UK to engage Nigerian partners on reforms to legal migration: Official

*The British High Commission Communications Office, in Nigeria, assures the country will engage with relevant partners, once more information about implementation details of the fresh White Paper on immigration policies are available

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Following the recent unveiling of an end to overseas recruitment as part of the country’s immigration policies, the British High Commission (BHC), in Nigeria, has assured of engaging with relevant partners in the Federal Government of Nigeria as more information about implementation details are available.

Speaking on the UK Government’s announcement of far-reaching reforms in the immigration policies, a British High Commission Spokesperson in Nigeria in an official statement Monday, May 12, 2025, said: “The UK enjoys strong, long-standing people-to-people links with Nigeria.

“We are proud that the UK is still considered a top destination for Nigerians to work, study, visit and settle – and value the contribution this brings to the UK.”

The Mission’s top official stated: “The UK White Paper sets out reforms to legal migration, including restoring order, control and fairness to the system, bringing down net migration and promoting economic growth. “Changes to the system will happen over a period of time, and we will engage with relevant partners in the Federal Government of Nigeria once more information about implementation details are available.”

The British High Commission Communications Office also noted: “We have a proud tradition as an outward-looking nation, investing and trading abroad, and welcoming the creativity, ideas and diversity of those who come to contribute here.”

Why UK will close social care visas to new applications -Home Office

ConsumerConnect reports the British Government Monday, May 12 announced an end to overseas recruitment for social care visas, as part of the country’s immigration policies.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom unveiled the White Paper, had earlier delivered a speech at a press conference Central London, ahead of the publication of the Government’s new Immigration policy document.

In regard to the 82-page blueprint, titled: “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, the UK Home Office, on its web site Monday stated: “In line with our wider reforms to skills thresholds, we will close social care visas to new applications from abroad.

“For a transition period until 2028, while the workforce strategy is being developed and rolled out, we will permit visa extensions and in-country switching for those already here. This will be kept under review.”

The UK Government also explained the fresh immigration measures would reshape Britain’s immigration system towards “those who contribute most to economic growth, with higher skills standards for graduates and workers.”

The country further noted that new requirements on employers to boost domestic training would end the reliance on international recruitment, restoring order to a “failed system” that saw net migration quadruple between 2019 and 2023.

Major immigration policies in the White Paper include reversing the long-term trend of increasing international recruitment at the expense of skills and training.

The policy document also contains the establishment of the labour market evidence group to make informed decisions about the state of the labour market and the role that different policies should play, rather than always relying on migration, and the engagement of sector bodies by departments across government.

‘Skilled must mean skilled’ in the UK

Emphasising that ‘Skilled Must Mean Skilled’, the UK Government stated it would lift the level for skilled workers back to RQF 6 (Graduate level) and above, while salary thresholds would increase.

It declared that the immigration salary list, which gives people discounts from salary thresholds, would be abolished.

The White Paper stated: “Access to the points-based immigration system will be limited to occupations where there have been long term shortages, on a time limited basis, where the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has advised it is justified, where there is a workforce strategy in place, and where employers seeking to recruit from abroad are committed to playing their part in increasing recruitment from the domestic workforce.”

The British Government as well disclosed it would strengthen the requirements that all sponsoring institutions must meet to recruit international students.

“We will introduce new interventions for sponsors who are close to failing their sponsor duties, including placing them on an action plan designed to improve their compliance, and imposing limits on the number of new international students they can recruit while they are subject to those plans.

“We will reduce the ability for graduates to remain in the UK after their studies to a period of 18 months,” the Home Office said.

The government, however, noted that it would further  ensure the “very highly skilled” have opportunities to come to the UK and access the country’s targeted routes for the brightest and best global talent.

According to the government, this includes increasing the number of people arriving on its very high-talent routes, alongside faster routes for bringing people to the UK who have the right skills and experience to supercharge UK growth in strategic industries.

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