Fear has gripped thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom on Certificate of Sponsorship or Skilled Worker visas over the new regulations announced by the British government.
The UK government, in its efforts to control immigration, has removed over 100 jobs, including skilled worker roles, from CoS eligibility, while the salary thresholds for other jobs on the scheme have also been increased by at least 30 per cent.
The UK Home Office announcing the new regulations, stated that with effect from July 22, 2025, over 100 previously eligible skilled job roles from the CoS system are now delisted 
The government removed lower-skilled roles (previously at RQF Level 3–5) from CoS eligibility unless they appear on a newly created Temporary Shortage Occupation List.
Some of the delisted jobs include managers and proprietors in agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and logistics (SOC 1211–1258); health, community and welfare roles such as dispensing opticians, pharmaceutical technicians, youth and community workers, and counsellors (SOC 3211–3224); protective service roles like police officers (sergeant and below), fire service officers, and prison officers (SOC 3312–3314); as well as creative and performing arts professionals, including artists, authors, translators, actors, dancers, photographers, and interior or fashion designers (SOC 3411–3429), among others.
In addition, the salary threshold for general Skilled Worker visa roles has been increased from around £26,000 to £41,700, while health and care roles must still pay a minimum of £25,600, net of all deductions such as accommodation and transportation.
Speaking on the implications, UK-based travel agent and CEO of Phika Travels and Tours, Kayode Alabi, warned that many Nigerian professionals might soon find themselves without a pathway to renew their visas.
“No Nigerians have been sacked because of the new regulations,” Alabi told PUNCH.
“But their fate will hang in the balance because at the end of their current sponsorship, those whose jobs have been removed from CoS eligibility will not be able to find a new job in that category, and their visa will not be renewed. If you don’t have a valid visa, you become an illegal immigrant.”
Alabi also noted that even workers in retained roles may face challenges, as employers now have to meet steep salary thresholds.
“By the time that sponsorship expires, will your company be able to pay the new salary threshold? That is the issue,” he said.
He confirmed that uncertainty and fear are growing in the Nigerian community, saying, “We can say there is panic among our people. Yes, there is. People don’t know what will become their fate at the expiration of their sponsorship.”
Several Nigerians currently in the UK on CoS visas shared their anxieties with The PUNCH.
Banjo Fola, whose current visa is set to expire in a few months, said, “My employer has said he cannot afford the new salary threshold. It is very hard. I don’t even know what to do.”
Another Nigerian caregiver, whose visa expires in August, lamented, “My sponsorship will expire in August, and the new regulation has made it impossible to get a new job because of the salary threshold. I may likely return home.”
Similarly, a Nigerian who arrived in the UK in February 2023 shared his fears: “Our current jobs have been removed, meaning that we will be jobless in the next one year.
“My sponsorship is for three years, so I have less than a year to find another job, which is not even there because of the new salary threshold.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, Mr. Sulaimon Okewole, reportedly projected that more than 10,000 Nigerians may be forced to return home.
“While the UK government’s goal of reducing net migration is understandable, the impact on Nigerians, a community known for its immense contribution to the UK’s workforce, demands some discussions,” Okewole said.
“The most immediate concern is the sharp rise in salary thresholds. For many Nigerians, especially in sectors like healthcare and IT, this could mean fewer job offers unless UK employers adjust pay scales.”
He added, “It is no doubt that over 10,000 Nigerians will be affected by this new regulation, as they will probably return home or find another destination.”
Okewole also predicted a shift in migration trends: “Professionals who previously saw the UK as a viable destination may now find their options limited unless they secure roles that meet the higher salary bands.”
In Nigeria, the new policy is already taking a toll on families with loved ones abroad.
Eniola, a student at the University of Ibadan, said her mother, a caregiver in the UK since 2023, is now uncertain about her future.
“She has practically lost her job because the sponsorship will come to an end in November. She informed me that her job has been delisted, and she is not sure she will find a fresh sponsor or new job. I can tell from our conversation that she is afraid,” Eniola said.
According to UK Home Office statistics, 26,715 Skilled Worker visas were granted to Nigerians in 2023, a significant increase from 8,491 in 2022.
However, visa issuances are now on the decline in 2024, with a notable reduction in Health and Care Worker visas granted in the first half of the year.
As the effects of the new immigration rules begin to unfold, many Nigerian migrants and aspiring workers may be forced to look elsewhere for opportunities, amid an increasingly unwelcoming UK immigration landscape.
