Routes 5

HPI or Graduate visa: a choice you make once

You cannot get an HPI visa after being granted a Graduate visa, and you can only apply for HPI once.

The domed rotunda of the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford against a blue sky — Plate 19. The Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, a reading room of the Bodleian Library. Photo: Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Adapted (greyscale, cropped).

The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa and the Graduate visa are both routes for recent graduates, but they are open to different people. A UK degree never qualifies for HPI.

The two visas, row by row

The HPI and Graduate visas compared
Question	HPI visa	Graduate visa
Who qualifies	A degree from a listed university outside the UK, awarded in the last 5 years Authority Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 5.1 (gov.uk). The passage relied on You must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years.	People in the UK on a Student visa whose completed course has been reported Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
Length	2 years; 3 years with a PhD or other doctoral qualification Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on An HPI visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.	2 years on or before 31 December 2026; 3 years after a doctorate Authority Appendix Graduate, GR 8.1, as amended by HC 1333 (gov.uk). The passage relied on 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
Length from 1 January 2027	No change held	Scheduled: 18 months Authority Appendix Graduate, GR 8.1, as amended by HC 1333 (gov.uk). The passage relied on 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
Job offer or sponsor	No job offer needed Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). The passage relied on You do not need to have a job offer to apply.	No sponsor: an unsponsored route Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied on The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
English	Level B2 Authority Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 4.1, as amended by HC 1333 (gov.uk). The passage relied on You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.	See GOV.UK
After the other visa	Not after a Graduate visa Authority Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 1.6 (gov.uk). The passage relied on HPI 1.6. The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as a High Potential Individual.	Only with current or last permission as a Student Authority Appendix Graduate, GR 1.3 (gov.uk). The passage relied on GR 1.3. The applicant must have, or have last had, permission as a Student.
Can it be repeated	No: you can only apply once Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). The passage relied on You can only apply for an HPI visa once.	No: it cannot be extended Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on You cannot extend your Graduate visa.
Switch to Skilled Worker	You may be able to, before it expires Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa. You can switch to a different visa before your HPI visa expires.	You may be able to Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
Counts towards settlement	No Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on Your time on an HPI visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle in the UK.	No: not a route to settlement Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied on The Graduate route is not a route to settlement.

A Graduate visa closes the HPI route

Paragraph 1

An HPI visa is not open to anyone previously granted permission as a Graduate. GOV.UK guidance adds that you cannot switch to HPI from a Graduate visa.

Paragraph 2

You can only apply for an HPI visa once. The rule behind it, HPI 1.6, also bars anyone previously granted permission as a High Potential Individual.

HPI 1.6. The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as a High Potential Individual.

Immigration Rules, Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 1.6 (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

HPI does not lead to a Graduate visa

Paragraph 3

A Graduate visa needs you to have, or have last had, permission as a Student. An HPI holder cannot switch straight to it.

Paragraph 4

UK universities are not eligible for HPI. If you are in the UK on a Student visa, you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa instead.

UK universities are not eligible. If you’re already in the UK on a student visa you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa.

gov.uk guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Both can lead to a switch

Paragraph 5

Neither visa can be extended, but you may be able to switch from either, for example to Skilled Worker. See the HPI entry and After your course ends.

Paragraph 6

Time on either visa does not count towards Skilled Worker settlement; how it is treated is in time towards settlement.

Global Talent, for leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture or digital technology, needs no job offer.

Authority GOV.UK guidance, Apply for the Global Talent visa: Overview (gov.uk).

The passage relied on

You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:

History

8 October 2026. Entry updated.
7 October 2026. Entry first published.

Common questions

Can I apply for HPI after a Graduate visa?

No. The HPI rules bar anyone previously granted permission as a Graduate, and GOV.UK says you cannot switch to an HPI visa if you are on a Graduate visa.

Can I get a Graduate visa after an HPI visa?

Not by switching from HPI. A Graduate visa needs you to have, or have last had, permission as a Student.

Which is better, HPI or the Graduate visa?

This entry does not rank them: they are open to different people. The Graduate visa follows a UK course; HPI needs a degree from a listed university outside the UK. The table sets the facts side by side.

Does an HPI visa last longer than a Graduate visa?

An HPI visa lasts 2 years, or 3 years with a doctoral qualification. A Graduate visa lasts 2 years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026, then 18 months.

Sources

Global talent: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
You must also be at least 18 years old.
Immigration Rules: Appendix High Potential Individual (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
HPI 1.6. The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as a High Potential Individual.
The High Potential Individual route is not a route to settlement.
High Potential Individual visa: Switch to this visa (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You cannot switch to this visa if you’re on a Graduate visa.
High Potential Individual visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You can only apply for an HPI visa once.
You do not need to have a job offer to apply.
You must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years.
UK universities are not eligible. If you’re already in the UK on a student visa you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa.
High Potential Individual visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
An HPI visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
Your time on an HPI visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle in the UK.
However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa. You can switch to a different visa before your HPI visa expires.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
GR 1.3. The applicant must have, or have last had, permission as a Student.
The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
GR 1.4. The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Doctorate Extension Scheme or as a Graduate.
The Graduate route is not a route to settlement.
Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
You cannot extend your Graduate visa.
You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
High Potential Individual visa: Knowledge of English (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
Statement of Changes HC 1333 (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
APP HPI5. In the table in HPI 4.1, for “level B1”, substitute “level B2.”.
2 years if the applicant has successfully completed a course at UK bachelor’s degree or master’s degree level, or another relevant qualification that meets the requirement of ST8.1/2/3 of the Rules, and the application is made before 1 January 2027.
Statement of Changes HC 1333: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
5.26 The change to 18 months will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027, with PhD graduates continuing to receive three years of leave.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:
Skilled Worker visa: When you can be paid less (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
you’re currently in the UK on a Graduate visa (or you have been in the last 2 years, and a Graduate or visit visa was your most recent visa)

How each figure is checked: Sources and method.

This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).