for which they would need to meet the requirements of a Student Visa.

About The High Potential Individual Visa

The Home Office has announced the opening of the High Potential Individual route on 30 May 2022. The High Potential Individual Visa will allow graduates of top global universities who wish to work in the UK obtain the right to live here. This includes those wanting to do self-employment and voluntary work (apart from a professional sportsperson or coach) and to study, except for a course for which they would need to meet the requirements of a Student Visa.

The Home Office hopes that the High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa will attract global talent to the UK and will make it easier for UK employers to hire overseas talent as it will not require sponsorship.

High Potential Individual Visa Eligibility

To be eligible to apply under the High Potential Individual Visa route, applicants will mainly need to satisfy the following requirements:

  • You must be aged 18 or over.
  • You must have been awarded an overseas degree-level academic qualification from an institution that is included on the Global Universities List published by the Home Office. The academic qualification must have been awarded in the last 5 years prior to the application submission date. It is important to note that the overseas institution must be listed in the Global Universities List the year that the academic qualification was awarded.
  • You need to prove competence in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1.
  • You need to have enough money to support themselves in the UK without relying on public funds.
  • You may need to provide a TB Certificate depending on which country they are residing.
  • You must not have been previously granted permission under the High Potential Individual Visa route, Graduate route and Student Doctorate Extension Scheme.

The exact requirements may vary depending on applicants’ individual circumstances.

Applying for a High Potential Individual Visa

All HPI Visa applications are made online on the Home Office website, whether you are abroad and applying for the visa to come to the UK, or switching to this visa from inside the UK.

Once your application is complete, you may expect to hear from the Home Office within 3 weeks if you are outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you are in the UK.

The duration of permission will depend on the qualification that was relied on. Successful applicants will be granted a visa for 3 years for a PhD or other doctor’s level qualifications and 2 years for all other degree qualifications.

If you require any assistance with your application to ensure you have a higher chance of the HPI Visa being granted, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our expert lawyers. Our team has a wealth of experience and knows exactly what the Home Office is looking for.

Have a questions?

Book a consultation

How we work

1
consultation.

We start a discussion by understanding your history, and we will clearly outline the best option available and any recommendations to save you time and costs.

2
instruction.

Once you instruct us to be your legal representative, we will start preparing your case. We may require more information about you to help you more effectively.

3
documents.

Documentation is a crucial part of an immigration application. We will customise a document list to guide your preparation. Your dedicated lawyer will check the documents and advise of any improvements needed.

4
application.

We will complete your application to the Home Office and may also write a cover letter with strong legal arguments where relevant. We may discuss this with you to confirm the final details.

5
submission.

We will submit your application to the Home Office, Court authorities securely. We will represent you as the main point of contact with them for any further requests.

6
interview.

You may sometimes be invited to attend a Home Office interview or Court hearing. While this may sound daunting, we will help you prepare and provide guidance on what questions to expect.

7
decision.

As soon as we receive a decision from the Home Office, we will get in touch with you to share the news.

1
3
5
7
2
4
6

What clients say

We did multiple assignments with QC and were very happy with the fast response and results we achieved on our applications.

manish rungta
manish rungta
Google five star client rating

Qiyin was very quick to respond to my inquiries. She was very professional, supportive and helpful. Highly recommended!

Ainul Nadhirah Hanafiah
Ainul Nadhirah Hanafiah
Google five star client rating

Qiyin listened very attentively to my concerns and reassured me. Gave me a lot of insight into how I need to plan my application in a very personal way. Would definitely highly recommend.

Sashi Ganes
Sashi Ganes
Google five star client rating

Very professional team, who helped me gain EU Settled status pre-Brexit using a new Android app. It is refreshing to see that QC-immigration team adopts fast the technology and is on top of all changes in legislation. They got my full trust.

Victoria Rusnac
Victoria Rusnac
Google five star client rating

Hafsah made my application look so simple and easy even though i was doubtful about my case before approaching QC. I can’t believe my ILR application got approved by Home office within 24 hrs of biometric appointment. Thank you Hafsah for helping me get this done.

Shubha Shet
Shubha Shet
Google five star client rating

It was a pleasure working with Qiyin and her team. They were very helpful and responsive all the time. They helped me with my Permanent Residence which was succesful and was received in less than a month. I will work with them again in the future, so I strongly recommend this Immigration office to everyone.

