Like any other immigration rule the Appendix: High Potential Individual Visa also has validity, suitability, and eligibility requirements for the application as a high potential individual visa. This visa is for graduates from top global universities to work or look for work in the UK. The visa offers a great opportunity for overseas graduates to explore career opportunities available in the UK. The high-potential allows the UK to attract international graduates to come to the UK and contribute to the UK’s economy.
The high-potential individual visa route allows recent graduates from top universities across the globe to come to the UK to work or look for work in the UK. The visa allows you to do most jobs, but you cannot work as a professional sportsperson. The visa also allows you to study if the course you have chosen is not eligible for a UK student visa.
The visa was opened on 30 May 2022, and this is a point-based visa. However, unlike the UK skilled worker visa, this is an unsponsored route. This means you don’t need a job offer from a UK-based organization to apply for a high-potential individual visa.
You must have completed an eligible course of study equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree level or above. The university where you studied must have been listed on the Global Universities List on the date you were awarded the degree. Your dependent part and children can also apply on this visa route.
You must meet the following eligibility requirements for a UK high-potential individual visa.
If you are applying from outside the UK, you must apply for and obtain an entry clearance as a high-potential individual.
You must be awarded 70 points to be eligible to apply for a high- potential individual visa.
The breakdown of 70 points is as follows.
You must have an overseas degree equivalent to the UK’s bachelor’s degree or UK postgraduate degree. You must have earned the degree from an eligible university. An eligible university is one that appeared on the Global Universities List on the date you were awarded the degree.
You must have gotten your degree in the 5 years immediately before the date of application.
Unless exempt, you must meet the English language requirement. You must demonstrate that you can read, write, speak, and understand English at least at level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
You can prove your knowledge of English by passing a SELT (Secure English Language Test) or If you have an overseas degree-level qualification that was taught in English and your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD. If you come from a majority English-speaking country, you don’t need to prove your knowledge of English.
If you are applying for permission to stay as a high-potential individual from inside the UK and you have been in the UK on another visa for more than 12 months, you don’t need to meet the financial requirements. On the other hand, if you are applying for entry clearance from outside the UK or permission to stay where you have lived for less than 12 months, you must demonstrate that you have a fund of at least £1,270. You must have held the fund for a 28-period period.
You must apply online.
If you are applying for entry clearance, you must apply online. As part of your high-potential individual visa, you need to prove your identity. Depending on where you are from and what type of passport you have, you can prove your identity through one of the following.
If you are in the UK on a different visa and applying to switch to a UK high-potential individual, you must apply online.You cannot switch to this visa if you are in the UK on certain visas such as a UK visitor visa, short-term student visa, parent of a child student visa, etc.
You need to prove your identity, which you can do either through the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or through enrolling your biometric information at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) center. If your partner and/or child want to continue living with you, they will also have to apply to switch this visa at the same time as you or at any time before their visa expires.
You must remain in the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you receive a decision. If you travel outside these places, your UK high-potential individual visa application will be withdrawn.
You must apply within 5 years from the date when you were awarded a qualification from an eligible university.
It usually takes 8 weeks if you are applying from inside the UK and 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK.
You need to pay £822 as an application fee and £1,035 per year per person as a health surcharge.
If you have a qualification equivalent to either a UK bachelor’s or master’s level degree, you will usually be granted entry clearance or leave to remain for a period of 2 years. If you have a qualification equivalent to a UK PhD or other doctoral-level qualification, you will receive permission to stay in the UK for 3 years.
You cannot extend your UK high-potential individual visa. This also means a UK high-potential individual visa does not lead to a settlement. However, you may apply to switch to a different visa, such as a UK skilled worker visa, which allows you to extend the visa and then apply for settlement.
We can guide you through the UK high potential individual visa process. We help assess your eligibility and provide specialist advice on the required documents. We handle the paperwork, ensuring that your application is complete and accurate.
We offer support right from the submission of the application to visa approval. So we ensure a smooth and trouble-free experience. For any query or issue, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261.
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