Thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom on Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or Skilled Worker visas are gripped by anxiety following new immigration rules unveiled by the British government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

As part of efforts to tighten immigration controls, the UK has removed over 100 jobs from CoS eligibility—including many skilled roles—while also raising salary thresholds by at least 30 percent for several others.

Under the new policy, only positions listed on a freshly created Temporary Shortage Occupation List remain eligible at lower skill levels. Previously approved roles at RQF Levels 3–5 have largely been scrapped.

Among the delisted roles are:

• Managers and proprietors in agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and logistics (SOC 1211–1258),

• Health and welfare professionals 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),

• Creative and performing arts professionals, including artists, authors, translators, actors, dancers, photographers, and interior/fashion designers (SOC 3411–3429), among others.

The changes, which took effect on July 22, 2025, apply to visa routes such as the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, reshaping requirements for employers and foreign workers alike.

The general salary threshold for Skilled Workers has been raised to £41,700 or higher depending on the role, while the threshold for health and care positions remains at £25,600—but employers must now prove this figure is the employee’s net salary after deductions for housing, transport, or other costs.

Saturday PUNCH learned that entry-level IT, customer service, and other lower‑skilled roles once eligible under CoS no longer qualify unless employers significantly increase pay to meet the new standards. Additionally, the minimum skill level has been raised to Level 6 (Bachelor’s degree), effectively cutting out many administrative, support, and supervisory roles previously accepted at Levels 3–5.

These sweeping changes have sent shockwaves through the Nigerian community in the UK. Kayode Alabi, Chief Executive Officer of Phika Travels and Tours, explained that many Nigerians holding CoS visas in the now‑delisted categories may find themselves stranded once their current sponsorships—lasting between one and five years—expire.

“No Nigerians have been sacked because of the new regulations,” Alabi said, “but at the end of their current sponsorship, those whose jobs are no longer eligible will not be able to secure a new sponsorship, meaning their visas cannot be renewed. Without a valid visa, you become an illegal immigrant.”

Even those in still‑eligible roles face uncertainty, as their employers must now meet the higher salary thresholds:

“By the time that sponsorship expires, will your company be able to pay the new salary threshold? That is the issue,” Alabi noted.

He confirmed that the new rules have sparked widespread fear:

“Yes, there is panic. People are unsure what their fate will be once their sponsorships run out, especially with tougher eligibility criteria and pay demands.”

Many affected Nigerians are now contemplating the painful prospect of returning home. Banjo Fola, a Nigerian resident in the UK, told Saturday PUNCH that he and many others have been directly impacted by the new regulations.