Government announcements are often about restrictions and higher thresholds, so it was good news to hear that there are also positive changes to UK visa routes to encourage more of the brightest and best global talent to choose the UK.
One of these changes was to double the number of qualifying universities for the High Potential Individual visa, but what is this visa, who can qualify for it, and why is it a great solution for UK employers in the wake of Skilled Worker visa changes?
What is the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa?
Are you a recent graduate from a top global university? The HPI visa could be your chance to live, work or explore opportunities in the UK — without needing a job offer.
The HPI visa allows you to live and work in the UK, study some educational courses and also allows dependants to apply with you for visas.
With a valid HPI visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification you can stay for 3 years.
Read our 2-step check below to see if you qualify:
1. Is Your Degree from an Eligible University?
To be eligible, you must have:
- Completed a degree within the past 5 years; and
- Studied at a university listed on the Global Universities List for the year you graduated
The UK government publishes an updated Global Universities List each year.
The list of eligible universities will double from 4th November 2025.
2. Do You Meet the Other Eligibility Criteria?
Once your university is confirmed, here is what else you will need:
a) English Language:If you aren’t a national of a majority English speaking country, you must prove your knowledge of English language ability to at least level B1 (speaking, reading, writing and listening) either through:
- An approved English language test, or
- A degree taught in English
Unless you have been in the UK for at least 12 months already, you must show:
- £1,270 in your bank account, held for at least 28 consecutive days.
Annual cap:
The Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules published on 14 October 2025 introduced an annual cap on HPI visa applications.
From 4th November 2025, the HPI visa will be capped at 8,000 applications per year.
- The cap includes both entry clearance and in-country applications.
- The allocation year runs from 1 November to 31 October.
- Once the cap is reached, no further applications can be approved until the next cycle.
Tips:
Aim to submit your application before 4th November 2025, where possible, to avoid being subject to the cap.
If applying after 4 November, monitor status carefully to see if the cap has been reached for that allocation year.
Ready to find out if you qualify?
Get in touch with our expert team today on info@migrate-uk.com or call us on 01235 645 800.