Thousands of Nigerians living and working in the United Kingdom are facing uncertainty and possible deportation following a new immigration policy that scrapped over 100 job roles from the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) eligibility list.
In a sweeping reform effective from July 22, 2025, the UK government removed numerous skilled and lower-skilled occupations from its list of approved jobs for foreign workers.
The changes are part of efforts to tighten immigration controls and include significant increases in salary thresholds for remaining eligible positions.
Under the new policy, many roles previously qualifying for the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa routes have been eliminated.
These include management positions in agriculture, hospitality, logistics (SOC 1211–1258), welfare-related roles such as pharmaceutical technicians and community workers (SOC 3211–3224), protective services like police and prison officers (SOC 3312–3314), and creative industry professionals including actors, designers, and authors (SOC 3411–3429).
The salary threshold for general Skilled Worker roles has now been raised to £41,700 per annum.
Health and care workers still have a minimum salary requirement of £25,600, but this figure must now be the actual take-home pay after deductions for accommodation or transport.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that many entry-level jobs particularly in IT and customer service that once qualified under the CoS system no longer meet the requirements unless employers substantially increase salaries.
The minimum skill level for eligible jobs has also been raised to RQF Level 6, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
The new rules have left many Nigerians in a state of panic.
Travel agent and CEO of Phika Travels and Tours, Kayode Alabi, explained the gravity of the situation:
“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.”
He also highlighted a major challenge for those whose job roles remain eligible:
“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.”
Alabi confirmed a wave of anxiety among Nigerian migrants:
“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.”
For many Nigerians, the fear of deportation is now a real possibility. Banjo Fola, a Nigerian based in the UK, shared his concern:
“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 woman, who chose not to be named, also shared her situation:
“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.”
Similarly, a caregiver voiced her frustration: “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 one 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.”
Education and migration consultant Sulaimon Okewole, CEO of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, estimated the potential scale of the impact:
“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 acknowledged the UK’s motives but urged attention to the consequences:
“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 discussions.
“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 added that the UK is becoming a less attractive destination for Nigerian professionals:
“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.”
The effect is not only being felt by workers abroad but also by their families back home. Eniola, a University of Ibadan student, spoke about her mother’s uncertainty:
“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.”
According to UK Home Office data, 10,245 Skilled Worker visas were issued to Nigerians in 2021. The number dipped slightly to 8,491 in 2022 but spiked to 26,715 in 2023.
However, visa approvals are reportedly declining again in 2024, with a significant drop in Health and Care Worker visas granted in the first half of the year.
