UK Visa Sponsorship for Nigerian Nationals
Grants by year
Data starts in 2020. The Skilled Worker route launched in December 2020 and the Health & Care Worker visa in August 2020, replacing earlier Tier 2 categories.
In 2025, 1,843 Nigerian nationals were granted UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes, down 49% on 2024. About 83% came through the Health & Care Worker route, mostly NHS and social-care roles.
The most common occupation for Nigerian nationals in 2025 was Generalist medical practitioners (599 grants), followed by Other registered nursing professionals (281) and Care workers and home carers (194). Other eligible Skilled Worker occupations are sponsorable too, as long as the employer holds a Home Office sponsor licence and the role clears the salary and skill-level thresholds for its SOC code.
Search the roles below to see who's currently hiring Nigerian nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Nigerian nationals
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalist medical practitioners | 599 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 2 | Other registered nursing professionals | 281 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 3 | Care workers and home carers | 194 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 4 | Specialist medical practitioners | 78 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 5 | Registered mental health nurses | 65 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 6 | Registered nurse practitioners | 51 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 7 | Nursing auxiliaries and assistants | 35 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 8 | Programmers and software development professionals | 30 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Medical radiographers | 30 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 10 | Optometrists | 21 | H&CHealth & Care |
Full occupation distribution for Nigerian nationals
Each rectangle is one occupation, sized by grant count and grouped by SOC major category. Color shows year-over-year change vs 2023. Total: 1,812 grants across 130 occupations.
Frequently asked questions
How many nigerian nationals got UK work visas in 2025? In 2025, 1,843 nigerian nationals were granted UK work visas: 318 via Skilled Worker and 1,525 via Health & Care Worker.
What are the most common jobs nigerian nationals get sponsored for? Home Office data shows the top occupations for nigerian nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Generalist medical practitioners, Other registered nursing professionals, Care workers and home carers. Full breakdown in the table above.
Can nigerian nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa? Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Nigerian nationals qualify if they have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor, the role is on the eligible occupations list, and the salary meets the threshold (usually £41,700 or the going rate for that SOC code, whichever is higher).
Which UK companies sponsor nigerian nationals? Any UK employer with a Home Office sponsor licence can hire nigerian nationals. Every company listed on Hunt UK Visa Sponsors holds one. Search jobs or browse the sponsor directory below.
Keep exploring
Current openings from Home Office licensed sponsors. Filter by visa route, salary, and occupation.
Visa trends and top occupations for every nationality, browsable by region.
See what a UK salary is really worth compared with Nigeria — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.