The United Kingdom (UK) has removed over 100 occupations from the list of eligible sponsored jobs and significantly increased salary thresholds by at least 30 percent in many cases.
This has caused many Skilled Worker and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) visas to be thrown into uncertainty, implying that many Nigerians may have to return back home.
Under the new rules, the salary requirement for the general Skilled Worker visa has risen to £41,700, while Health and Care roles retain a lower threshold of £25,600.
The revised policy affects all employers intending to sponsor foreign workers, effectively rendering many lower-level roles in IT, customer service, and administration ineligible unless salaries are substantially increased.
The revised regulations, which took effect on July 22, 2025, forms part of the UK government’s wider strategy to reduce net migration.
Read also: UK halts health, care worker visas amid immigration crackdown
Among the changes is the exclusion of numerous roles previously classified under RQF Levels 3 to 5 from the eligibility for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa scheme.
Unless listed on the newly established Temporary Shortage Occupation List, positions such as care supervisors, administrative staff, and technical support roles will no longer qualify for sponsorship.
The affected job categories cuts across a range of sectors, including hospitality, logistics, healthcare support, public services, and the creative industries impacting thousands of foreign workers, many of whom had previously relied on these roles to secure legal employment in the UK.
Notably, occupations delisted include: Managers and proprietors in agriculture, hospitality and logistics (SOC 1211–1258); Health and community roles like pharmaceutical technicians, youth workers, and counsellors (SOC 3211–3224); Protective service jobs such as police officers (below sergeant), fire and prison officers (SOC 3312–3314); Creative professionals including actors, authors, designers and photographers (SOC 3411–3429);
Read also:UK skilled worker visa list adds 200 roles, including social media influencers
For health and care sector employers, the new rules stipulates that the minimum salary threshold of £41,700 must now be met after deductions such as accommodation and transport which has raised the bar significantly for continued sponsorship.
Experts have warned of longer-term implications noting that although no one has been terminated yet due to these changes, the consequences will become apparent at the end of current visa sponsorship terms, which usually last between one and five years.
For those whose jobs are no longer on the eligible list, they would not be able to renew or secure a new sponsorship in the same field. Without a valid visa, they cannot be undocumented.
Another challenge pointed out for those whose jobs remain eligible but fall short of the new salary threshold, is that any company that cannot meet the revised £41,700 requirement, the visa of the employee will not be renewed when it expires.
Data from the Home Office had shown an increasing trend in visas grants to Nigerians.
In 2021, 10,245 Skilled Worker visas were issued, but fell to 8,491 in 2022 before surging to 26,715 in 2023. But figures for 2024 started to indicate another downturn.
As this system to priorities high-skilled, high-wage roles, many Nigerian workers now face an uncertain and possibly shortened stay future in the UK.
