Under the UK’s High Potential Individual visa, international graduates from the most prestigious universities around the world are able to work in Britain without needing a job offer.
Introduced in 2022 as part of the UK Government’s immigration reforms, the High Potential Individual visa aims to attract top global graduates, allowing them to realise their career ambitions in the UK while offering UK employers access to the worldwide pool of graduate talent.
What is the High Potential Individual visa?
The High Potential Individual visa is for highly-skilled and academically-elite international graduates looking to develop their skills and experience while contributing to the UK economy.
As there is no requirement for employer sponsorship, the visa offers a less costly and administratively-onerous route for UK employers to recruit and manage overseas talent.
The visa allows the holder to come to the UK for up to two years. During this time, there are relatively few restrictions on the type of activity they can undertake, in comparison to other work visas. High Potential Individuals attain the right to work, which allows employment, self-employment and voluntary work. This means, without any requirement to have a UK job offer, visa-holders have the flexibility to work, or to switch jobs or employers, while in the UK. The visa is also open to entrepreneurs wanting to work or set up businesses in the UK.
Only work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach is prohibited under the High Potential Individual visa.
Visa holders can also study while in the UK, subject to meeting the Appendix ATAS requirements.
High Potential Individual visa requirements
High Potential Individual visa applicants have to meet eligibility, validity and suitability requirements, as stipulated in Appendix High Potential Individual.
High Potential Individual visa eligibility requirements
The High Potential Individual visa is open to applicants who have graduated from certain leading global universities within the preceding five years.
Applicants have to attain 70 points across the educational, language and financial requirements of the visa.
Applicants applying to enter the UK may also have to pass a tuberculosis test.
High Potential Individual visa points attribution
Requirement |
Points available |
|---|---|
| Global Universities List degree requirement | 50 |
| English Language requirement at level B1 | 10 |
| Financial requirement | 10 |
Applications which fall short of the 70 points will be refused. The Home Office is required to detail the grounds for refusal in its decision notification letter.
High Potential Individual visa educational requirement
To be eligible for a High Potential Individual visa, the applicant must have been awarded an overseas bachelor’s or postgraduate degree qualification in the last 5 years from a top global university. This is a university that appears in the Home Office Global Universities List. The awarding institution must appear on the Global Universities List in respect of the date when the graduate was awarded their degree.
High Potential Individual visa: global universities list 2022
This list of universities relates to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023.
Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2022 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists) |
Country |
|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | USA |
| Chinese University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| Columbia University | USA |
| Cornell University | USA |
| Duke University | USA |
| Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland) | Switzerland |
| ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) | Switzerland |
| Harvard University | USA |
| Johns Hopkins University | USA |
| Karolinska Institute | Sweden |
| Kyoto University | Japan |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA |
| McGill University | Canada |
| Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Singapore |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore |
| New York University | USA |
| Northwestern University | USA |
| Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University | France |
| Peking University | China |
| Princeton University | USA |
| Stanford University | USA |
| Technical University of Munich | Germany |
| Tsinghua University | China |
| University of British Columbia | Canada |
| University of California, Berkeley | USA |
| University of California, Los Angeles | USA |
| University of California, San Diego | USA |
| University of Chicago | USA |
| University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | USA |
| University of Melbourne | Australia |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | USA |
| University of Pennsylvania | USA |
| University of Queensland (UQ) | Australia |
| University of Texas at Austin | USA |
| University of Tokyo | Japan |
| University of Toronto | Canada |
| University of Washington | USA |
| Yale University | USA |
| Zhejiang University | China |
High Potential Individual visa: global universities list 2021
This list of universities relates to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022:
Alphabetical Rankings Lists 2021 (establishments from Top 50 rankings which appeared on 2 or more lists) |
Country |
|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | USA |
| Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) | Hong Kong |
| Columbia University | USA |
| Cornell University | USA |
| Duke University | USA |
| Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland) | Switzerland |
| ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) | Switzerland |
| Harvard University | USA |
| Johns Hopkins University | USA |
| Karolinska Institute | Sweden |
| Kyoto University | Japan |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA |
| McGill University | Canada |
| Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Singapore |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore |
| New York University (NYU) | USA |
| Northwestern University | USA |
| Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University | France |
| Peking University | China |
| Princeton University | USA |
| Stanford University | USA |
| Tsinghua University | China |
| University of British Columbia | Canada |
| University of California, Berkeley | USA |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | USA |
| University of California, San Diego | USA |
| University of Chicago US | USA |
| University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| University of Melbourne | Australia |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | USA |
| University of Munich (LMU Munich) | Germany |
| University of Pennsylvania | USA |
| University of Texas at Austin | USA |
| University of Tokyo | Japan |
| University of Toronto | Canada |
| University of Washington | USA |
| Yale University | USA |
High Potential Individual visa English language requirement
To be eligible for a High Potential Individual visa, the applicant must have the ability to understand and communicate in English to a certain level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. This means being able to read, write, speak and listen to at least Level B1 (intermediate). However, there are a number of ways in which a High Potential visa applicant can satisfy the English language requirement.
