A wave of anxiety has affected thousands of Nigerians employed in the United Kingdom under Certificate of Sponsorship or Skilled Worker visas due to the recent rules introduced by the UK government.
The British government, as part of its measures to manage immigration, has eliminated more than 100 positions, including those for skilled workers, from the CoS list, while the salary requirements for other roles within the program have also risen by a minimum of 30 percent.
The government has excluded lower-skilled positions (previously categorized at RQF Level 3–5) from CoS eligibility, unless they are listed on a newly established Temporary Shortage Occupation List.
Several of the removed positions encompass managers and business owners in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and logistics (SOC 1211–1258); health, community, and welfare jobs including dispensing opticians, pharmacy technicians, youth and community workers, and counselors (SOC 3211–3224); protective service roles like police officers (sergeant and lower), fire service personnel, and prison staff (SOC 3312–3314); and creative and performing arts professionals such as artists, writers, translators, actors, dancers, photographers, and interior or fashion designers (SOC 3411–3429), along with other similar roles.
The rules, which came into force on July 22, 2025, impact several visa categories, such as the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, as well as the conditions for employing foreign workers.
The updated rules have raised the standard Skilled Worker salary requirement to £41,700 or more, varying by position, whereas jobs in health and care sectors continue to be set at £25,600.
Nevertheless, employers in health and care positions are required to disclose the salary following all deductions, such as for housing or travel, indicating that £25,600 is the lowest amount an employee can receive after these reductions.
Saturday PUNCHrealized that numerous positions that were once eligible for the CoS, including entry-level IT and customer service roles, no longer meet the criteria unless employers significantly increase wages in accordance with the updated rules.
The British government has also raised the minimum skill requirement to Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor's degree), whereas roles that were previously eligible at Levels 3–5 (such as certain administrative, technical support, and care supervision positions) might now no longer qualify.
Results showed that the new regulations have caused anxiety among thousands of Nigerians who will undoubtedly be impacted by the new policies.
Clarifying the new rules, Kayode Alabi, a travel agent based in the UK, mentioned that Nigerians and other individuals who obtained CoS visas through jobs that have been removed from the list could find themselves stuck once their agreement with their sponsors ends.
Alabi, the Chief Executive Officer of Phika Travels and Tours, mentioned that those impacted would not be able to extend their visas once their current sponsorship ends, which typically ranges from one to five years.
He stated, "No Nigerians have been dismissed due to the new rules, but their future remains uncertain since, once their current sponsorship ends, individuals whose positions are no longer eligible under CoS will not be able to secure a job in that category, and their visa will not be extended. Without a valid visa, you risk becoming an undocumented immigrant."
A further difficulty for individuals who keep their positions under the updated rules is that their employers might struggle to afford the new salary level, which has increased to £41,700 from £24,000, £25,000, or £26,000 annually.
If you are not part of any of the removed job positions, you will continue to receive the salary you had when you were sponsored, which is typically between one and five years. By the time the sponsorship ends, will your company be able to afford the new salary level? That is the main concern.
He verified that numerous Nigerians were already experiencing fear due to the new regulations.
"It is fair to say there is fear among our population. Indeed, there is. Individuals are uncertain about their future once their sponsorship ends, particularly as the requirements for other job opportunities have become more stringent. People are scared," he stated.
Our reporters found that the anxiety of going back home has taken hold of those impacted in Nigeria.
A Nigerian resident in the UK, Banjo Fola, confirmed toSaturday PUNCHMany Nigerians, including himself, were impacted by the new rules.
Fola, who did not reveal his profession, stated, "My visa for this job will expire in a few months, and my employer mentioned he can't afford the new salary requirement. It's really tough. I don't even know what to do."
Another Nigerian holding a CoS visa in the country, who asked to remain unidentified, voiced concern that she may have to go back to her home country when her sponsorship ends next month due to the new regulations.
Additionally, a Nigerian caregiver based in the United Kingdom expressed worries about the latest modifications to the UK's Skilled Worker visa system, stating that she might have to go back to her home country because of the updated salary requirements and the removal of certain jobs from the list.
She stated, "My sponsorship will end in August, and the new rules have made it difficult to secure a new job due to the salary limit. I might go back home."
Sharing comparable anxieties, another Nigerian individual, who requested anonymity, mentioned that he and many others are uncertain about their future in the UK.
"Things are not simple. The new regulations have limited our ability to remain here for a longer period. However, our present positions have been eliminated, leaving us without employment within the next year. I arrived in the UK in February 2023 under a Certificate of Sponsorship. My sponsorship is valid for three years, so I have less than a year to secure another job, which is difficult due to the new salary requirements," he said.
Speaking about the development, Sulaimon Okewole, the Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, mentioned that more than 10,000 Nigerians could be compelled to go back to their country due to the new regulations.
He mentioned that it was discouraging to see the regulations impacting numerous Nigerians who had long-term professional aspirations in the UK.
Okewole stated, "Although the UK government's aim to lower net migration is reasonable, the effect on Nigerians, a group recognized for their significant role in the UK's labor force, requires some conversation."
The primary issue at hand is the significant increase in salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas. For numerous Nigerians, particularly those working in fields such as healthcare and information technology, this could result in fewer job opportunities unless UK employers revise their compensation structures. This could prove challenging in an economy already facing inflation.
He mentioned that experts who once considered the UK as a feasible choice might now face restricted opportunities unless they obtain positions that fall within the increased pay brackets.
"There is no doubt that more than 10,000 Nigerians will be impacted by this new regulation, as they are likely to go back home or seek another place," he stated.
He also forecasted that an increasing number of Nigerians looking for jobs abroad would probably start considering options in different nations, as the UK grows less attractive.
A University of Ibadan student, Eniola, whose mother is employed as a caregiver in the UK, also voiced worries.
She mentioned that her mother was already dealing with the consequences of the new rule.
"She is almost lost her position as the sponsorship is set to conclude in November. She has been working there since 2023. She told me that her role has been removed, and she isn't certain if she'll secure a new sponsor or another job. I can sense from our discussion that she is worried," Eniola said.
As per information from the UK Home Office, 10,245 Nigerians received Skilled Worker visas in 2021. This number decreased marginally to 8,491 in 2022, then increased to 26,715 in 2023.
Nevertheless, in 2024, new figures indicate a reduction in work visa approvals for Nigerians, with a lower number of Health and Care Worker visas granted during the first half of the year when compared to 2023.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).