| Who it is for | Graduates of a listed university, degree awarded in the last 5 years |
| Length | 2 years, 3 with a PhD, no extension |
| Fee | £880, plus £252 for the Ecctis check |
| Health surcharge | £1,035 per year |
| English | level B2 |
| Settlement | time does not count |
Who gets the visa
What matters is the university, not the subject. The Home Office keeps a list of eligible universities based on international rankings, with a separate list for each graduation year. UK universities are excluded; if you studied in the UK, other routes apply. Your degree must be at least equivalent to a UK bachelor's or master's and no more than five years old.
Ecctis checks that your qualification is valid and equivalent, for a fee of £252. Ecctis does not check whether your university is on the list. You do that yourself, against the list for the right year. English is shown at B2, for example through a degree taught in English or an approved test.
What you can and cannot do
On the HPI visa you can work in the UK, including self-employed, change jobs and bring your partner and children. You need no sponsor and there is no salary threshold.
The limits are just as clear: two years, three with a PhD, and no extension. Above all, the time does not count towards settlement. If you want to stay, you have to switch in good time, usually to the Skilled Worker visa or, with an exceptional profile, to Global Talent.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | £880 |
| Ecctis check | £252 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, 2 years | £2,070 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, 3 years | £3,105 |
| Personal savings | £1,270, held for 28 days |
GOV.UK, High Potential Individual visa, as of November 2026
Who it suits
For young Europeans with a degree from a listed university, the HPI is the simplest way to spend two years working in London, Edinburgh or Manchester and see whether the UK fits. For entrepreneurs it is rarely the right route, because it ends after two years and builds nothing that leads to staying.
Even for two years, moving to the UK usually makes you UK tax resident. What that means for your accounts, investments and income from home is covered on status and tax. Check the departure rules of your home country too before you go.
How it works
- 1
Check your university
Open the list for your graduation year and look for your university. UK universities are not eligible.
- 2
Ecctis confirmation
For £252, Ecctis confirms that your degree is valid and equivalent.
- 3
Prove your English
B2, through a degree taught in English with an Ecctis reference or through an approved test.
- 4
Have the money ready
£1,270 held for 28 days, unless you have already been in the UK on a visa for twelve months.
- 5
Apply
Online, with the £880 fee and the health surcharge for the full length of the visa.
- 6
Plan the next step
Prepare the switch to another visa, such as Skilled Worker, before the HPI expires. You can switch from inside the UK.
Partner and children
Your partner and children can come with you. Their visas usually end with yours, and their time does not count towards settlement either. If the family wants a long-term future in the UK, plan the switch to a settlement route early, so everyone ends up on the same path.
HPI or another visa?
| Question | HPI | Skilled Worker | Global Talent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job offer needed | no | yes, with a sponsor | no |
| Salary threshold | none | £41,700 or the going rate | none |
| Length | 2 or 3 years, no extension | up to 5 years per grant | up to 5 years per grant |
| Counts towards settlement | no | yes, after 5 years | yes, after 3 or 5 years |
GOV.UK, as of November 2026
When the HPI is the wrong fit
If you want to build your own business in the UK, the HPI gets you in and lets you work for yourself, but it builds no path to staying. If you already run a company at home and want to bring it to the UK, the UK Expansion Worker is the better route. And if your degree is from a UK university, the HPI is not open to you at all.
Frequently asked questions
Is my university on the list?
That depends on your graduation year. A list is published for each year and is based on international rankings. Check the list for the year your degree was awarded.
Can I extend after two years?
No. If you want to stay, switch to another visa before it ends.
Do the two years count towards British citizenship?
No. Time on the HPI does not count towards settlement, and without settlement there is no naturalisation.
Can I be self-employed or start a business on the HPI?
Yes, self-employment is allowed. But it builds no path to settlement. If you want to build a UK business and stay, plan an early switch to another route.
Sources: GOV.UK: High Potential Individual visa; GOV.UK: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
