New UK visa route opens door to global graduate talent

A new visa route that will allow businesses to tap into graduates from the world’s elite universities without having to first obtain an immigration sponsor licence opens today (30 May 2022).

The High Potential Individual or HPI visa is a significant step in the Government’s aim to make the UK a hub for global innovation and will make it easier, quicker and cheaper for UK businesses to attract the best and brightest graduates, says global immigration law firm Fragomen LLP.

Louise Haycock, a Partner at Fragomen LLP comments: “This new visa route opens the door to global talent for businesses of all sizes, removing the need for a costly sponsor licence in the first instance. It is a welcomed visa route with considerable benefits for both UK businesses and international graduates.

“It gives international graduates the chance to come to the UK without a formal job offer to gain valuable working experience, before settling into a longer-term job or even starting their own business.

“There are however strict criteria that must be met, the most significant being that the HPI visa is only open to individuals who have graduated from one of the world’s top 50 universities outside of the UK within the past five years.”

The list of the world’s top 50 universities, published on the Government’s website here, includes universities from the USA, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada, France, Germany and Japan and will be updated every year to reflect changes in university rankings.

Russell Hodges, a Senior Associate at Fragomen LLP adds: “This visa route will be particularly attractive to businesses in the sciences and life sciences, technology and financial services sectors and should prove a popular route into the UK.

“The HPI visa will cost individuals £715 plus an additional health surcharge which will entitle them to NHS access. Dependent partners and children can also come to the UK albeit at an additional cost.

“The Government sees the HPI visa as a short-term work route for those at the early stage of their career and have the potential to benefit the UK workforce. Although the scheme itself does not lead to UK permanent residence, other longer-term visas can be sought at a later date should the individual intend on remaining in the UK on a permanent basis.

“The HPI visa route opens on 30 May with individuals who meet the criteria permitted to work in the UK for either two or three years.”