United Kingdom:
Skilled Worker Pathway
The UK’s points-based Skilled Worker visa requires a job offer, £41,700 minimum salary (or occupation going rate), and B2 English. Healthcare workers get lower thresholds and fee exemptions. Here’s every route, real costs, and how to get from visa to permanent residence.
Who the UK Is For (And Who It’s Not)
The UK works if you are: A skilled professional in tech, healthcare, engineering, finance, or education with a job offer from a UK employer holding a sponsor licence. You can prove B2 English (IELTS 5.5 overall, no band below 5.5, or equivalent). Your role is RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree equivalent) and pays £41,700+ or the going rate for your occupation. You have £1,270 in savings for 28 consecutive days. You’re willing to pay £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge plus £769-£1,846 visa fees.
The UK does NOT work if you: Have no job offer (the UK has no points-only route like Canada Express Entry). Your occupation is below RQF Level 6 (most retail, hospitality, admin roles are ineligible). Your English is below B2 (unless you’re a new entrant under 26, then B1). The salary offer is below £41,700 and you don’t qualify for reduced thresholds. You cannot afford the upfront costs (£5,000-£10,000 for a 5-year visa with family).
Unlike Canada’s Express Entry where you submit a profile and wait, the UK requires a job offer FIRST. You cannot apply without a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer. Job hunting from Nigeria for UK sponsorship is harder than applying to Canada Express Entry — expect 3-6 months of applications.
Skilled Worker Visa: The Standard Path
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK’s primary work route. It replaced Tier 2 (General) in December 2020. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor, meet the salary threshold, score 70 points, and demonstrate B2 English. The visa lasts up to 5 years, is extendable indefinitely, and leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years.
The 70-Point System
You must score 70 points minimum. The first 50 are mandatory — no flexibility. The remaining 20 can be “traded” between salary and other attributes.
| Requirement | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer from licensed sponsor | 20 | Mandatory. Sponsor must assign Certificate of Sponsorship. |
| Job at appropriate skill level (RQF 6+) | 20 | Mandatory. Bachelor’s degree level or equivalent. |
| English at B2 (CEFR) | 10 | Mandatory since 8 Jan 2026. IELTS 5.5 overall, no band below 5.5. |
| Salary £41,700+ or going rate | 20 | Whichever is higher. Tradeable if you qualify for reduced thresholds. |
| Salary £33,400-£41,699 (reduced category) | 0 | Only if you’re a new entrant, PhD holder, or shortage occupation. |
| Job in shortage occupation (ISL) | 20 | Bonus points. ISL expires 31 Dec 2026 unless renewed. |
| PhD relevant to job | 10 | Bonus points. Reduces salary threshold to £37,500. |
| PhD in STEM relevant to job | 20 | Bonus points. Reduces salary threshold to £33,400. |
Salary Thresholds: The Dual-Test Framework
You must meet both requirements:
- 1. General minimum: £41,700/year (or reduced if you qualify)
- 2. Going rate: The minimum for your specific occupation (SOC code)
The rule: Pay whichever figure is higher. If the going rate for a Data Analyst is £38,400, you still need £41,700 (general minimum is higher). If the going rate for a Software Engineer is £51,000, you need £51,000 (going rate is higher).
Reduced Salary Categories
Skilled Worker Visa Requirements
- Job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsor licence
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned by employer
- Role must be RQF Level 6 or above (bachelor’s degree equivalent)
- Salary meets £41,700 AND the going rate for your SOC code, whichever is higher
- English at B2: IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.5), CELPIP, or degree taught in English
- £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days (unless UK resident)
- Valid passport
- No criminal inadmissibility or immigration breaches
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Find a UK employer with a sponsor licence. Check the Register of Licensed Sponsors on GOV.UK. Only licensed employers can sponsor you. Popular job boards for sponsored roles: LinkedIn (filter “visa sponsorship”), Reed, CV-Library, Indeed (search “tier 2 sponsorship” or “skilled worker sponsorship”).
Step 2: Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Once the employer offers you the job and decides to sponsor, they assign you a CoS — a digital reference number, not a physical document. The CoS lists your job, salary, SOC code, and start date. It expires 3 months if unused.
