How to get a work visa in United Kingdom as a Nigerian citizen

The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's primary route for employer-sponsored immigration. It uses a points-based system where you need 70 points, earned through three mandatory requirements: a job offer from a licensed sponsor (20 points), a job at the appropriate skill level of RQF 3 or above (20 points), and English language ability at B1 level (10 points). The remaining 20 points come from meeting the salary threshold.

The Global Talent visa is the UK's route for individuals recognized as leaders or emerging leaders in academia, research, digital technology, arts, and culture. Its defining feature is that no job offer is required — you can freelance, start a business, or work for multiple employers. This makes it the most flexible work visa available in the UK.

The Scale-Up visa is a relatively new UK route launched in August 2022, targeting skilled workers who have been recruited by a qualifying high-growth company (a "scale-up"). Its unique feature is that after just six months with your initial sponsor, you are no longer tied to that employer and can work for anyone, start a business, or freelance for the remainder of your visa.

The Health and Care Worker visa is a variant of the Skilled Worker visa specifically for medical professionals, nurses, and social care workers coming to work in the UK's health and care sector. Its main advantages are significantly reduced fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), saving thousands of pounds over the visa's duration.

The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa targets recent graduates from the world's top universities as ranked on a specified global list. If you graduated from one of these universities within the last five years, you can come to the UK without needing a job offer, employer sponsorship, or meeting a salary threshold. It is designed to attract global talent early in their careers.

The Graduate visa is available to international students who have completed a degree at a UK higher education institution on a Student visa. It provides two years of unrestricted work authorization (three years for PhD graduates) without needing employer sponsorship, a minimum salary, or a job related to your field of study. It is the most flexible post-study work option in the UK.

The Innovator Founder visa replaced the old Innovator visa in April 2023 and is designed for experienced business people who want to establish an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK. Unlike its predecessor, there is no minimum investment requirement — the focus has shifted entirely to the quality and credibility of your business idea.

The UK Intra-Company Transfer visa now falls under the Global Business Mobility route and allows multinational companies to transfer senior managers, specialist employees, and graduate trainees to their UK branch. It is designed for established employees who need to work in the UK as part of their company's international operations.