UK Visa Route Recommender
Answer 6 questions. See which UK visa routes match your profile. Based on Home Office rules updated April 2024.
What is your current situation?
Pick the option that best describes you right now.
What is your main reason for going to the UK?
Choose the primary purpose. You can explore other goals after you arrive.
What is your highest completed qualification?
This affects which routes are available to you.
Do you have a UK job offer?
A confirmed job offer from a licensed sponsor is the main gate for work routes.
What is the offered or expected UK salary?
Enter 0 if you do not have a job offer. This helps determine which salary thresholds you meet.
Are you planning to bring family with you?
This affects cost estimates and which restrictions apply.
Your Profile
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Estimated IHS Cost (3-year visa)
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Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035/person/year. This is due with your visa application.
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Common Mistakes on UK Visa Applications
Applying with an unverified sponsor licence
Always check the employer’s licence on the official Home Office register at gov.uk before accepting any offer.
Underestimating the Immigration Health Surcharge
Many applicants budget only for the visa fee. The IHS is paid upfront with the application and covers all years at once.
Applying on the wrong route due to misinformation
WhatsApp and social media advice is frequently outdated. Rules changed significantly in 2024. Always read current guidance at gov.uk.
Not holding maintenance funds long enough
For Student visas, maintenance funds must be in your account for 28 consecutive days before the application date. Not 28 days total.
How This Recommender Works
The UK Visa Route Recommender maps your answers across six profile dimensions to the current Home Office visa framework. It does not make a decision for you. It shows which routes your profile most closely fits, based on published eligibility criteria.
The core logic works like this. Each visa route has a set of threshold conditions. These include whether you have a job offer, whether your employer holds a sponsor licence, what salary is on offer, and what your education level is. The tool scores your profile against each route’s conditions and returns matches ranked from strongest to possible.
The Main UK Visa Routes for Nigerians in 2024
Skilled Worker Visa
This is the most common route for employed Nigerians with a confirmed job offer. The employer must hold a valid Home Office sponsor licence. From April 2024, the minimum salary is £38,700 per year for most roles, or the going rate for your specific occupation code if that is higher. New entrant applicants may qualify at a reduced rate, typically 70% of the going rate, if they are recent graduates or under certain career thresholds.
The visa is typically granted for up to 5 years and is extendable. After 5 years on a qualifying route, most holders become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Student Visa
Available to anyone accepted onto a course at a UK licensed student sponsor (most universities). Nigerians applying from Nigeria are required to show maintenance funds in a bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying. The required amount is £1,334 per month for courses in London, and £1,023 per month for courses outside London, multiplied by the number of months in the first year of your course (up to 9 months).
International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacations. After completing a qualifying degree, most students are eligible for the Graduate Route.
Graduate Route (Post-Study Work)
This route was reintroduced in 2021 and allows graduates of UK universities to remain in the UK and work (or look for work) for 2 years after completing an undergraduate or master’s degree, or 3 years after a PhD. There is no job offer required and no salary minimum. It cannot be extended. It is used primarily as a bridge into the Skilled Worker route.
Health and Care Worker Visa
A sub-category of the Skilled Worker route with lower fees and faster processing, specifically for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working for the NHS, NHS-funded bodies, or registered adult social care providers. From March 2024, overseas applicants on this route can no longer bring dependants with them. This restriction does not affect those already in the UK on this route as of that date.
Family Visas
For those joining a spouse, partner, parent, or child who is settled in the UK or a British citizen. The sponsoring family member must meet a minimum income threshold, which rose to £29,000 from April 2024 and is set to increase to £38,700 by early 2025. The application must show adequate accommodation and that the relationship is genuine.
Innovator Founder Visa
For entrepreneurs starting a business that is innovative, scalable, and viable. Requires endorsement from an approved endorsing body. The previous Innovator visa was replaced by this route in April 2023. No minimum investment amount is required, but you must be able to demonstrate you can support yourself. This route is selective and competitive.
Global Talent Visa
For individuals who are leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology. Requires endorsement from a recognised body in your field (for example, Tech Nation for tech, British Academy for humanities). It is the most flexible work route as it does not require a job offer and allows self-employment. It is also the most difficult to obtain.