Step 3: Prove English at B2. IELTS Academic or General Training: 5.5 overall, no band below 5.5. Or TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or degree taught in English from a recognized institution. Test results valid for 2 years.
Step 4: Gather documents. Valid passport, CoS reference number, English test certificate (or proof of exemption), bank statement showing £1,270 for 28 days, tuberculosis test certificate (required for Nigerian applicants), criminal record certificate if you’ve lived in UK for 12+ months in past 10 years.
Step 5: Apply online. Create account on gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa. Complete form, upload documents, pay fees (visa fee + Immigration Health Surcharge). Book biometric appointment at visa application centre.
Step 6: Attend biometrics. Provide fingerprints and photo. Processing starts after biometrics.
Step 7: Receive decision. Standard: 3 weeks (outside UK). Priority: 5 working days (£500 extra). Super priority: next working day (£956 extra). If approved, you get an eVisa (digital). Travel to UK within CoS validity.
You must book a tuberculosis (TB) test at an approved clinic before applying. Results valid for 6 months. Cost: ~₦35,000-₦50,000. Clinic locations: Lagos (VI, Ikeja), Abuja, Port Harcourt. Book 2-3 weeks ahead — clinics fill up. Without TB certificate, your application will be refused.
Health and Care Worker Visa: Lower Costs, Lower Threshold
The Health and Care Worker visa is a subset of Skilled Worker for doctors, nurses, paramedics, radiographers, social workers, and care workers employed by NHS, private hospitals, or registered adult care providers.
Key Differences
| Feature | Health and Care | Standard Skilled Worker |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary | £25,000 (NHS Agenda for Change pay scales) | £41,700 |
| Visa application fee (3 years) | £284 | £719 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £0 (exempt) | £1,035/year |
| Total cost saving (5 years) | ~£5,600 | — |
Eligible roles: Doctors, nurses (RGN, RMN, learning disability, paediatric), paramedics, radiographers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, care workers (if employer is CQC/CIW registered). Check full list on GOV.UK.
Processing: 3 weeks (standard). Same as Skilled Worker.
The UK has a chronic nursing shortage. Thousands of Nigerian nurses moved to the UK 2020-2024 via Health and Care Worker visa. You need: NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) registration, IELTS 7.0 in all bands (NMC requirement, higher than visa requirement), and a job offer from NHS or private hospital with sponsor licence. Total cost: ~£1,500 vs. £7,000+ for standard Skilled Worker (5-year visa).
Alternative UK Work Visas
Graduate Visa
If you studied in the UK and completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD from a recognized institution, you can stay for 2 years (3 years for PhD) to work or look for work. No job offer needed. No salary threshold. No sponsor needed. Cannot extend — must switch to Skilled Worker or leave. Fee: £822. Processing: 8 weeks.
Global Talent Visa
For leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, digital technology. No job offer needed. No salary threshold. Endorsement required from designated UK body (Royal Society, Tech Nation, Arts Council, etc.). Fee: £716. Processing: 3 weeks after endorsement (endorsement takes 4-8 weeks). Leads to ILR after 3 years (faster than Skilled Worker’s 5 years).
Youth Mobility Scheme
For 18-30 year olds from certain countries (not Nigeria). Live and work in UK for 2 years. No sponsor needed. Fee: £298. Not available to Nigerian passport holders.
Total Cost Breakdown
Visa Application Fees (2026)
| Visa Length | Standard Skilled Worker | Health and Care |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 years | £719 | £284 |
| More than 3 years | £1,420 | £551 |
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
£1,035 per person per year. Paid upfront for entire visa length. Gives access to NHS.
