High Potential Individual

High Potential Individual is a straightforward and unsponsored immigration route which permits applicants with an eligible degree qualification (minimum bachelors' level) from a non-UK ‘top global university’ to undertake full-time employment or self-employment in the UK, at any skill level, for:

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three years if they have been awarded a PhD or other eligible doctoral level qualification, or
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two years, for all other eligible degree qualifications

The route is set

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Latest Immigration News

Immigration weekly highlights—21 November 2024

Welcome to the 21 November 2024 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a round-up of new and updated content in Immigration.

ODI publishes research on narrative impacts in Ukraine humanitarian response

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) has released a research report examining how narratives have shaped humanitarian responses to Russia's war in Ukraine. The study, analysing actions in Ukraine, Poland, and the UK, highlights tensions between solidarity narratives and traditional humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality. It identifies conflicting portrayals of Ukrainians as both vulnerable aid recipients and resilient resistors, as well as divergent views on localisation success. The report recommends that governments hosting Ukrainians should move towards an offer of long-term status and support for integration of Ukrainians who choose to remain in host countries.

Visa application locations changing from 14 January 2025

The Home Office has updated its guidance on changes to its commercial partner for overseas visa application services. From 14 January 2025, visa application centres outside of the UK will change from TLS contact to VFS Global in some more locations. VFS Global will now operate visa application centres in these locations: Armenia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden. Additionally, the Home Office provided location updates effective from 4 December 2024 to now include Germany and Ireland. The guidance and the Find a visa application centre tool have also been updated for countries that have already moved across from TLS Contact to VFS.

Trust for London reveals impact of no recourse to public funds policy on migrants and local authorities

A report funded by Trust for London and conducted by the Centre for Social Policy Studies has highlighted significant issues with the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) policy. The study reveals that NRPF is driving migrants into poverty, with an estimated 208,000 households at risk of destitution nationwide. In London alone, 120,000 households with NRPF are at risk, whilst 36,900 are already in poverty. The policy disproportionately affects women and children, including British citizens, and cost London boroughs nearly £50 million in 2022/23 (in providing support further to their statutory duties to support people in need). The report argues that NFPF is not meeting its policy objectives, and makes a number of recommendations.