EXPLAINER: What New UK Immigration Rules Mean for Nigerian Immigrants

The United Kingdom (UK), a top destination for Nigerian immigrants, is cracking down on migration, leading to serious concerns within the immigrant community in Britain.

Following weeks of speculation regarding immigration restrictions, the British government released an Immigration White Paper on Monday.

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Although the British High Commission in Nigeria stated that the UK values its strong, long-standing ties with Nigeria, the new immigration rules are expected to have a significant impact on Nigerian immigrants in the country.

In a statement on Monday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has long been seen as supportive of immigration, declared his intention to reduce immigration “significantly”.

“Without [strict rules], we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together. So when you have an immigration system that seems almost designed to permit abuse… then you’re not championing growth, you’re not championing justice, or however else people defend the status quo,” he said.

“You’re actually contributing to the forces that are slowly pulling our country apart. So, yes, I believe in this. I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced new immigration rules targeting Nigerian immigrants amongst others

A post on Starmer’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account also stated: “We’re ending Britain’s open borders experiment. For too long, businesses were actively encouraged to bring in lower-paid workers, rather than invest in our own people. We’re fixing the system and restoring control to our borders.”

How the New Rules Will Affect Nigerian Immigrants

In recent years, Nigerian applicants have faced tighter visa rules, including restrictions on bringing dependants and reduced post-study work opportunities.

However, the latest rules further tighten these restrictions, raising the income levels required to qualify for certain work visas amongst other barriers.

Firstly, the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) has been extended from 5 to 10 years. Nonetheless, the British government says individuals demonstrating significant contributions, such as tax compliance, public sector or high-skilled employment, and volunteering, may qualify earlier.

Additionally, application fees for ILR and naturalisation are expected to increase, adding financial pressure on applicants.

These new conditions create a significantly more challenging and costly process for Nigerian immigrants seeking indefinite residency and naturalisation in the UK.

Secondly, Nigerian immigrants pursuing or already holding the Skilled Worker visa will need to earn a minimum annual salary of £38,700, up from £26,200. This new threshold makes it much more difficult for skilled Nigerians to obtain or renew a Skilled Worker visa.

Thirdly, the new rules include a permanent shutdown of the care visa route, which many Nigerians had used to gain residency in the UK.

“We’re permanently shutting down the care visa route. Care workers from overseas have made a huge contribution, but too many have been subject to abuse and exploitation,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that Britain is moving away from its “dependence” on overseas workers to “restore control and fairness to the system”.

According to the UK Home Office, nearly 11 in 50 health and care work visas issued by Britain in 2023 went to Nigerians. In that year, the UK issued nearly 350,000 skilled health and care visas—representing 57% of the total 616,000 work visas—with Indian and Nigerian nationals receiving a combined 50% of them.

With the care visa route now shut down, Nigerian immigrants can no longer gain residency in the UK as caregivers.

Fourthly, Nigerian immigrants settled in the UK will now need to earn significantly more to sponsor family members. Previously, those earning a minimum of £18,600 annually could sponsor relatives from Nigeria to join them in the UK. Under the new rules, they must earn at least £38,700.

This change means that lower-income Nigerian immigrants now face much greater difficulty in bringing family members to the UK, further tightening immigration channels.

Fifthly, the new rules impose tighter restrictions on international students’ ability to remain in the UK after graduation, including potential limitations on dependants.

UK Student Visa

Before now, Nigerian students could apply to remain in the UK for up to two years post-study. Under the new rule, the post-study work visa period has been shortened to 18 months.

According to the Reason for International Migration, International Students Update: November 2024 report by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), Nigerian nationals have emerged as the leading nationality transitioning from study-related visas to non-study visas within three years.

The surge in transitions highlights how migrants from certain nationalities—particularly Nigerians—have utilised the UK visa system as a pathway to longer-term residency or employment.

However, the new changes mean Nigerian students will find it more difficult to transition to long-term opportunities in the UK after their studies.

Who Is Affected?

Notably, the UK government has stated that these changes are not retrospective but will apply to new applications and future renewals. This means intending Nigerian immigrants will be subject to the new rules.

Nigerians already residing in the UK on existing visas will not be immediately affected. However, when applying for renewals or extensions, they will need to meet the new requirements, including higher salary thresholds and English language proficiency.

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Furthermore, the new 10-year residency requirement may impact the eligibility of individuals approaching the end of their five-year period for ILR, depending on when the changes take effect.

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