- 3-year visa: £1,035 × 3 = £3,105
- 5-year visa: £1,035 × 5 = £5,175
Health and Care Worker visa holders: £0 (exempt)
Other Costs
- English test (IELTS): £180-£200
- Tuberculosis test (Nigeria): ~£40 (₦50,000)
- Priority processing (optional): £500 (5 days) or £956 (next day)
- Immigration Skills Charge (paid by employer, not you): £1,320/year (large employers) or £364/year (small/charity)
- Sponsor licence (paid by employer, not you): £536 (small) or £1,476 (large)
Total Costs Example
Single applicant, 5-year Skilled Worker visa, standard processing:
- Visa fee: £1,420
- IHS: £5,175
- English test: £200
- TB test: £40
- Total: £6,835
Single applicant, 5-year Health and Care Worker visa:
- Visa fee: £551
- IHS: £0 (exempt)
- English test: £200
- TB test: £40
- Total: £791
Processing Times
| Service | Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (outside UK) | 3 weeks | Included |
| Priority | 5 working days | +£500 |
| Super priority | Next working day | +£956 |
| Extension (inside UK) | 8 weeks | Same visa fees apply |
From Visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
After 5 years of continuous residence on a Skilled Worker visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residence).
ILR Requirements
- 5 years continuous lawful residence in the UK on Skilled Worker (or qualifying predecessor routes like Tier 2)
- Still sponsored and earning at least £41,700 (or the going rate) at time of ILR application
- No absences exceeding 180 days in any 12-month period during the 5 years
- English at B1 (CEFR) — IELTS 4.0 in all skills (lower than visa requirement)
- Pass the Life in the UK test (£50, 45 minutes, 75% pass mark)
- No criminal convictions or immigration breaches
ILR fee: £3,226 per person. Processing: 6-8 months.
After ILR: Live and work in UK permanently, no sponsor needed, access to public funds, apply for British citizenship after 12 months (if eligible).
The government’s April 2026 White Paper proposed extending the ILR qualifying period from 5 years to 10 years. This has NOT been enacted into law yet, but monitor Statement of Changes. If implemented, anyone who started their Skilled Worker visa before the change would likely be protected under transitional rules.
Find UK Employers Ready to Sponsor
Search thousands of jobs from licensed UK sponsors. Filter by occupation, salary, and visa route.
Browse Sponsored JobsPolicy Changes & 2026 Trends
B2 English requirement (8 Jan 2026): First-time Skilled Worker applicants now need IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.5), up from IELTS 4.0 (B1). Extensions and switch applications before 8 Jan 2026 still use B1. This raised the bar for non-native speakers.
Payroll compliance rule (8 Apr 2026): Employers must now ensure salary thresholds are met in each pay period, not just annually. For monthly pay: salary over any 3-month period must be ≥ 1/4 of annual minimum. For weekly/biweekly: salary over any 12 weeks must be ≥ 12/52 of annual minimum. This catches workers whose pay fluctuates (commission, bonuses).
RQF Level 6 minimum (22 Jul 2025): Eligible roles must now be bachelor’s degree level (RQF 6) or above. Previously RQF 3 (A-level equivalent) was acceptable. RQF 3-5 roles preserved on Temporary Shortage List (TSL), but TSL workers cannot bring dependants.
Immigration Salary List (ISL) expires 31 Dec 2026: The shortage occupation list with reduced salary thresholds and fees may not be renewed. Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is reviewing. If not renewed, current ISL roles revert to standard £41,700 threshold from Jan 2027.
Dependant restrictions on TSL: Workers sponsored through Temporary Shortage List (sub-degree roles RQF 3-5) cannot bring new dependants. Existing dependants can stay.
Your Next Steps
1. Check if your occupation is eligible: GOV.UK eligible occupations list. Find your SOC code and going rate.
2. Take IELTS (or equivalent): Book IELTS Academic or General Training. Aim for 5.5 overall, no band below 5.5 (B2 requirement). If you’re a nurse, aim for 7.0 in all bands (NMC requirement). Test results valid 2 years.
3. Find employers with sponsor licences: Search Register of Licensed Sponsors. Apply directly. Mention “eligible for UK Skilled Worker sponsorship” in cover letter.
4. Prepare finances: Budget £6,835 for a 5-year visa (standard Skilled Worker) or £791 (Health and Care). Save £1,270 in your account for 28 days before applying.
5. Book TB test early: Nigerian applicants must complete tuberculosis screening. Approved clinics fill up 2-3 weeks ahead. Results valid 6 months.
6. Track policy changes: Bookmark Statement of Changes on GOV.UK. Immigration Rules change quarterly.