The United Kingdom may soon impose stricter visa restrictions on Nigerian nationals as part of broader efforts to overhaul its immigration system and curb visa overstays, The Times of London has reported.
According to the report, Nigeria, alongside Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has been flagged by the UK Home Office for having a high number of citizens who overstay their visas and subsequently file asylum claims, a trend UK authorities say undermines the integrity of the country’s immigration system.
In response, the UK Home Office said it is building a data-driven approach to identify and prevent potential visa abuse earlier in the process. “To tackle abuse by foreign nationals who arrive on work and study visas and go on to claim asylum, we are building intelligence on the profile of these individuals to identify them earlier and faster,” a spokesperson stated.
The UK government’s position will be formally outlined in an upcoming Immigration White Paper due later in May, which is expected to propose sweeping reforms to address what it described as a “broken immigration system.” The new measures could impact Nigerians seeking work or study visas, with increased scrutiny or outright limitations on certain categories of applicants.
Nigerians have already felt the brunt of the UK’s tightening immigration stance in recent years. Following a series of changes implemented under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — particularly targeting student visas and dependent applications — visa approvals for Nigerians have plummeted.
Data from 2024 revealed that visa rejection rates for Nigerian nationals jumped from 1 in 31 in 2022 to 1 in 8 by late 2023, causing a 63 percent drop in the number of UK visas issued to Nigerians. This, coupled with high non-refundable application fees, has placed immense financial strain on prospective travelers.
In the same period, the UK reportedly generated over N40 billion in visa processing fees from Nigerian applicants, according to a previous investigation by TheCable.
With stricter US policies also coming into effect, especially under former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, options for Nigerians seeking education or employment abroad are becoming increasingly limited.
Experts have urged developing nations to address the root causes of youth emigration and brain drain. “Rather than chasing uncertain opportunities abroad, our young people should be supported to create impact at home,” one African economist noted.
As the UK prepares to roll out its new immigration plan, Nigerian applicants may face even tougher hurdles ahead.
