Thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom on Certificate of Sponsorship or Skilled Worker visas have panicked as a result of the British government’s new regulations.
In its efforts to curb immigration, the UK government has eliminated over 100 jobs, including skilled worker roles, from CoS eligibility, while raising wage thresholds for other jobs on the scheme by at least 30%.
The government has eliminated lower-skilled roles (formerly at RQF Level 3-5) from CoS eligibility unless they are on a newly formed 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.
The regulations, which went into effect on July 22, 2025, affect a variety of visa routes, including the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, as well as the requirements for sponsoring foreign workers.
The new laws raised the general skilled worker income level to £41,700 or higher, depending on the position, while health and care professions remained at £25,600.
Employers in health and care positions, on the other hand, must declare the wage after all deductions, including accommodation or transportation, which means that £25,600 is the minimal amount that any of their employees can get after all deductions are made.
It was gathered that many roles previously eligible for the CoS, such as entry-level IT and customer service, no longer qualify unless employers raise pay substantially in line with the new regulations.
The UK government has also raised the required skill level to Level 6 (bachelor’s degree level), potentially excluding formerly eligible Level 3-5 roles (certain admin, technical support, and care supervisors).
Findings revealed that the new restrictions have sent shivers down the spines of thousands of Nigerians who will undoubtedly be affected by the new standards.
Explaining the new regulations, Kayode Alabi, a UK-based travel agent, stated that Nigerians and other nationals on CoS visas secured with delisted jobs may be stuck when their agreements with their sponsors expire.
Alabi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Phika Travels & Tours, said the impacted persons would not be able to renew their visas upon completion of their current sponsorship, which he claimed generally lasts between one and five years.
He said, “No Nigerians have been sacked because of the new regulations, 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.
“Another challenge those whose jobs were retained under the new regulations will face is that their employers may not be able to pay the new salary threshold, which has risen to £41,700 from £24,000, £25,000, or £26,000 per annum.
“If you are not on any of the delisted job roles, you will still be earning the salary you were earning when you received sponsorship, which is usually between one and five years. By the time that sponsorship expires, will your company be able to pay the new salary threshold? That is the issue.”
He disclosed that many Nigerians were already panicking as a result of the new rules.
“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, especially when the eligibility criteria for other jobs have been increased. People are afraid,” he said.
A Nigerian in the UK, Banjo Fola, confirmed that many Nigerians, including himself, were affected by the new regulations.
Fola said, “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.”
Another Nigerian on a CoS visa in the country, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed fear that she might return home at the expiration of her sponsorship next month because of the new rules.
Also, a Nigerian carer in the United Kingdom expressed alarm about recent changes to the UK’s Skilled Worker visa process, revealing that she may be compelled to return home due to the new wage level and employment delisting.
She stated, “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.”
Another Nigerian who spoke on the condition of anonymity had similar concerns, stating that he, like many others, was worried about their future in the UK.
“Things are not easy. The new rules have cut short our plans to stay longer here. But our current jobs have been removed, meaning that we will be jobless in the next year. I came here (UK) in February 2023 on a Certificate of Sponsorship. 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,” he said.
Mr. Sulaimon Okewole, Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, commented on the situation, stating that over 10,000 Nigerians may be compelled to return home due to the new laws.
He expressed disappointment that the regulations were harming many Nigerians who had formed long-term professional plans in the UK.
Okewole said, “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 discussion.
“The most immediate concern is the sharp rise in salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas. For many Nigerians, especially those in sectors like healthcare and IT, this could mean fewer job offers unless UK employers adjust pay scales.
This may be a tough task in an economy already dealing with inflation.”
He further stated that 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.
“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,” he said.
He also predicted that if the UK becomes less appealing to Nigerians seeking international jobs, they will begin to look for chances in other nations.
Eniola, a University of Ibadan student whose mother works as a carer in the UK, has also raised alarm.
She stated that her mother was already grappling with the implications of the new regulation.
“She has practically lost her job because the sponsorship will come to an end in November. She has been there since 2023. 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.
