UK’s HPI Visa Route Launched; Top Grads Can Stay for At Least 2 Years

On Monday, May 30, the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa route was launched in London for graduates from the top 50 non-UK universities. 

UK Cabinet ministers of Indian origin, Priti Patel and Rishi Sunak, said in a statement given jointly that the new “exciting” category will attract the most skilled graduates across the globe. 

Sunak said, “The UK is already home to some of the most ground-breaking start-ups, on the forefront of R&D and an incredibly diverse and exciting place to live – come and join in.”

The HPI visa will cost GBP 715, and the permit holders can bring close family members or dependents along. 

All applicants applying under this route must have at least GBP 1,270 to qualify. Another major qualification is that the applicant must have graduated from the top 50 institutions recognized by top-ranking systems like QS, THE, Academic Ranking of World Universities, and others. It is also important that the study institute must be outside of the UK. 

To apply for an HPI visa, one must have been awarded a degree by an identified university in the last five years.

HPI visa will allow graduates to work and live in the UK. A minimum stay of two years will be offered to graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, while PhD holders will be offered a minimum stay of three years with no job offer requirement. 

On a related note, international students who graduate from the top UK universities already qualify for a stay of up to three years via the post-study work visa route.