UK visa changes in 2026 for Nigerian students and workers

2026-10-24

Higher maintenance funds, the Graduate visa cut to 18 months from 2027, the £41,700 Skilled Worker threshold, B2 English and the dependants ban, explained.

Student visa

• Visa fee: £558 from outside the UK. Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 per year.
• Maintenance funds: £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months, held for 28 consecutive days.
• Dependants: for courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only PhD/doctoral or research-based postgraduate students (and government-sponsored students) can bring a partner or children. Taught master's students cannot.
• BRPs have been replaced by eVisas: you travel on a short vignette and prove your status through a UKVI account.

Graduate visa

Bachelor's and master's graduates get 2 years if they apply by 31 December 2026, and 18 months if they apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years. The fee is £937, plus the health surcharge of £1,035 per year.

Skilled Worker visa

The general salary threshold has been £41,700 a year since 22 July 2025 (or the job's going rate if higher). New applicants have needed B2-level English since 8 January 2026. The health surcharge is £1,035 per year. The standard qualifying period for settlement is still 5 years for most routes; proposals to extend it to 10 years had not been written into the rules as of mid-2026.

Visiting the UK

A Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months now costs £135.

Official sources

• GOV.UK — Student visa money
• GOV.UK — Student visa family members
• GOV.UK — Graduate visa
• GOV.UK — Skilled Worker job requirements
• GOV.UK — Standard Visitor visa