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UKWork residence permit

Visa for top university graduates in the UK

A visa for recent graduates of leading overseas universities that allows you to move to the United Kingdom and look for work or work without a job offer from a sponsoring employer. It is a temporary status — a transitional option before switching to a visa that leads to permanent residence.

Visa term
2 years, or 3 years with a PhD; it cannot be extended, but you can switch to another visa
Threshold
At least £1,270 in the account for 28 days, plus funds for dependants and the fees
Processing time
Online, usually about 3–8 weeks from abroad
Work
Work in almost any capacity, except as a professional sportsperson

Source: gov.uk — High Potential Individual visa

Who can get the visa

Requirements for the qualification

  • A bachelor’s, master’s or PhD qualification obtained no more than 5 years ago
  • The qualification must come from an overseas university on the official list of eligible universities — UK universities do not count
  • The qualification must be checked and confirmed by Ecctis

Other requirements

  • English at level B2 or above on the CEFR scale
  • Proven savings in the account, unless you hold a current UK visa of 12 months or longer
  • A visa on this route can only be obtained once in a lifetime

What it costs

Application fee880 GBP
Immigration health surcharge (IHS), for each year of the visa1 035 GBP
Proven savings in the account (28 days in a row)1 270 GBP
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.3 185 GBP

Documents to gather

The exact list depends on the applicant’s circumstances.

  • A valid passport or another document proving identity and nationality
  • Proof of knowledge of English
  • The unique number (UPI) or Ecctis certificate confirming the qualification check
  • A bank statement showing the savings, unless you hold a current UK visa of 12 months or longer
  • Documents proving the relationship with a partner and children, if they apply together with the applicant
  • Tuberculosis test results for applicants from certain countries
  • Proof of current immigration status (an eVisa share code or a biometric residence permit) when switching visa inside the United Kingdom
  • A certified translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh

How the process runs

The main stages of applying for the HPI visa.

  1. 1

    Confirm the qualification through Ecctis

    Check that the qualification is at the required level and was obtained at a university on the list of eligible universities.

  2. 2

    Collect the documents

    Passport, proof of English, the Ecctis number or certificate, a bank statement showing the savings and other documents depending on the circumstances.

  3. 3

    Apply online

    no earlier than 3 months before travelling

    The application is filed online; you can apply no earlier than 3 months before the planned journey to the United Kingdom.

  4. 4

    Confirm your identity and provide the documents

    An appointment may be required — allow extra time for it.

  5. 5

    Wait for the decision

    3 weeks from abroad / 8 weeks inside the country

    A decision on an application from abroad usually arrives within 3 weeks; when applying from inside the United Kingdom — within 8 weeks.

Who you can bring with you

A partner and children can apply for a visa as dependants together with the main applicant or later.

Partner (spouse, civil partner or a partner in a relationship of 2 years or more)
You must prove a marriage or civil partnership recognised in the United Kingdom, or living together for 2 years or more, or a relationship of 2 years or more with evidence (correspondence, financial support, joint care of children). Additional savings — £285 in the account for 28 days in a row. The health surcharge is £2,070 for a 2-year visa or £3,105 for a 3-year one.
First child
The child must be under 18 (or older if they already hold dependant status), live with the applicant except while in full-time study, and not be married. Additional savings — £315 in the account for 28 days in a row. The health surcharge is £1,552 for a 2-year visa or £2,328 for a 3-year one.
Each further child
Additional savings — £200 in the account for 28 days in a row for each of them. The other conditions and the health surcharge are the same as for the first child.
All dependants
The visa of a partner and children normally expires on the same date as the main applicant’s visa. The savings requirement does not apply if the family has already lived in the United Kingdom on a valid visa for 12 months or more.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

No special residence requirements (the route does not lead to ILR)

The HPI visa cannot be extended. Before it expires you can switch to another visa, for example the Skilled Worker visa. Time spent in the United Kingdom on the HPI visa does not count towards a later application for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

Visa for top university graduatesVisa for professional leadersVisa for business founders
Visa term2 years, or 3 years with a PhD; it cannot be extended, but you can switch to another visa1–5 years at a time, at your choice, extendable; there is no overall maximumUsually up to 3 years, then an extension or ILR straight away
GroundsGraduates of top universitiesLeaders in science / IT / the artsInnovative business
MoneyAt least £1,270 in the account for 28 days, plus funds for dependants and the feesNo fixed threshold, but you must show funds for your maintenanceThere is no hard investment threshold, but realistic business funding and living costs must be shown
WorkWork in almost any capacity, except as a professional sportspersonFull right to work in any field and to change employer without a sponsorWork on your own business; limited employed work
ResidenceNo special residence requirements (the route does not lead to ILR)You must show that your centre of life is in the UKLive in the UK and actively develop the business

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

HPI does not count as a route to ILR; you have to switch

Route to citizenship

Indirectly: only after switching to a visa that leads to ILR

Frequently asked questions about Visa for top university graduates

Who can apply for the HPI visa?
Recent holders — no more than 5 years since graduation — of a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD qualification from an overseas (non-UK) university on the official list of eligible universities, who have had the qualification checked by Ecctis and have proven English at level B2 or above.
How much does the HPI visa cost?
The application fee is £880, the immigration health surcharge (IHS) is usually £1,035 for each year of the visa, and you must also show savings of at least £1,270 held in the account for 28 days in a row.
How long is the HPI visa valid?
2 years, or 3 years with a PhD or doctoral qualification.
Can the HPI visa be extended?
No, it cannot be extended. Before it expires you can switch to another visa, for example the Skilled Worker visa.
Can a partner and children come with the applicant?
Yes, a partner and children can apply as dependants. You must show additional savings — £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child, all held in the account for 28 days in a row — and pay the health surcharge separately for each family member.
Does the HPI visa lead to indefinite leave to remain (ILR)?
No. Time spent in the United Kingdom on the HPI visa does not count towards an ILR application — for that you have to switch to a visa that leads to permanent status.
What level of English is needed for the HPI visa?
Level B2 or above on the CEFR scale. It can be proven with a UK school exam (GCSE, A Level or a Scottish National Qualification at level 4-5), a degree taught in English (for a non-UK university — with confirmation through Ecctis) or by passing a SELT test with an approved provider. Nationals of 17 countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, are exempt from this requirement.

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.