If an applicant is a national of a majority English-speaking country, they will not be required to do more than prove their identity and nationality to satisfy the language requirement. Equally, if an applicant has been awarded a degree taught in English — or obtained an English GCSE, A Level or Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5 while at school in the UK — subject to proof of the relevant qualification obtained, they will again satisfy this requirement.
In all other cases, unless an applicant can show that they have already met the English language requirement in any previous application for entry clearance or permission to stay, for example, if they are switching to a High Potential Individual visa from within the UK, they will need to pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT). A SELT must be taken with an approved test provider. For applicants outside of the UK, a SELT must be taken with either Pearson, PSI Services (UK) Ltd, IELTS SELT Consortium or LanguageCert. For applicants within the UK, the test must be taken with Pearson, Trinity College London, IELTS SELT Consortium or LanguageCert.
High Potential Individual visa financial requirement
To be eligible for a High Potential Individual visa, an applicant must be able to show that they can support themselves on their arrival in the UK without relying on public funds. This means being able to show cash funds of at least £1,270 at the date of application.
The High Potential Individual visa applicant must be able to show that they have held those funds in their account for 28 days or more, ending no more than 31 days before the date of their application. If the applicant is already in the UK and is applying to switch into this route, they will not need to show funds if they have been in the UK for at least 12 months.
High Potential Individual visa suitability requirements
The suitability requirements cover areas such as character and immigration history. Failure to meet the suitability requirements will result in the application being refused.
Appendix High Potential Individual states the following suitability criteria:
Grounds for refusal under the Immigration Rules
Part 9 of the Immigration Rules sets out grounds for refusal which all visa applicants have to meet. Examples include:
- where the applicant’s presence in the UK is deemed to be not conducive to the public good due to conduct, character, associations or other reasons
- where the applicant is subject to an exclusion or deportation order
- where criminality grounds apply in relation to criminal convictions and offences
- where the applicant has given false information and misrepresentations in their application
- where the applicant has previously been in breach of the immigration rules (with the exception of periods of overstaying which can be disregarded under paragraph 39E of the immigration rules).
Applicants already in the UK must not have been in breach of UK immigration laws and must not be on immigration bail.
High Potential Individual visa validity requirements
Before the suitability and eligibility requirements are assessed, the application must be deemed to be valid. The Home Office will review the application to ensure the correct form has been used, the correct and relevant supporting documentation has been provided, and that the correct fees have been paid.
If the caseworker considers the validity requirements have not been met, they must decide whether to request more information from the applicant, or to reject the application, or to proceed with processing using the information already provided.
Application form
Applications made from outside the UK should be submitted using form “High Potential Individual visa”, while applicants applying from within the UK must use form “High Potential Individual”.
Application fees
Applications will only be processed where the correct application fee has been paid and any other required fees such as the Immigration Health Charge have also been paid.
Submitted information
For a valid application, the applicant must have submitted acceptable forms of identity, such as their passport, as well as their biometrics (photograph and fingerprints).
Applicant age
On the date the application is submitted, the applicants must be aged 18 or over.
Prior periods of UK leave
Applicants applying to remain in the UK under the High Potential Individual visa must have been in the UK on the date of their application.
Restrictions also apply to the type of UK visas that applicants could have held prior to applying for the High Potential Individual visa. Applications will be deemed invalid if the applicant is switching from any of the following UK visas:
- Visitor visa
- Short-term Student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
- Seasonal Worker visa
- Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa
- Leave outside the Immigration Rules
It is also not allowed for an applicant to have previously been granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, under the Graduate route or as a High Potential Individual.
Scholarships & awards
If, in the 12 months preceding the application, the applicant was in receipt of an award from a Government or international scholarship agency covering fees and living costs for study in the UK, written consent to the application must be provided with the application from the relevant agency.
How to apply for the High Potential Individual visa
The application process for a High Potential Individual visa will be similar to other work routes. The applicant will need to submit an online application, pay the relevant fee and provide a number of supporting documents. Applicants will also need to attend an appointment to provide their biometric information, including a photo of their face and scan of their fingerprints.
High Potential Individual visa & other UK work visas
The introduction of a High Potential Individual visa forms part of the UK Government’s broader Innovation Strategy from 2021, which precipitated a number of changes to UK work visa routes such as the introduction of the Global Business Mobility visa.
Global Business Mobility visa
The new Global Business Mobility routes provide overseas businesses greater flexibility in establishing a UK presence or transferring workers to the UK.
Under this single, sponsored route there are five subcategories of visa, each covering different types of workers that may be deployed to the UK for specific work-related purposes. The new visa includes the Senior and Specialist Worker visa which replaces the old ICT visa, and the UK Expansion Worker visa which has replaced the Sole Representative visa.
