Hopes of Nigerians planning to study and work in the United Kingdom have taken a hit following the UK government’s decision to reduce the length of stay under the graduate visa route. The new policy, announced in a White Paper released by the UK Home Office, reduces the visa duration from two years to 18 months for international students after they complete their studies.
The British government says the move is part of a broader immigration overhaul designed to reduce abuse of visa pathways and regain control of migration numbers. The changes also include extending the qualifying period for foreign nationals to apply for permanent residency from five years to 10 years.
According to the Home Office, the graduate visa route has been misused as a way to secure unsponsored employment in the UK, diverting from its original goal of allowing students time to transition into skilled roles. “This route has become a backdoor for unsponsored work,” the UK Home Office noted in its official statement.
The reforms go beyond just shortening the visa timeline. Universities that admit international students must now follow stricter rules. Schools with low employment rates for graduates or those found guilty of misleading recruitment practices risk losing their license to sponsor foreign students.
For employers, the immigration skills charge – a fee paid when sponsoring a foreign worker – will increase by 32 percent. In addition, the new rules require most skilled worker visa applicants to hold a university degree. For those in roles not requiring such qualifications, access to the immigration system will be limited and tied to clear labour shortages.
The UK government also plans to focus more on attracting top-tier talent, particularly those who can boost economic growth in critical sectors. “We will go further in ensuring that the very highly skilled workers have opportunities to come to the UK and access our targeted routes for the brightest and best global talent,” the government added.
The British High Commission in Nigeria responded to the policy update, stating it would cooperate with Nigerian authorities once more information about how the reforms will be implemented becomes available.
“The UK enjoys strong, long-standing people-to-people links with Nigeria. We are proud that the UK is still considered a top destination for Nigerians to work, study, visit and settle – and value the contribution this brings to the UK,” a spokesperson for the commission said.
They further noted: “Changes to the system will happen over a period of time, and we will engage with relevant partners in the Federal Government of Nigeria once more information about implementation details are available.”
