New UK visa option for top global university graduates and postgraduates

Attracting “the brightest and the best”

Designed to provide opportunities for growth after Brexit, the new Hight Potential Individual (HPI) visa route is being launch today to attract and ultimately retain “the brightest and the best to the UK to maintain our status as a leading international hub for emerging and disruptive technologies”.

This is a non-sponsored visa route to the UK available to graduates and postgraduates from one of the top global universities listed in the Home Office’s Global Universities List who want to live, work (including self-employed and voluntary work) or look for work in the UK. There is no requirement to undertake economic activity under this route.

Some key features of the new HPI visa route include:-

• Applicants must be aged 18 or over.
• Have been awarded a bachelor’s or postgraduates degree outside the UK during the last 5 years from the date of application from an institution listed in Global Universities List.
• Must not have previously been in the UK under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as an HPI.
• Can be accompanied by their family members.
• Must be able to show savings of £1,270 held for 28 days prior to the date of application, unless applying from within the UK having already been resident for 12 months prior to the date of application. Must be able to show additional savings if accompanied by their family members.
• Must be able to show their knowledge of the English language at level B1 or above in reading, writing, speaking and listening evidenced by a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or verified degree course taught in English or as a national of a recognised majority English speaking country.
• No access to public funds and not allowed to work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach).
• Can apply from inside or outside the UK.
• Cannot extend their leave and this visa route does not lead to settlement in the UK. Time spent under this visa route cannot be counted as part of the continuous qualifying period for settlement in other routes. Those wanting to remain in the UK after their HPI leave expires need to submit an in-country switch application under an alternative visa route, such as the Skilled Worker route and the Scale-up route once available.

This visa route should provide much needed flexibility to those eligible. However, some may prefer applying under a visa route that leads to settlement or wish to switch into a settlement route as soon as they are able to. Employers should therefore expect migrants in this route may approach them for sponsorship at some point before their HPI visa is due to expire.

For any further information or assistance, please contact our Head of Immigration Services Patricia Marleau at 01905 900919 or at patricia@bradleyhayneslaw.co.uk.