UK Skilled Worker Visa from Nigeria: Requirements & Costs

The UK Skilled Worker visa is the main route for Nigerians moving to the UK for a long-term job. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa and lets you live and work in the UK for a sponsoring employer, usually for up to 5 years before you can apply to extend or settle.

This is not a route you can start alone. It begins with a job, not an application. Everything depends on a UK employer being willing and licensed to sponsor you.

You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor

Before anything else, you need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer.

• The employer must hold a sponsor licence. Only companies on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors can hire you under this route. You can check the public register on gov.uk.
• The job must be a real, eligible role. It needs an occupation code on the eligible list and must meet the skill level the route requires.
• The offer must be genuine. The Home Office checks that the role and salary are real and that the employer can actually pay you.

If the employer is not licensed, they cannot sponsor you, no matter how good the offer is.

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you are hired, your employer assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship, often called a CoS.

The CoS is an electronic record, not a paper certificate. It has a unique reference number that you enter into your visa application. It confirms your job title, salary, occupation code and start date. You normally apply within 3 months of the CoS being assigned, so timing matters.

Salary thresholds

Salary is where many applications fail, so check it carefully.

• General threshold. As of 2026 you generally need to earn at least around £38,700 per year. Confirm the current amount on gov.uk, as this figure has changed several times.
• Going rate. Each occupation code has its own going rate. You must be paid the higher of the general threshold or that going rate.
• Exceptions exist. New entrants, certain health and education roles, and some shortage occupations have lower thresholds. These rules change often, so do not assume.

Your salary on the CoS must meet the threshold that applies to your specific role.

English language requirement

You must prove you can speak, read, write and understand English to at least the required level.

You can meet this with an approved English language test (SELT), a degree taught in English, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country. Most Nigerian applicants meet it through their qualifications or an approved test.

Fees and the Health Surcharge

There are two main costs, and both are paid in Naira at the exchange rate shown when you apply.

• Visa application fee. As of 2026 this is roughly £625 to £1,500 depending on how long you are sponsored for. Confirm the current amount on gov.uk.
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This is around £1,035 per year of your visa, paid upfront, and gives you access to the NHS. It adds up quickly over a multi-year visa.

You give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja after applying online.

How long it takes

Standard processing is about 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment. Priority and Super Priority upgrades are available for an extra fee where the centre offers them. These speed up the decision, not the strength of your file.

Why Skilled Worker visas get refused

The common refusal causes are specific and avoidable:

• Salary below the threshold. The pay on the CoS does not meet the general threshold or the going rate for the occupation code.
• Job not on the eligible list. The role does not match an eligible occupation code or skill level.
• Sponsor issues. The employer’s licence is suspended, the CoS is assigned incorrectly, or the details do not match your application.

If you are visiting the UK first rather than working, see our UK visitor visa guide. You can compare other destinations on the visa guides hub.

How Oya Visa helps

We check that your CoS details, salary and occupation code line up before you submit, flag any mismatch a caseworker would catch, and make sure your evidence is consistent and complete. See our pricing to get started.