UK Jobs for Nigerians (2026): Skilled Worker Visa Rules, In-Demand Roles, Costs and How to Apply

Thousands of Nigerians move to the UK every year for work, and the main legal route is the Skilled Worker visa. The rules changed a lot in 2025 and early 2026, with higher salaries, a stricter English requirement and the end of overseas recruitment for care workers, so older advice online is often wrong. This guide explains the current rules in plain language. It is for information only: we are not a recruiter or a visa agent, and nobody should ever charge you for a UK job offer.

Which UK jobs can Nigerians apply for?

To get a Skilled Worker visa, you need a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence, in an eligible occupation, paying at least the required salary. Since July 2025, most eligible roles are at graduate level (RQF 6 and above) or on the government's shortage lists. Sectors that regularly sponsor overseas workers include:

• Healthcare: doctors, nurses, midwives, radiographers, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other registered professionals.
• Technology: software developers, data analysts, cybersecurity specialists and IT project managers.
• Engineering: civil, mechanical, electrical and structural engineers.
• Finance and business: accountants, actuaries, business analysts and management consultants.
• Education: secondary school teachers in shortage subjects such as maths and physics.

Important change for care workers

From 22 July 2025, the UK stopped accepting new visa applications from overseas for care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136). People already in the UK on these visas can switch sponsors or extend under transitional rules until 22 July 2028, provided they have worked for their sponsor for at least three months. If someone in Nigeria offers you a "UK care job with visa" today, treat it with extreme caution.

Salary rules for the Skilled Worker visa (2026)

Your salary must meet whichever is higher: the general threshold or the "going rate" for your occupation.

• Standard (general threshold): £41,700 a year, or 100% of the going rate
• New entrant (for example, recent graduates or under-26s): £33,400 a year, or 70% of the going rate
• Job on the Immigration Salary List: £33,400 a year, or 100% of the going rate
• Relevant PhD in a STEM subject: £33,400 a year, or 80% of the going rate

Some roles paid under national pay scales (such as NHS and teaching jobs) use lower figures set in separate tables. Thresholds change often, so always confirm the figures for your job code on GOV.UK.

English language: the B2 rule

For new Skilled Worker applications made on or after 8 January 2026, you must prove English at CEFR level B2 (previously B1). Nigeria is not on the UK's list of majority English-speaking countries, so most Nigerian applicants need one of these:

• a pass at the required level in an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), such as IELTS for UKVI, or
• a degree taught in English, confirmed by Ecctis (the UK's qualification recognition agency).

Healthcare professionals may also need separate English scores for professional registration, for example with the NMC for nurses.

How much does it really cost?

Government fees from 8 April 2026:

• Visa application fee, outside the UK, up to 3 years: £819
• Visa application fee, outside the UK, more than 3 years: £1,618
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year of the visa
• English test (IELTS for UKVI): varies by test centre
• TB test (required for Nigerian applicants): varies by approved clinic

For example, a three-year visa costs about £819 + £3,105 IHS = £3,924 in government fees, before flights, tests and your first month's rent. Some Health and Care visa holders are exempt from the IHS, but only when the Certificate of Sponsorship confirms it. The employer pays its own sponsorship costs (such as the £525 Certificate of Sponsorship fee and the Immigration Skills Charge) and cannot legally pass those to you.

You will also normally need to show £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

How to apply safely, step by step

1. Check your occupation is eligible and find its going rate on GOV.UK.
2. Search for licensed sponsors on the government's official Register of licensed sponsors: workers, then look for vacancies on those employers' own career pages, NHS Jobs or reputable job boards.
3. Get your English sorted early: book IELTS for UKVI, or apply to Ecctis to confirm your degree was taught in English.
4. Accept a written offer and wait for the employer to assign your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
5. Apply online on GOV.UK, pay the fee and the IHS, then book biometrics at the visa application centre in Lagos or Abuja.
6. Get a TB test from a Home Office–approved clinic in Nigeria before you apply.

Scam warning: you should never pay anyone for a job offer or a Certificate of Sponsorship. Common red flags include "guaranteed visa" packages, requests to send money to a personal account, employers who only communicate on WhatsApp, and offers for care jobs after July 2025. Check every employer on the Register of licensed sponsors, and if you want advice, use an OISC-regulated adviser or a UK solicitor.

Frequently asked questions

Can Nigerians still get UK care worker visas in 2026? Not from overseas. New entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers have been refused since 22 July 2025. Only people already in the UK in these roles can continue under transitional rules until July 2028.

Do Nigerians need IELTS for a UK work visa? Usually, yes. Nigeria isn't on the majority English-speaking country list, so you need a SELT at B2, or a degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis.

What is the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa? The general threshold is £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the job if higher. Lower thresholds apply to new entrants, Immigration Salary List jobs, PhD holders and some national pay-scale roles.

How long does a Skilled Worker visa take from Nigeria? Decisions are usually made within about three weeks of your biometrics appointment, though this can vary. Allow extra time for English tests, the TB test and document checks.

Can I bring my family? Skilled Worker visa holders can generally bring a partner and children as dependants, but each dependant pays their own visa fee and IHS. Check current dependant rules on GOV.UK before you budget.

Sources: GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa guidance and fee tables (April 2026); Statement of Changes effective 22 July 2025; changes to English language requirements for applications from 8 January 2026; Immigration Health Surcharge guidance. Last updated: October 2026. Visa rules change often, so always confirm details on GOV.UK before you apply.