The High Potential Individual visa is for people who recently graduated from an eligible university. It does not lead directly to settlement, so planning the next route matters from the start.
Information checked against the sources listed below on 10 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change; this is general information, not advice on your case, and does not assess whether you qualify.
What the official guidance says.
- You must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university within the past five years.
- The visa lasts 2 years, or 3 years if you hold a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
- You cannot extend it. You can switch to another visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, before it expires.
- Your partner and children can join you or stay as dependants if eligible.
- Time spent on the HPI visa does not count towards settlement and the visa does not lead to permanent settlement.
What usually decides the outcome.
- Whether your university and qualification are on the eligible list.
- What you plan to switch into before the visa ends.
- How dependants’ permission is affected when you switch.
How we can help.
Depending on what you need, support can range from a first conversation to full representation. Ask for the scope of any work, and an explanation of our fees and separate government charges, in writing before you instruct the firm.
- Initial consultation and eligibility assessment. A conversation about your circumstances, the routes that may apply and the risks.
- Written advice and immigration planning. A considered view on your options and a plan that looks ahead to extensions, settlement or citizenship.
- Document and application checking. A review of an application or evidence you have prepared, before you submit it.
- Full application preparation and representation. Preparing and submitting the application, and dealing with the Home Office on your behalf.
- Responses to Home Office requests. Help answering requests for further information, interviews or evidence.
- Refusal analysis and next steps. Understanding why an application failed and whether to seek review, appeal, judicial review or make a fresh application.
Before you contact us
- Write a short summary of your circumstances and what you want to achieve.
- Note any decision dates, expiry dates or deadlines.
- Do not send passport numbers or sensitive documents in the first enquiry. We will explain how to share them securely.