UK High Potential Visa Allows Graduates to Work Without a Job Offer

The United Kingdom is continuing to promote its High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, a scheme that allows graduates from leading international universities to live and work in the UK without needing a job offer.

The HPI visa is designed for individuals who have obtained a qualification equivalent to a UK bachelor’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree within the past five years. Eligibility depends on the institution from which the degree was awarded, based on an official government list of top global universities updated each year. 

For the period from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025, the list includes more than 40 institutions, among them Harvard University, ETH Zurich, the University of Tokyo, and the University of Melbourne. Unlike most visa categories, the HPI route does not require employer sponsorship or a confirmed job offer. 

Successful applicants can work in most professions, be self-employed, take part in voluntary work, and live in the UK with eligible family members. The visa lasts two years for most applicants or three years for those with a PhD or equivalent qualification. It cannot be renewed, although holders can later apply to switch to a longer-term visa, such as the Skilled Worker route.

Applicants must show they can support themselves financially, unless they have already lived in the UK for at least 12 months under another valid visa. Applications are submitted online, with decisions usually made within three weeks for applicants outside the UK and eight weeks for those applying from within the country.

Individuals who have previously held a Graduate visa or taken part in the Doctorate Extension Scheme cannot apply under this route. The government has indicated plans to expand the scheme by including graduates from the world’s top 100 universities and introducing an annual cap of 8,000 applications. 

The proposed changes are part of efforts to attract global talent and strengthen the UK’s innovation-led economy, particularly in fields such as technology, research and entrepreneurship.