The United Kingdom is reviewing proposals to ease work visa rules for Nigerians and other skilled workers from countries facing tight labour shortages in key sectors such as healthcare, technology and engineering.
The proposals under consideration include adjustments to the Immigration Salary List and the introduction of new temporary shortage measures that would provide time-limited access to the Skilled Worker route for occupations below the current graduate-level requirement.
These measures would allow certain occupations to be sponsored for Skilled Worker visas even if they fall below RQF Level 6 (UK bachelor’s degree level), but with strict conditions that applicants cannot bring dependants to the UK.
The UK government has publicly named Nigeria, India and Pakistan among the countries it is monitoring closely for immigration control purposes. The “visa brake” mechanism introduced in March 2026 can refuse certain applications based on nationality alone, though Nigeria is not currently affected.
For most Skilled Worker roles, the general salary threshold remains £41,700 per year, or 100% of the published “going rate” for the specific occupation code, whichever is higher. Since July 2025, most eligible roles must be at RQF Level 6 or above.
New Skilled Worker applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency at CEFR level B2 across reading, writing, speaking and listening, an increase from the previous B1 standard. This requirement applies to adult dependents as well.
The UK has also announced plans to limit skilled worker visas to graduate-level roles and restrict access to non-graduate visas to strictly time-limited positions linked to industrial needs. The government aims to cut 50,000 lower-skilled worker visas this year.
Nigeria and the UK recently signed three Memoranda of Understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation in migration, border security and tackling organised immigration crime. A statement of intent was made to expand business visas for UK companies operating in Nigeria.
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