Nasos Balasis
Nasos Balasis
Google five star client rating

Definitely the best law firm I've ever dealt with. Hafsah Awan is an amazing lawyer, she is extremely professional, she truly cares, and gives great advise to ensure all goes smoothly. My entire process with Hafsah went really well, and we successfully got our Start-up visas to the UK, many thanks to Hafsah for her great efforts. I also loved that they are very responsive, to emails, calls, etc. Qiyin Chuah, the founder, actually helped me in the last moment during her weekend, I was very thankful for that, as not many people would even get back to you during the weekend. Overall, an amazing law firm, I'm very pleased, and I truly wish Hafsah, Qiyin, and the rest of QC Immigration team all the best, God bless you all :)

Ahmad Agha
Ahmad Agha
Google five star client rating

I had an exploratory conversation with QC Immigration. Qiyin was professional and personable throughout our conversation, explaining clearly the current criteria and regulatory considerations to keep in mind. I would have no reservations in appointing them for representation should there ever be a need, as Qiyin provided from the outset, the calm assurance of having the knowledge, experience and an individual approach that I strongly value.

May Loke
May Loke
Google five star client rating

Very good service and professional company! I contact them trough a friend because I had problem with a Family Visa in Scotland, they helped me and advised in all the process and they solved what I needed to solve so quick. Specially Qiyin and Marianna. I would always come back to them again if I needed and also recommend them. As I said, very good and Professional.

Martin Nicolas Camaño Martin
Martin Nicolas Camaño Martin
Google five star client rating

Both my fiancé and I used QC Immigration this year for our new visa and naturalisation applications, respectively, and were very happy with the service. Our main point of contact was Marianna, who was very prompt and thorough in her preparation of our applications and helpful throughout every step of the process with our concerns, etc. Highly recommend QC Immigration. Thank you again, Marianna!

Sarah Monaco
Sarah Monaco
Google five star client rating

My friend had recommended QC Immigration and I was not disappointed! Marianna was my main point of contact and she was kind, prompt and very efficient. I had a lot of questions and Marianna was very quick in replying to me. I would definitely recommend QC Immigration.

Malulie Tongprasert
Malulie Tongprasert
Google five star client rating

They were extremely professional and thorough throughout the application process. I even shared my travel plans and they worked based on my timelines, which based on experience, most companies don't prioritise. Highly recommend working with them if you want to be stress free and want your application handled with care.

Shruthi Padmanabhan
Shruthi Padmanabhan
Google five star client rating

I have been using QC Immigration to help prepare for my partner's Proposed Civil Partnership Visa application. We have been dealing with Marianna since January, and have found her to be extremely professional, knowledgeable and personable. She has always responded to my queries and concerns, (however neurotic!) and she has paid great attention to detail. It has been an invaluable service, and should our application be successful in this instance, I will not hesitate to appoint QC Immigration again to assist with the next stages. Many thanks again for your hard work and for showing us such an understanding and caring attitude! :)

Bethany Taylor-James
Bethany Taylor-James
Google five star client rating

My partner and I recently used QC Immigration when applying for a UK partner visa. They were very professional throughout and dealt with all questions and queries accordingly. Marianna was our main point of contact and was extremely diligent and reassuring throughout the process. We appreciated their attention to detail and extensive knowledge of UK immigration law and would highly recommend them to any prospective clients.

Eliot Parker
Eliot Parker
Google five star client rating

FAQ

Can I bring my family with a High Potential Individual Visa?

Applicants may be joined or accompanied by their partner and dependent children.

Can I extend a High Potential Individual Visa?

Under the current rules, it is not possible to apply for an extension of a High Potential Individual Visa and the route does not lead to settlement in the UK.

However, applicants can in the future apply to switch to different routes which lead to settlement such as the Skilled Worker Visa, Start-up Visa, Global Talent Visa or Innovator Visa.

What is the maintenance requirement for the High Potential Individual Visa?

For the maintenance requirement, you must show that you can support yourself by having at least £1,270 in your bank account.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.


How much does a High Potential Individual Visa cost?

The application fee for this visa is £715. The Immigration Health Surcharge is also applicable for this visa, so we recommend checking how much you will have to pay.

You may also have to consider any additional costs such as certified translations of documents and biometric enrolment.

If you are getting legal help, this will also add to the overall cost of the visa.

Want to get more Info?
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Request a callback

QC Immigration can help Increase your chances of your UK visa application being accepted with the help of our experienced immigration lawyers.

Provide your info
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
people are listening