High Potential Individual (HPI) visa

United Kingdom · for applicants from Nigeria

Verified · 22 June 2026

For recent graduates of a top global university (on the Home Office Global Universities List) to work or look for work in the UK without sponsorship. Eligibility depends on the university being listed for the year you graduated, most Nigerian universities are not listed, but a Nigerian who studied abroad at a qualifying institution can apply.

Rules last verified: 22 June 2026 · by Beatrice B

At a glance

Embassy processing

About 3 weeks

Our turnaround

5–7 working days

Done-for-you Standard

Government fees

~£1,985

≈ ₦3,630,565

Why applications get refused

University not on the list

Institution not on the Global Universities List for the graduation year.

Fix: Check the list for the exact award year before applying.

Ecctis verification missing

No Ecctis confirmation of the overseas qualification.

Fix: Obtain the Ecctis verification before applying.

Document checklist

Required

Current passport

When: "all"

As part of the application, you need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

Qualifying degree certificate

When: "all"

Your degree must be from a university on the Global Universities List for the specific period when it was awarded, and awarded within the last 5 years.

Common mistake

Assuming any top university counts is a common mistake: it must be on the list for your specific graduation year, and UK universities are not eligible for this route.

Ecctis verification of overseas qualification

When: "all"

Ecctis confirms your overseas qualification is valid and at the right level, but it does not check whether your university is on the eligible list, so you must verify that separately.

Proof of English (B1)

When: "unless exempt"

Proof of maintenance funds

When: "unless exempt"

You need at least £1,270 available for at least 28 days in a row, with day 28 within 31 days of applying, unless you've already held a valid UK visa for 12 months or more.

TB test certificate

When: "Nigeria"

The Home Office needs proof you do not have infectious tuberculosis before granting entry for a stay of 6 months or more from a listed country.

Common mistake

Leaving the chest x-ray too late is a common error, since the certificate is only valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray and must come from an approved clinic.

Application timeline

1. Prepare your application

Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms

1–3 weeks

2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)

Specialist checks your file before you submit

5–7 working days

3. Submit online or at visa centre

Biometrics appointment may be required

1 day

4. Embassy decision

Standard processing. Priority options may be available.

About 3 weeks

All-in government fees

These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.

Mandatory

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), per year

£1,035

1,893,015

Visa application fee

£880

1,609,520

Tuberculosis (TB) test at an approved clinic (IOM Nigeria charges about $94; the price is set by the clinic, not the Home Office)

£70

128,030

Biometric enrolment

£0

0

Total government fees

1,985

≈ ₦3,630,565

Optional

Priority / super-priority service (optional)

£500

914,500

Indicative. 1 GBP = 1829 NGN · 2026-08-03. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.

What a free chatbot cannot do

A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.

  • Rules verified against the official source, with the date
  • Document checklist built for your specific profile
  • The inconsistency check that catches what gets people refused
  • A human reviews your complete file before submission

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Common questions about the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa

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Real outcomes

100% approved

Based on 12 reported outcomes across all Rekoja cases. This is a look back at past cases, not a prediction. The embassy decides; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Prepare for the interview

Many work routes include an interview or credibility check. Done-for-you Premium includes a live interview-preparation session with a specialist: the questions officers actually ask on this route, practised with you before the real thing.

Preparation improves your readiness, not the decision. Practice, never a guarantee.

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Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.