Before you apply, you must pay for Ecctis to check your qualification is valid.

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• a valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality

• proof of your knowledge of English

You’ll also need to provide the statement Ecctis sends to you when they’ve checked your qualification.

If you had to apply to Ecctis to confirm that your qualification was taught in English, the statement is called an ‘Academic Qualification Level Statement and English Language Proficiency Statement’. Otherwise, it’s called an ‘Academic Qualification Level Statement’.

Other documents you might need

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

• your biometric residence permit (BRP) or online proof of your immigration status, if you’re switching to this visa from another visa

• proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you

• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

Subject to the exemption below, you will need to have cash funds of at least £1,270 available.

You will need to have held the money for at least 28 consecutive days ending not more than 31 days before the date of your High Potential Individual Visa application.

If you are applying for permission to stay and have been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more at the date of application, you will meet the financial requirement and will not need to show funds.

The list of eligible universities is based on rankings of universities from around the world.

Check the list of eligible universities for the month and year you were awarded your qualification:

• 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024

• 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023

• 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022

• 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021

• 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020

• 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019

UK universities are not eligible. If you’re already in the UK on a student visa you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa.

Your qualification must be at the same level as:

• a UK bachelor’s degree

• a UK postgraduate degree

• a UK PhD or doctorate

You must apply to Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to check your qualification is valid and at the right level. Ecctis will not check if your university is eligible.

You must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years.

Once you’ve applied, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified

• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

With an HPI visa you can:

• work in most jobs

• look for work

• be self-employed

• live in the UK with your partner and children, if they’re eligible

• do voluntary work

• travel abroad and return to the UK

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

• work as a professional sportsperson

• extend this visa

• apply to settle permanently in the UK

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with an HPI visa.

Studying with an HPI visa

You can only study with an HPI visa if your chosen course is not eligible for a Student visa. If your course is eligible for a Student visa, you can apply for a Student visa instead, or extend your Student visa if you already have one.

You may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you’re studying or researching sensitive topics.

An HPI visa usually lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot extend your HPI visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa will end on the earlier date.

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

• your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

• your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

• your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependant when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove one of the following:

• you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK

• you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

• you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture

If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other

• support each other financially

• care for any children you have together

• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Your child

They must:

• live with you, unless they’re living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university

• not be married or in a civil partnership

You’ll need to provide evidence of their address, such as:

• a bank statement

• credit card bills

• driving licence

• NHS registration document

• an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

• £285 for your partner

• £315 for one child

• £200 for each additional child

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

• you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

• your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they’ll only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year.