Table of Truth: Common Profiles and Likely Routes
| Profile | Most Likely Route | Minimum Salary / Funds | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse with UK NHS job offer | Health and Care Worker | £29,970/yr (Band 5 min) | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Software engineer, £45k offer, licensed employer | Skilled Worker | £38,700/yr minimum | 3 to 8 weeks |
| Recent graduate, university offer in London | Student Visa | £12,006 in savings (9 months) | 3 to 6 weeks |
| UK-based spouse sponsoring Nigerian partner | Family Visa (Spouse) | Sponsor earns £29,000+/yr | 8 to 24 weeks |
| Recent UK graduate seeking work | Graduate Route (PSW) | No salary minimum | Same day to 5 weeks |
| Serial entrepreneur with scalable idea | Innovator Founder | Endorsement required | 12 to 20+ weeks |
| Award-winning artist or tech leader | Global Talent | Endorsement required | 8 to 16 weeks |
Cost Estimates by Route (Per Applicant, 3-Year Visa)
| Route | Visa Fee | IHS (3 yr) | Total Fees (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (from outside UK) | £1,423 | £3,105 | ~£4,528 |
| Health and Care Worker | £284 | £0 (IHS exempt) | ~£284 |
| Student Visa (3 yr course) | £363 | £3,105 | ~£3,468 |
| Graduate Route (2 yr) | £700 | £2,070 | ~£2,770 |
| Family Visa (Spouse, 2.5 yr) | £1,846 | £2,587 | ~£4,433 |
| Global Talent (3 yr) | £167 + £623 | £3,105 | ~£3,895 |
Assumptions Used in This Tool
- IHS is calculated at £1,035 per person per year as of 2024
- Skilled Worker salary threshold is £38,700/year (from April 2024)
- New entrant threshold is approximately 70% of the going rate for the role
- Student maintenance funds are calculated at £1,334/month in London, £1,023 elsewhere
- Family visa income threshold is £29,000/year (April 2024), rising to £38,700 by early 2025
- Processing time estimates are based on standard (not priority) service
- Cost figures exclude legal fees, translation costs, biometric fees, and travel
Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: Single applicant, software engineer
Tunde, 29, has a BSc in Computer Science and 4 years of experience. He has a job offer from a UK tech company at £44,000. The employer holds a sponsor licence. His strongest route is the Skilled Worker visa. His estimated upfront cost including IHS for a 3-year visa is approximately £4,528. His processing time on standard service is 3 to 8 weeks.
Scenario 2: Applicant with spouse
Chioma, 32, a nurse with a confirmed NHS job offer, plans to bring her husband. Her visa route is Health and Care Worker. She pays only £284 in visa fees and is exempt from the IHS. Her husband, as a dependant, pays £1,846 in visa fees plus £2,587 in IHS for 2.5 years, totalling approximately £4,433 for his application alone. Note: from March 2024, new Health and Care Worker applicants applying from outside the UK cannot bring dependants. Chioma should verify whether her specific offer qualifies under any exceptions and check current Home Office guidance.
Scenario 3: Applicant with spouse and two children
Emeka, 38, secured a Skilled Worker visa at £50,000. He plans to bring his wife and two children. He pays approximately £4,528. Each dependant (wife plus two children) each pay approximately £4,528 for a 3-year visa, making the combined application cost approximately £18,112 in visa fees and IHS alone, before biometrics, legal fees, flights, or settlement costs. This calculation is one of the most common financial shocks Nigerian families experience when planning UK relocation.
Edge Cases and Common Questions
What if my salary is just below £38,700?
You may still qualify if you are applying as a new entrant (70% of the going rate applies), your occupation is on the shortage occupation list with a different threshold, or your employer offers a salary increase before the visa is issued. The going rate for your specific SOC code may also be lower than the general threshold in some occupations.
Can I change jobs after arriving in the UK?
On a Skilled Worker visa, you are tied to your sponsoring employer and the specific job role. If you want to change employer or job role significantly, you generally need to apply for a new visa or update your CoS. Short-term changes within the same occupation code may be permissible. Always check with the Home Office or a registered adviser before making changes.
What happens if my visa application is refused?
A refusal does not permanently bar you from reapplying. Most applicants can reapply immediately if the refusal was based on missing documentation or correctable errors. If the refusal was based on character grounds or deception, a longer bar may apply. Administrative Review or appeal rights depend on the route and grounds of refusal.
Does time on a Student visa count toward ILR?
No. Time spent on a Student visa does not count toward the 5-year continuous residence requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain. ILR qualifying time generally starts from when you enter on a work or family route. However, time on the Graduate Route following study also does not count toward ILR.
