Thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom under the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and Skilled Worker visa schemes are facing growing uncertainty following sweeping immigration reforms introduced by the UK government.
The changes, which took effect on July 22, 2025, have raised alarm among foreign workers, particularly Nigerians, many of whom now face potential displacement.
In its efforts to reduce immigration figures, the UK government removed over 100 job roles from the list of positions eligible for sponsorship and increased salary thresholds across several visa categories. The reforms directly impact both the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa routes, two of the most commonly used channels by Nigerian professionals entering the UK workforce.
One of the most significant adjustments is the increase in the general Skilled Worker salary threshold to £41,700, a jump of over 30% from previous levels. Although salaries for health and care workers remain at £25,600, employers must now ensure that this figure reflects post-deduction earnings, covering expenses such as accommodation and transportation, to prevent underpayment masked by benefits.
As observed by The Punch, jobs affected by the new regulations span critical sectors including agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and forestry management. Other delisted roles include pharmaceutical technicians, youth workers, counsellors, fire service officers, and creative professionals such as authors, actors, and designers. Also, the government raised the minimum skill requirement to RQF Level 6, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, disqualifying many supervisory and technical support roles previously eligible under Levels 3 to 5.
For many Nigerians in the UK whose CoS visas are tied to now-ineligible job roles, the new regulations have caused widespread anxiety.
Immigration consultants warn that unless affected individuals switch to roles still eligible under the revised scheme, they may be unable to renew their visas after the current term, typically lasting between one and five years—expires.
“Many Nigerians took up roles in sectors like community care, logistics, and hospitality with the hope of long-term stability, but the rules have shifted dramatically,” said a Lagos-based travel agent.
Official figures from the UK Home Office show that 10,245 Nigerians were issued Skilled Worker visas in 2021. That number dipped to 8,491 in 2022, but surged to 26,715 in 2023, largely driven by the demand in the health and care sectors. However, early data for 2024 indicates a reversal, with a noticeable decline in the number of Health and Care Worker visas issued to Nigerians during the first half of the year.
