Thousands of Nigerians in the United Kingdom holding Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or Skilled Worker visas are gripped by panic over sweeping new immigration rules unveiled by the British government.
In a bid to curb immigration, the UK has delisted over 100 job roles—including several skilled positions—from CoS eligibility. Additionally, the salary thresholds for remaining roles have been raised by at least 30 per cent.
Jobs classified as lower-skilled (formerly at RQF Level 3–5) are now only eligible if listed on a newly introduced Temporary Shortage Occupation List.
Among the jobs delisted are roles in agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and logistics management (SOC 1211–1258); community and welfare positions like dispensing opticians, youth workers, and counsellors (SOC 3211–3224); protective services including police officers, firefighters, and prison staff (SOC 3312–3314); as well as creative professionals such as authors, translators, actors, dancers, and designers (SOC 3411–3429).
The new regulations—effective from July 22, 2025—impact multiple visa categories, including the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, and introduce stricter employer sponsorship requirements.
The general salary threshold for Skilled Worker roles has jumped to £41,700 or higher, depending on the occupation. Health and care roles retain a lower threshold of £25,600, but this must reflect post-deduction earnings, covering accommodation, transport, and other costs.
This newspaper learned that jobs like entry-level IT and customer service positions, which previously qualified for CoS, now no longer meet eligibility unless employers significantly raise salaries in line with the new guidelines.
The minimum skill level has also been raised to Level 6 (Bachelor’s degree), effectively eliminating many roles previously covered at Levels 3–5, such as administrative and technical support, or care supervisors.
Sources reveal that the changes have sparked anxiety among many Nigerians who now face uncertainty over their immigration status.
