No Job Offer Needed for UK’s New Visa for Top Graduates

The United Kingdom (UK) is set to launch the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa program for talented graduates from top universities globally. The new visa will allow HPI visa holders to work and stay in the UK for two to three years, depending on their education level. 

 The applications for the visa program will open from May 30. Aspirants don’t need a job offer or sponsorship to apply for an HPI visa. 

“The new High Potential Individual route will make it as simple as possible for internationally mobile individuals who demonstrate high potential to come to the UK. It will enable those who have already demonstrated their potential through academic achievement to come to the UK without a prior job offer,” Minister for Safe and Legal Migration Kevin Foster said in a statement. 

Graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree will be given a two-year visa, and those with a PhD degree can be granted a three-year HPI visa. 

HPI Visa Eligibility

• HPI visa is specifically for graduates of universities outside the UK. 
• They need to be at least 18 years old to qualify. 
•  The aspirant needs to have a degree from any one of the top universities listed by the UK government. The list will change yearly. 
•  The aspirant must have been awarded the degree within a maximum of five years of their visa application. 

English Requirement

• A certificate or university transcript confirming that the degree was taught in English. 
• If the degree wasn’t taught in English, at least a B1 level of any approved English language test. 
• Confirmation from Ecctis that the degree meets the standard of UK’s bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate levels if the degree has been awarded outside the UK. 

Financial Requirement

An applicant must show the equivalent of at least £1,270 in their bank account for a continuous 28-day period no later than 31 days before submitting the HPI visa application.

However, if the applicant has been resident in the UK for more than 12 months, they might not need to meet this requirement.

Additionally, HPI visa holders will be allowed to bring children under the age of 18 and their partners to the UK. 

It is a one-time visa opportunity and cannot be granted to those who have already had a Graduate visa. The HPI visa application fee has been set at £715.