The UK government’s recently unveiled 2025 Immigration White Paper titled ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ aims to reduce net migration by 100,000 annually, introducing tougher work, study, family, and asylum visa requirements that are causing apprehension among Nigerian youths seeking opportunities in the UK. Proposed changes include longer settlement periods, higher skilled worker thresholds requiring university degrees, shorter post-study work visas reduced to 18 months, and stricter English language demands.
The policy also plans to end new social care visas for overseas applicants, while raising the Immigration Skills Charge by 32 percent. Sponsoring universities must maintain at least 95 percent enrolment and 90 percent completion rates for international students, with an extended route to permanent residency now set at 10 years unless notable economic or social contributions are made.
Experts recommend Nigerians reassess UK plans, considering alternative destinations like Germany, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, which offer more accommodating immigration policies. Legal advisors suggest current residents seek counsel to understand the impact and eligibility under the new rules.
The policy, not yet law, faces criticism for restricting migration, with some viewing it as part of a broader Western trend to curb legal migration from developing countries. The increasing financial requirements for student visas and tightened eligibility criteria signal a challenging environment for Nigerians hoping to relocate.
Source: Swifteradio.com
