From May 30, the United Kingdom will introduce a new visa for high-potential students and graduates: the High Potential Individual Visa. We tell you everything you need to know about this system aimed at attracting the best talents.
What is the High Potential Individual Visa?
The High Potential Individual Visa (or HPI Visa) is a visa which will be deployed by the United Kingdom from May 30, 2022. However, a more or less similar version of this visa had already been implemented by England which wanted to attract talent from very specific universities.
The objective of the HPI Visa is to enable those graduating from the best higher education establishments in the world to come and live and work in the United Kingdom for between two and three years, depending on the level of qualification. For those who have the High Potential Individual, there is no need to have a job offer and this is great news! They can totally go to England and work there as self-employed or even as volunteers in an association.
Graduates who are eligible for the High Potential Individual Visa
The High Potential Individual Visa is aimed at all those who have demonstrated “ their potential through their academic results », as indicated by Kevin Foster, Minister of Safe and Legal Migration. The government will publish, once a year, the list of universities of origin of candidates eligible for the HPI Visa. The establishment must be in the top 50 of at least two of the three rankings used to judge their quality : THE, QS and The Academic Ranking of the World Universities.
It is important to note that a list is already available on the British government website. There we find CalTech, Columbia, Harvard, PSL (a university which houses Paris-Dauphine or even Mines Paris-PSL) and MIT, among others. You will need to have graduated less than five years ago if you wish to obtain the High Potential Individual Visa.
Other prerequisites are also necessary to obtain this very particular visa: you must of course speak English. If your studies were not taught in the language of Shakespeare, you will need to take a test attesting to a B1 level. Please note, for diplomas that have not been issued by an English school – almost all the establishments available on the government list – you must make sure you have an Ecctis certificate to indicate that your training corresponds to the English academic requirements for bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate.
High Potential Individual Visa: Other things to know
It is important to emphasize that, to obtain the High Potential Individual Visa, financial prerequisites must be met. You must have at least £1,270 (almost €1,500) in your bank account for a continuous period of 28 days which must not be earlier than the 31 days preceding the HPI Visa application. It’s technical!
Another important element: the visa is certainly intended to attract the best talents to the United Kingdom, but it nevertheless pays off. You will have to pay £175 (€205) to obtain the High Potential Individual. If you have a master’s or bachelor’s degree, you will only be able to stay 2 years in England, compared to 3 for those with a doctorate.
Finally, we must anticipate the expiration of the High Potential Individual Visa. As the end date approaches, you will need to apply for a work permit, a startup permit or a permit to “ exceptional talent “. Attention ! Once the HPI Visa is in your pocket, you will only be able to come with your children under 18 years old, your partner with whom you are married or, where applicable, with whom you have lived for at least two years, in providing proof of this common life. However, it should be noted that the procedures for obtaining the High Potential Individual are greatly simplified compared to a traditional visa.
