How To Move To The UK From Nigeria (2024)

by Ezeh Emmanuella

This article is about how to move to the United Kingdom (UK) from Nigeria currently in this year 2024. If you are looking to travel to the UK any time soon from Nigeria, we will give you a guide on how you can successfully migrate there. It is the dream of many people in Nigeria to emigrate to the United Kingdom in search of greener pastures and we hope that the information contained in this article is of great help to you if you are one of such people looking to make that move soon to the UK. Without further ado, let us proceed.

How To Move To The UK From Nigeria

One of the first things to consider as you are planning to migrate to the United Kingdom is to get your visa. This is something you must do alongside your international passport in order to successfully move to the UK. There are however, some business visitors who may be eligible for a visa on their arrival into the UK. That notwithstanding, if you aren’t such a business visitor or you do not belong in the category of people who require visa on arrival, it is very important that you put your visa in place before making the move to the UK.

HOW TO MOVE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK) FROM NIGERIA 2024

There are various ways through which you can migrate to the United Kingdom from Nigeria this 2024, and they are dependent on your reason for relocating to the UK from Nigeria. Based on any of those reasons, you can apply for any of the UK visa types available to you. Kindly bear in mind that each type of UK visa you are applying for, has its has its own set of rules or eligibility standards, so you may have to do your research to find out what they are so you don’t apply for the wrong visa type. Also, you will be required to submit sufficient proof that you are qualified for the type of visa you are applying for. That said, let us take a quick look at the visa options available to Nigerians who want to migrate to the United Kingdom.

TYPES OF VISAS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MIGRATE TO THE UK FROM NIGERIA

The following are the different types of visas available to Nigerians who want to migrate from Nigeria to the United Kingdom:

UK student visa for Nigerians
UK spousal visa for Nigerians
UK work visa for Nigerians
UK entrepreneur visa for Nigerians.

MIGRATING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM NIGERIA USING A STUDENT VISA

A UK student visa, also known as a tier 4 visa is what you need in order to migrate to the United Kingdom from Nigeria if you are moving there for education purposes. This type of UK visa is normally issued for a period of one year, and only Nigerians who have been offered provisional admission at UK schools are granted a student visa.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING A UK STUDENT VISA IN NIGERIA

Below are the requirements for getting a UK student visa in Nigeria:

You have been accepted into a full-time educational programme in the United Kingdom
Unless you are a government-sponsored student, you must study B2 level English from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
You must be able to financially support yourself in terms of tuition and living expenses in the United Kingdom
You must demonstrate that you will not be reliant on government funds
After completing your course, you must plan to return to Nigeria
You must be able to communicate in the English Language.

MIGRATING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM NIGERIA USING A SPOUSAL VISA

If your spouse is in the United Kingdom and you wish to migrate to the UK to join them there, you will be required to apply for a UK Spousal Visa.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING A UK SPOUSAL VISA IN NIGERIA

The following are the requirements for getting a UK spousal visa in Nigeria:

You and your partner must be 18 years old and above
You and your partner must be married or in a legally recognized civil partnership in the UK
Your sponsor must be either a British citizen or a permanent resident in the UK
Before getting married, you both must have met in person at least once
You must have been living together for the past two years
You can apply for a Fiancé Visa if you and your partner are not married but you plan to do so in the United Kingdom once you both arrive from Nigeria.

MIGRATING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM NIGERIA USING A WORK VISA

UK Work visas are also known as tier 2 visas and many Nigerians enter the United Kingdom through this means for work. For you to enter the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland using a work visa, a UK-based company with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship must have offered you a job.

PERMISSIONS INCLUDED IN THE UK TIER 2 VISA FOR NIGERIANS

The following are the permissions included in the UK work visa for Nigerians:

General category: This category is for foreign employees who are highly qualified and fulfill specified qualifying criteria
ICT category: This category is available to existing workers who are already working in another country but need to transfer to a UK division of their company
Sportpersons category: This category is available and reserved for well-known international athletes and competent coaches
Minister of Religion category: This category is available for foreign religious workers.

MIGRATING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM NIGERIA USING AN ENTREPRENEUR VISA

The UK entrepreneur visas are also known as tier 1 visas, and they are available to people considered “high-value migrants”. Many top Nigerian entrepreneurs who wish to migrate to the United Kingdom can apply for this visa.

PERMISSIONS INCLUDED IN THE UK TIER 1 VISAS FOR NIGERIANS

The following are the permissions included in the UK entrepreneur visa for Nigerians:

People who work in a specialized profession such as medicine, research or art, and are recognized worldwide as experts in their field are eligible for the Global Talent Visa
Tier 1 (Investor): Nigerians who are interested in investing in the United Kingdom must have at least £2 million to invest in the UK in order to be eligible for this permit
The Start-Up visa is available to people who want to start their first business in the UK. In this case, there will be no need for a minimum investment, but applicants for this type of visa must show that they have a great deal of promise.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING FOR UK PERMANENT RESIDENCY AS A NIGERIAN

The following are the requirements for applying for UK permanent residency as a Nigerian:

In order to be eligible for permanent residency in the UK, you as a Nigerian must have resided lawfully in the United Kingdom for a period of 5 years. Within those 5 years, in any 12-month period, you must have spent not more than 180 days outside the UK
Also, your command of the English language as well as your understanding of British traditions must be impeccable.

If you meet certain conditions, you as a Nigerian living in the United Kingdom can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK and gain permanent residency over there. You will be allowed to live in the United Kingdom without any limits on immigration if your application for permanent residency is approved. Please bear in mind that until your application for British citizenship is approved, you will not be allowed to vote or possess a UK passport as a permanent resident.

APPLYING FOR JOBS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Applying for jobs in the UK begins when you discover that there is a vacancy over there that interests you. You should then proceed to apply. An interview will be scheduled with you if you have been selected and you will need to know important information about the company you are going to be potentially working for. Applying to jobs in the UK requires you to simply send your CV and cover letter, or fill out an application form online.

JOB INTERVIEWS IN THE UK

Job interviews in the United Kingdom typically span between 30 – 60 minutes, with two or three interviewers present. So you must be at your best. In some interviews, you may be required to take extra tests or activities that will stretch the overall duration of the interview. If you have successfully passed the interview, the company will contact you on phone and in writing; and they will follow up with your references too. You must provide at least two or three references when applying to jobs in the UK.

JOBSEEKER’S ALLOWANCE (JSA) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

You must have worked in the past and paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions during the last two to three years in order to be eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in the UK. Enrolling in a skills programme can greatly improve your job chances and work abilities. Please bear in mind that each of the four countries that make up the UK: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, have their own separate careers agency that grants funds to immigrants/job seekers.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FOR WORK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

You will be required to provide a valid proof of your English language proficiency in order to obtain a work visa in the UK. If your command of the English Language needs to improve, you may need to consider enrolling in a course offered by a language school. A list of language exams that satisfy Home Office requirements is available from the UK Border Agency.

UK TAX AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS

You will get a unique tax reference (UTR) number in the UK whether you are employed or self employed as long as you are working over there and paying taxes. You are required to use this 10-digit number when communicating with the UK Inland Revenue. Before you can work in the United Kingdom, you are required to apply for a National Insurance (NI) Number. This number is used for social security purposes and will be needed to claim benefits or a UK pension for instance. If you already have gotten a job offer and you want to start working right away, you will initially be given a temporary NI number in the UK.

STARTING A JOB IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

As a newbie, it is most likely that your new job in the UK will begin with a probationary term. The amount of notice that is required to terminate your contract at this stage in your new job may be less.