You will need an overseas degree level qualification in order to be eligible for a High Potential Individual Visa.

To qualify for a High Potential Individual Visa, you must have received your overseas degree within the last five years.

In regard to the date when you were awarded your degree, the institution that awarded it must appear on the Global Universities List. University rankings published by the Home Office are known as the Global Universities List, which is compiled every year and consists of universities that are ranked in the top 50 according to at least two different ranking systems:

• World University Rankings by Times Higher Education; 
• Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings; 
• An academic ranking of universities throughout the world.

The Home Office produces a list of the top 50 universities which qualify graduates as potential High Potential Individual visa applicants.

Ecctis must confirm that your qualification is equivalent to or exceeds the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s or UK postgraduate degree.  Additionally, Ecctis will confirm the date when your degree was awarded.

Our expert team is able to verify that your degree and or awarding institution qualify under the High Potential Individual Visa route.

In order to qualify for a High Potential Individual Visa, you must show proficiency in English in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) to at least level B1 (intermediate).

If you are a recent graduate applying for clearance or leave as a High Potential Individual, you must meet the following language requirement:

• You are a citizen of a majority English-speaking country;
• you have passed a Secure English Language Test;
• an English-taught degree has been awarded to you; 
• Have obtained GCSEs/A Levels or Scottish Highers in English while at school in the UK;
• They have already proven they meet the level B1 requirement in a previous successful application for entry clearance or stay authorisation.

The minimum cash requirement is £1,270, subject to the exemptions below.

The money must have been held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days and not more than 31 days before the application deadline.

As long as you have been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more at the time you apply, you will meet the financial requirement and won’t need to show funds.

By switching to the High Potential Individual Visa route, you can extend your stay if you have current leave to remain in another immigration category or were last granted permission as a Visitor, a Short-term Student, a Parent of a Child Student, a Seasonal Worker, a Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or outside the Immigration Rules. 

You will be granted a High Potential Visa for the following period of time if your application for a High Potential Visa is approved:

• Qualifications at the doctoral level – 3 years
• Other degree qualifications – 2 years

You will be permitted to work (including self-employment and voluntary work), except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach if your application for a High Potential Individual Visa is approved. You may also study on a course other than a course which meets the requirements of the student route. Public Funds will not be available to you.

There is no way of extending a visa for high potential individuals. Before your leave expires, you may be able to apply to change to another immigration route from within the UK.  There are requirements for each immigration route that you wish to extend into.

Settlement in the UK is not directly associated with the High Potential Individual Visa. It is possible to switch to another immigration route, such as the skilled worker route or the start-up route when combined with the innovator route before your leave expires. The immigration route you wish to extend into will have specific requirements. There is information on our website about all the main immigration routes, including if they lead to settlement. 

You may also be eligible to extend your stay until you qualify for settlement based on your long residence.

Visa holders can be accompanied or joined by a dependent partner over 18 years old and dependent children under 18 years old.

Our expert legal team are highly experienced in assisting with the below services (where the option has been made available by UKVI and is considered appropriate)

New Applications – We can help you assess the merits, challenges and solutions to any issues arising whilst making a new application for a High Potential Individual Visa.

Dependents – We can help you make a successful application for your partner or children to join you as your dependents on your High Potential Individual Visa.

Legal Representations – Where applicable, if you find yourself in an unusual or challenging situation and want the Home Office to take notice of your special circumstances to ensure that you are treated fairly and your rights are respected, our expert team can make both oral and written persuasive legal representations.

Challenge a Refusal – If your application has been refused, we can consider your refusal for free and advise on the best course of action.

Administrative Review – Home Office or Immigration Rules can be challenged if the decision-maker failed to follow them correctly.

Judicial Review – If your application was denied illegally, unreasonable or procedurally improperly, our immigration lawyers can apply for Judicial Review and represent you at the Judicial Review hearing.

Appeal an Unfair Decision – The decision to refuse your application may provide you with a right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal. Our expert lawyers can advise you on and handle Appeals before the Immigration & Asylum Chamber (First Tier & Upper Tribunal)