UK Visa Changes for Nigerian Students Starting 2026

Starting February 25, 2026, Nigerian nationals applying for UK visit and student visas will receive an electronic immigration status instead of a physical sticker in their passport. Applicants must create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account to manage their status.

Existing valid physical visa stickers will remain valid until their expiry. The Graduate Route, which currently allows international students to work in the UK without immediate employer sponsorship, will change on January 1, 2027, reducing the duration for bachelor's and master's graduates from two years to 18 months, while PhD graduates will retain three years.

Students must demonstrate they can cover monthly living costs of £1,483 if studying in London or £1,136 if outside London, with funds needing to be in their account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying. Additionally, the English language requirement for certain visa routes will increase from B1 to B2 starting January 8, 2026.

A proposed levy of £925 per international student per year will be introduced in August 2028.