UK Immigration White Paper – Part 5: The high potential individual visa

On 12 May 2025, the Home Office published a white paper outlining proposed changes to the UK immigration system. One intended change highlights the focus on attracting the “brightest and best” to the UK by widening the accessibility of the High Potential Individual (HPI) route.

The Labour government is seeking to double the number of qualifying institutions on the HPI visa route to potentially increase the number of academically gifted graduates entering the UK under the HPI category. However, considering the many other changes the government seeks to implement, it is unclear what these graduates should expect when they arrive in the UK.

Introduction of the High Potential Individual Visa

The HPI visa, launched in May 2022, allows graduates from 50 world-leading universities (a Home Office prescribed list) to enter and remain the UK for up to three years to seek employment, self-employment, or undertake voluntary work without the need for sponsorship.

This route has been a way for the UK government to ensure they are inviting high-calibre talent to the UK and remaining competitive in the global race to attract the most desirable talent, however between May 2022 and June 2024, approximately 4,500 main applicant visas had been granted. It appears this figure may not have been in line with the government’s initial projections, as the discourse suggests that this route has seen a relatively limited uptake.

While the white paper shows a clear intention to reduce net migration through a variety of measures, including increasing sponsorship fees and ending some worker routes altogether (as detailed in previous articles in this series), the expansion of the HPI route may lead to the opposite effect, i.e. an increase in net migration. It is, however, yet to be seen how the government intends to cap this expansion as indicated in the white paper.

Where is the list being expanded to?

A report revealed that HPI visa holders are primarily nationals of the USA (26%), India (17%), and China (12%). The USA and China feature frequently on the list of HPI-eligible universities; however, there are currently no universities from India featured!

Upon expansion of the list, it is unclear which institutions will be included, whether this will simply be expanding the list from the top 50 to the top 100 universities appearing on the global league tables. Alternatively, will the government consider wider geographical representation, as currently there are a few countries dominating the list, namely, the USA, China, Canada, and Germany?

Prioritising the best?

While under 5,000 HPI visas had been granted in the two years between the launch in May 2022 and June 2024, almost 200,000 Graduate visas had been approved in just half the time (June 2023 to June 2024). It seems that the Labour government may be prioritising access to the UK for top graduates from overseas, while placing new restrictions on graduates in the UK as the white paper proposes to reduce the time allowed on a Graduate visa from two years to just 18 months. The government seem to be taking a more selective approach when considering those permitted to enter and remain in the UK.

Long-Term Prospects and Settlement Challenges

A recent report revealed that 66% of HPI visa holders intend to remain in the UK beyond their current visas. However, proposed government changes may prompt some to reconsider. One proposal extends the settlement period route from five to ten years. This suggests migrants may face twice the duration and double the government fees to settle in the UK, despite their high achievements from reputable institutions. These changes could hinder the UK’s competitiveness in attracting top global talent.

HPI visa holders have also commanded relatively high salaries. Reports show that nearly half earned over £40,000, a third were earning over £50,000, and one in eight earned over £75,000. This would, of course, correlate with higher taxes paid and a greater contribution to the British economy. The white paper states that individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on their contributions to the UK. It remains to be seen what type of contributions will be considered and whether such measures, if implemented, could be regarded as potentially discriminatory.

Final Thoughts

Although this is a positive proposal, it remains unclear how beneficial this change will be and, moreover, how inclusive. In the government’s pledge to cut down net migration, commitment is shown to hold on to “the very highly skilled”; however, with the other changes proposed in the white paper, it remains to be seen whether the UK will remain competitive and be able to attract the very best talent.

How We Can Help

If you have any questions stemming from this article or the white paper in general, do not hesitate to contact Mandeep Khroud at Irwin Mitchell.

Further insights about the White Paper

Irwin Mitchell's Immigration team is producing a series of articles which examine key proposals within the White Paper. All these can be accessed via the following link.