Thousands of Nigerians living and working in the United Kingdom are staring down an uncertain future as sweeping immigration changes introduced by the UK government threaten their ability to stay legally in the country.
The new rules, which came into force on July 22, 2025, have delisted over 100 job roles from the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) program, meaning foreign workers in those positions can no longer extend their visas when current sponsorships expire. Many of these workers, particularly Nigerians on Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, are now left anxious about what comes next.
For some, the impact is immediate. Banjo Fola, a Nigerian resident in the UK, says his visa is set to expire in a few months, but his employer has already confirmed they cannot meet the new salary requirement. “It’s tough. I don’t know what I’ll do when my visa runs out. I never expected this,” he said.
Under the updated policy, the UK has significantly raised the minimum salary thresholds for sponsored workers. The general requirement now stands at £41,700, up from the previous range of £24,000 to £26,000. Although health and care roles remain at £25,600, employers must prove that the amount is the actual net salary after deductions like housing and transportation.
Jobs once considered eligible—ranging from tech support and customer service to creative and protective service roles—have either been removed or bumped up to higher qualification levels. What used to require a Level 3 or 4 qualification now demands Level 6, the equivalent of a university degree.
Kayode Alabi, a UK-based travel consultant and CEO of Phika Travels, says the change has triggered panic among Nigerians. “Nobody has been deported yet, but people are scared. If your visa expires and your job is no longer eligible, you can’t renew. It’s that simple. You become undocumented,” he said.
Alabi pointed out a troubling reality: even workers whose jobs remain eligible under the new policy may be pushed out if their employers can’t afford to pay the higher salary thresholds. “This change is not just about job titles; it’s about affordability,” he added.
The new rules have hit particularly hard in sectors like caregiving, IT, hospitality, and logistics—industries where many Nigerians have built careers. For caregivers like the mother of Eniola, a University of Ibadan student, the future is unclear. “She’s been in the UK since 2023. Her sponsorship ends in November, and she told me her role has been delisted. She’s worried sick,” Eniola shared.
Another Nigerian worker, who arrived in the UK under a three-year CoS visa in early 2023, said he has less than a year left and no clear path forward. “My job’s no longer eligible. Even if I wanted to stay, there’s no way I can meet the new salary requirement,” he said.
Immigration experts believe the policy could displace tens of thousands. Sulaimon Okewole, CEO of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, estimates that more than 10,000 Nigerians may be affected. “People moved to the UK with long-term goals—some even brought their families. Now, they’re being told their jobs don’t qualify anymore,” he said.
Okewole acknowledged the UK’s goal of reducing net migration but called for a more balanced approach. “Nigerians are a major part of the UK workforce, especially in healthcare and IT. It’s a shame that these changes are pushing them out instead of providing a path for growth,” he added.
Recent UK Home Office data reveals that Nigerian Skilled Worker visa numbers surged from 10,245 in 2021 to over 26,700 in 2023. However, the trend appears to be reversing, with fewer visas being issued in the first half of 2024—especially in the health and care sector.
As the new immigration landscape takes shape, thousands of Nigerians who once saw the UK as a place to build a future are now being forced to reconsider their options—or return home.