The policy document outlines ambitious plans to slash net migration by 100,000 annually, with significant changes impacting work, study, family, and asylum routes.
Nigerians aspiring to relocate to the United Kingdom face a major setback as the British government unveils stringent immigration reforms aimed at slashing net migration by 100,000 annually. The 2025 Immigration White Paper, presented by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, introduces higher salary thresholds, stricter English language requirements, and reduced post-study work visa durations. The policy also targets social care visas—a key sector for Nigerian immigrants—by closing them to new overseas applicants from 2028.
The proposed changes have sparked widespread concern, with many Nigerians lamenting the shrinking opportunities for work and study in the UK. One contentious clause shifts deportation authority from courts to the government, limiting appeals based on the right to family life. “The UK is turning into an island of strangers,” the White Paper states, justifying the 32% hike in the Immigration Skills Charge.
While the document is not yet law, its potential implementation has forced prospective immigrants to reconsider their plans. The reforms, if passed, could significantly alter the UK’s appeal as a destination for Nigerian students and skilled workers.