New immigration rules in the United Kingdom are sparking fear among Nigerians on Skilled Worker visas, as over 100 job roles have been delisted from the Certificate of Sponsorship scheme and salary thresholds for eligible positions raised to £41,700.
The policy, which took effect on July 22, affects key sectors including healthcare support, hospitality, and creative industries.
Travel expert Kayode Alabi warned that many workers “may lose their status once their current sponsorship ends if their jobs no longer qualify or employers can’t meet the new pay scale.”
Some Nigerians in the UK have already voiced uncertainty about their future, with one saying, “My employer has told me he can’t meet the new threshold. I don’t know what happens when my visa expires.”
Migration analyst Sulaimon Okewole estimates that over 10,000 Nigerians could be forced to leave the UK as a result of the changes.
