UK High Potential Individual Visa Checklist — £880 + £252 Ecctis, 2 Years
The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is for recent graduates of eligible universities who want to work in the UK without a job offer first. It costs £880 plus a £252 Ecctis verification, runs for 2 years (3 for a PhD), and does not lead to settlement. Applications open in an annual window with a cap. Verified against GOV.UK, September 2026.
Stage A — What you must have
- ☐ A degree from an eligible university, awarded within the past 5 years.
- ☐ You must be 18 or over.
- ☐ Apply within the annual window — 1 November to 31 October. There is an annual cap; if it is full, the online service will tell you.
Stage B — Fees and money
- ☐ Application fee: £880.
- ☐ Ecctis verification: £252 (includes VAT).
- ☐ IHS: £1,035 a year — about £2,070 for 2 years, £3,105 for 3 years.
- ☐ Savings: at least £1,270 held for 28 days (same rule as other routes).
Stage C — Timings and length
- ☐ Decision time: usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK, or 8 weeks from inside.
- ☐ When you can apply: up to 3 months before you travel.
- ☐ Length: 2 years, or 3 years for a PhD or doctoral qualification.
Stage D — What you can and cannot do
- ☐ You can: work, look for work, be self-employed, volunteer, bring your partner and children, and travel in and out.
- ⛔ You cannot: claim public funds, work as a professional sportsperson, extend the visa, or apply for settlement. Time on the HPI does not count towards settlement.
Get it right the first time
- Check the eligible university list for your award year before you pay anything.
- Budget the total: £880 + £252 + IHS (£2,070 or £3,105).
- Mind the cap — the window is fixed and the yearly limit can fill.
- Plan the next route — the HPI is time-limited and cannot be extended.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a UK High Potential Individual visa?
You must have been awarded a degree from an eligible university in the past 5 years, and be 18 or over. Applications run in an annual window of 1 November to 31 October and there is a yearly cap.
How long is the HPI visa, and can I settle?
2 years, or 3 years for a PhD or doctoral qualification. You cannot extend it, and time on it does not count towards settlement.
How much does the HPI visa cost?
£880 application fee plus £252 Ecctis academic verification fee (including VAT), plus the IHS at £1,035 a year — £2,070 for 2 years or £3,105 for 3 years — and at least £1,270 in savings.
How long does the HPI visa take?
Usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK, or 8 weeks from inside the UK. You can apply up to 3 months before you travel.
What can I do on an HPI visa?
Work, look for work, be self-employed, volunteer, bring your partner and children, and travel in and out. You cannot claim public funds, work as a professional sportsperson, extend, or apply for settlement.
Do I need to check the eligible university list?
Yes. Only degrees from eligible universities qualify, and there is an annual cap. Check the eligibility page for the current list for your award year.
Official source: gov.uk — High Potential Individual visa and its “how much it costs” page, retrieved 2026-09-27. Confidence A (official pages, quoted verbatim). The list of eligible universities is not reproduced here — check the eligibility page for your award year.
Related: if you have not yet graduated or are still on a study route, check the UK visa checklist for the visitor route. Keep your photo and passport in order with the UK passport photo page and the passport photo checker.