Thousands of Nigerians working in the UK on Certificate of Sponsorship or Skilled Worker visas are facing uncertainty due to the British government’s new immigration regulations. The UK government has removed over 100 jobs from the list of roles eligible for sponsorship under the Certificate of Sponsorship scheme, while increasing salary thresholds for other jobs by at least 30%. This change has sent jitters down the spine of thousands of Nigerians, many of whom now face an uncertain future.
The new regulations, effective July 22, 2025, affect various visa routes, including the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, along with the requirements for sponsoring foreign workers. The general Skilled Worker salary threshold has been increased to £41,700 or higher, depending on the role, while health and care roles remain at £25,600. Employers in health and care roles must show the salary after all deductions, including accommodation.
Roles in hotels, restaurants, and other food service establishments, jobs in transportation, warehousing, and distribution, positions in farming, forestry, and related industries, roles in healthcare, social care, and other related fields, jobs in policing and other law enforcement agencies, and positions in arts, entertainment, and other professional fields are among the affected sectors.
Many Nigerians are already panicking as a result of the new rules. A UK-based travel agent, Kayode Alabi, said Nigerians and other nationals on CoS visas secured with the delisted jobs might be stranded at the end of the expiration of their agreement with their sponsors. Over 10,000 Nigerians might be forced to return home due to the changes, according to Sulaimon Okewole, CEO of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services.
Many Nigerians are unsure of their future in the UK, with some fearing they might return home at the expiration of their sponsorship. A Nigerian caregiver revealed that she may be forced to return home due to the new salary threshold and job delisting. Banjo Fola, a Nigerian in the UK, confirmed that many Nigerians, including himself, were affected by the new regulations, saying, “My visa with this current job will expire in some months, and my employer has said he cannot afford the new salary threshold. It is very hard. I don’t even know what to do.