The Scale-up route
The Scale-Up visa allows talented individuals to come to the UK if they hold a highly skilled job offer from a qualifying scale-up at the required salary level. A ‘scale-up’ is defined as a business with an annual average revenue or employment growth rate over a 3-year period greater than 20%, plus a minimum of 10 employees at the start of this period.
Scale-ups can apply via a fast-track verification process. The UK government will also explore whether scale-ups who can demonstrate an expectation of strong growth in future years can qualify under the route following a review.
The new Scale-Up route will allow eligible individuals to work, switch jobs or employers in the UK. As with the High Potential visa, individuals will again be able to extend their stay and settle in the UK, subject to meeting specific requirements under this route.
The Innovator Founder route
The existing Innovator Founder route is for innovators and entrepreneurs to set up and operate a business in the UK.
To be eligible, the business must be endorsed by proving it is based on an innovative, viable and scalable idea that the applicant has either generated or significantly contributed to. Applicants do not have to meet a minimum investment amount to apply, provided the endorsing body is satisfied that there are sufficient funds to grow the business. The restriction on undertaking work outside of the applicant’s primary business has also been removed.
Innovator founders are initially granted permission to live and work in the UK for a maximum period of 3 years, at which stage, provided they meet the relevant requirements, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, otherwise known as settlement.
Alternative visa options for ‘high potential’ applicants
Alternative routes to the High Potential Individual visa include:
Global Talent visa
The Global Talent visa route is already open to those who are world leaders or emerging world leaders in the fields of academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology, where visas are granted to individuals making important contributions to their specialist field.
This is a visa that allows successful applicants to come to the UK without being tied to a specific sponsor and with the flexibility to undertake a range of activities, with few restrictions. It also offers an accelerated route to settlement.
This route is suitable for any applicant aged 18 or over, provided they’ve successfully applied for an endorsement from a Home Office approved organisation to prove that they’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
- academia or research: such as science, medicine, engineering or humanities
- arts and culture: such as combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre or visual arts, including museums and galleries; film and television, including animation,
- post production and visual effects; architecture; and fashion design
- digital technology: such as financial technology (‘fintech’), gaming, cyber security or artificial intelligence.
Even though applicants under the Global Talent route usually require endorsement, the UK government has recently published a list of prestigious awards for achievements in the science and arts, where global prize winners automatically qualify. This means that highly skilled migrants who have won an eligible award can bypass the endorsement stage and go directly to the visa stage. The Global Talent eligible prize list currently includes Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Brits, Golden Globes and the Nobel Prize for chemistry, economic science, literature, physics and medicine, although the UK government is looking to broaden the list of prizes.
A Global Talent visa will enable the holder to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. There’s no limit to how long a visa-holder can stay in the UK in total, although they will need to renew their visa when it expires. After a period of either 3 or 5 years in the UK, depending on which field the applicant works in, they may then be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain. This will allow them to settle in the UK on a permanent basis.
Skilled Worker visa
If an applicant isn’t eligible for a Global Talent visa, there are other ways to work in the UK, including applying for a Skilled Worker visa. A Skilled Worker visa allows a person to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved licensed sponsor. This visa has now replaced the old Tier 2 (General) work visa under the previous rules.
To be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa the applicant must:
- Have a genuine job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor at the required skill level within the list of eligible occupations
- Have been issued with a valid certificate of sponsorship from their UK sponsor with information about the role they’ve been offered in the UK
- Be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work being undertaken
- Be able to read, write, speak and understand English to the required standard.
A Skilled Worker visa will enable the holder to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years before they need to extend their stay. They can apply to extend their visa as many times as they like, provided they still meet the eligibility requirements, and can use this immigration route as a basis for settlement after a period of 5 years.
Need assistance?
DavidsonMorris are UK business immigration specialists. We advise individuals and employers on the visa options to work and settle in the UK. For advice on the options open to you, including new work routes such as the High Potential Individual visa, contact us.
High Potential Individual visa FAQs
What is UK visa for individuals with high potential?
The High Potential Individual visa is a UK work visa for foreign graduates that does not require a job offer or sponsorship by a UK employer.
How to apply for high potential individual UK visa?
You apply by completing an online application form on the UK's Home Office website, submitting the supporting documents and your biometric information, and paying the application fee.
What is high potential individual visa sponsorship?
High Potential Individual visa holders do not need to be sponsored by a UK employer. They attain the right to work in the UK for up to two years.
Is the UK high potential individual visa the same as the skilled worker visa?
The High Potential Individual route is a different visa to the Skilled Worker visa. The most significant differences are that the Skilled Worker visa requires sponsorship by a Home Office-approved employer, with strict limitations and conditions on the type of job the worker can undertake, as well as requirements on salary and skill levels. The High Potential Individual visa, on the other hand, has no requirement for sponsorship and limited restrictions on the type of activities the visa holder can do while in the UK.
Last updated: 22 June 2023