High Potential Individual Visa UK: 2025 Guide for Singaporeans

The UK High Potential Individual (HPI) visa allows recent graduates of eligible universities to live, work, and explore career opportunities in the UK without needing a job offer.¹ It’s designed to attract talent from around the world, including Singapore, by recognising academic achievement and potential.

In this guide, we’ll cover what the High Potential Individual visa is, who qualifies, and how to apply from Singapore. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

What is the UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa?

The High Potential Individual visa is for highly skilled graduates from some of the world’s top universities. Unlike traditional work visas, the UK HPI visa doesn’t require applicants to have a job offer. Instead, it assesses an individual’s potential based on their academic achievements.

What can you do with an HPI visa?

With a High Potential Individual visa, you can²:

• Work
• Look for work
• Study if you’re not eligible for a student visa
• Volunteer
• Bring eligible family members with you
• Transition to another visa
• Leave and re-enter the UK

How long is the visa valid for?

The duration of the UK HPI visa depends on your highest qualification.²

• Bachelor’s degree: Valid for 2 years
• Master’s degree: Valid for 2 years
• PhD or doctorate: Valid for 3 years

Who is eligible for the HPI visa?

The main eligibility requirement for the High Potential Individual visa is that you graduated within the last five years from an approved university outside of the UK.

The UK High Potential Individual visa university list

Your qualification must be equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, PhD, or doctorate. You’ll also need to submit your qualification to Ecctis to verify that it’s recognised and at the right level.

The UK High Potential Individual visa university list changes each year, so be sure to check the list for the month and year you earned your qualification. Here are some universities in Singapore and Asia on the list for 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025.³

• National University of Singapore
• Nanyang Technological University
• Fudan University
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Tsinghua University
• Zhejiang University
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• University of Hong Kong
• University of Tokyo
• Kyoto University

Other eligibility requirements

You must also meet the following criteria to apply:

• Financial: Have at least 1,270 GBP (about 2,204 SGD) in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row (within 31 days of your application)⁴
• Age: Be 18 years or older when you apply⁵
• Language: You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English at the B1 level⁶
• Prior visas: You must not have been previously granted entry to the UK under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme⁵

How to apply for the HPI visa from Singapore

You can apply for the HPI visa from outside the UK by following these steps:

1. Pay for Ecctis to check if your qualification is valid and provide you with proof.
2. Prepare the necessary documents, such as your passport and financial documents.
3. Complete the application form and submit it online.
4. The UK government will request you prove your identity by scanning your identity document on the UK Immigration ID Check app or by having your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre.
5. Pay your application fee and healthcare surcharge.
6. Wait 3–8 weeks for a decision².

What documents do you need to apply for the HPI visa?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for the UK HPI visa⁸:

• A passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality
• Proof of your knowledge of English
• Your person identifier number or certificate from Ecctis
• Bank statements
• Proof of your relationship with your dependents if they’re applying with you

Life in the UK with the HPI visa

HPI visa holders are allowed to bring the following family members if they have the necessary funds to support themselves.⁹

• Your husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner: 285 GBP (about 494 SGD)
• Children under 18, if they were born in the UK during your stay: 315 GBP (about 546 SGD)
• Children over 18, if they currently have permission to be in the UK: 200 GBP for each additional child (about 347 SGD)

You cannot extend your High Potential Individual visa, but you can switch to a different visa when it expires, such as the Skilled Worker or Global Talent visas.²

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When can I apply for HPI?

You can apply for the High Potential Individual visa within 5 years of being awarded your qualification from an eligible university.

How much does it cost to apply for an HPI visa in the UK?

To apply for a High Potential Individual visa, you’ll need to pay the following⁴:

• 252 GBP (about 437 SGD) for Ecctis to check your qualification
• 880 GBP (about 1,527 SGD) application fee
• 2,070 GBP (about 3,593 SGD) healthcare surcharge for a 2-year visa
• 3,105 GBP (about 5,389 SGD) healthcare surcharge for a 3-year visa

How long does an HPI visa take to process?

If you applied within the UK, it’ll take up to 8 weeks to process your High Potential Individual visa application. If you applied outside of the UK, it’ll take up to 3 weeks.²

How do I prove my level of English when applying for the UK HPI visa?

To prove you can read, write, speak, and understand English at the B1 level, you can¹⁰:

• Pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider.
• Hold a UK school qualification in English (GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification, Higher or Advanced Higher) completed before age 18.
• Have a degree taught in English with confirmation from Ecctis that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD.