The number people throw around in Nigerian japa conversations ranges from “a few million naira” to “just save aggressively and you’ll be fine.” Neither of those is useful.
Someone prepares for two years, saves what they think is enough, gets their visa, and lands abroad with a figure that sounds large in naira but covers less than two months of rent in their new city. The currency conversion reality hits hard. They are scrambling within weeks of arrival, borrowing from people they barely know, or working extra hours before they have even settled properly.
The question “how much do I need to japa?” does not have one answer. It has different answers depending on where you are going, how you are going, whether you are going alone or with family, and what your first 3 to 6 months will look like. But it does have a structure, and that structure is the same regardless of destination.
This article breaks it down category by category so you can build a real number for your real situation, not a guess.
Quick Summary
- Japa costs fall into three stages: pre-departure preparation, visa and application costs, and arrival and settlement costs. All three need to be funded before you leave.
- Many people budget for the visa and forget about the 3 to 6 months of living costs on the other side. That is where most people get into trouble.
- Currency matters enormously. Every cost in this article needs to be calculated in the actual currency of your destination, then converted to naira at the current rate, not a rate from 6 months ago.
- If you are going on a work visa with an employer, your cost profile is very different from someone going on a student visa or Express Entry PR. Know your route before you budget.
- There is no single magic number. But most routes to the UK, Canada, or Australia will require the equivalent of at least several thousand US dollars in liquid savings before you travel.
Stage 1: Pre-Departure Preparation Costs
These are the costs you will incur in Nigeria before your visa is even submitted. A lot of people underestimate this stage because none of it feels like “real” japa spending, but it adds up significantly.
Language tests IELTS, the most commonly required English language test, costs approximately $200 to $250 USD per sitting depending on the test centre and location. If you need to resit, budget for at least two attempts. Some routes accept alternatives like TOEFL or PTE, which are similarly priced. Check the current fee at the British Council Nigeria or IDP Nigeria website for the most accurate figure.
Credential assessment For Canada specifically, a WES (World Education Services) evaluation costs around $200 to $250 CAD for a basic assessment, and more for a course-by-course evaluation. For UK regulated professions (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, engineering), the regulatory body registration process has its own fees. For Germany, credential recognition varies by profession and state. These fees are not optional; they are mandatory steps on most skilled migration routes.
Document authentication and apostille Getting your documents authenticated through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs costs money and time. Budget for authentication fees across multiple documents: birth certificate, educational certificates, police clearance certificate, and any other documents your route requires. Fees are set officially but can change, so check directly with FOMFA.
Medical examinations Some visa categories require an approved medical examination before you can apply. The UK requires a tuberculosis test from an approved clinic for Nigerian applicants. Some other visas require a more comprehensive immigration medical exam. Check the specific requirement for your visa type. These examinations are done at designated clinics and the cost varies. Check the current approved clinic list and fees on the relevant immigration authority’s website.
Passport renewal (if applicable) If your passport needs renewal before your application, factor in NIS fees for the new passport and the processing time.
A realistic estimate for pre-departure preparation alone, before you have paid a single visa fee, can range from the equivalent of $500 to $1,500 USD depending on your route and how many documents need processing. In naira at current exchange rates, that is a meaningful sum.
Stage 2: Visa Application and Immigration Fees
This is the most variable stage because fees differ significantly by country, visa type, and whether you are applying alone or with dependants.
Important: Visa fees change regularly. Every figure below is a category guide only. Always verify current fees on the official immigration portal of your destination country before you budget.
UK Skilled Worker Visa The UK visa application fee varies by the length of the visa and whether it is a short or long-term application. On top of the visa fee itself, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which has increased substantially in recent years and is calculated per year of the visa, per applicant. For a 3-year visa, the IHS alone runs into the thousands of pounds. Check the current IHS rate on gov.uk. This is one of the costs that surprises people most.
Canada Express Entry PR The principal applicant fee and the permanent residency right of permanent residence fee together run to a few hundred Canadian dollars. If you are applying with a spouse and dependants, the total multiplies. Check the current fee schedule on ircc.canada.ca.
Canada Study Permit Relatively modest application fee, but the much larger cost is the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) required for the Student Direct Stream, which locks away a set amount of Canadian dollars for your first year of living expenses. Check the current GIC requirement on the IRCC website.
Australia Skilled Migration Visa application charges for Australian skilled visas can run to several thousand Australian dollars. Check the current charges on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
Schengen/Europe Generally lower visa fees than the above, but settlement costs in the destination country can vary widely.
Budget the visa fee as a confirmed, non-negotiable cost. Once you submit, that money is gone whether the visa is approved or refused.
Stage 3: Pre-Travel Settlement Costs
These are costs you pay before or immediately after landing, and they are often the ones that break people financially if they have not planned for them.
Flight tickets Lagos to London, Toronto, or Sydney can range from $500 to $1,500+ USD depending on airline, season, and how early you book. If you are travelling with family, multiply accordingly. Check current prices on Google Flights for a realistic current figure.
Initial accommodation deposit Renting in most major destination cities requires an upfront deposit, often 1 to 2 months’ rent paid before or at signing, plus the first month’s rent. In London, Toronto, or Sydney, a single room in a shared flat can run from $600 to $1,200+ USD per month. A deposit plus first month means $1,200 to $2,400 before you have even slept there.
Proof of funds (liquid savings required by immigration) For the UK Student visa, you must show a specific amount in your bank account for 28 consecutive days. For Canada Express Entry PR, you must show settlement funds based on family size. These are not costs you spend; they are amounts you must hold. But they must exist in your account as liquid, accessible savings, which means they need to be saved in addition to your spending costs.
Check the current proof of funds requirements for your specific visa type and destination on the official portal. Do not rely on figures from any article, including this one, because they change.
Stage 4: First 3 to 6 Months Living Costs Abroad
This is the category most people do not budget for properly, and it is where the real financial pressure hits.
In your first few months abroad, before you are fully employed or settled, you are spending from savings with limited income. Even if you have a job lined up, there is usually a gap between arrival and your first paycheck.
Monthly living costs vary enormously by city. London is more expensive than Manchester. Toronto is more expensive than Halifax. Sydney is more expensive than Adelaide. Do your research on the specific city you are moving to, not just the country.
Approximate monthly budget categories to research for your destination city:
- Rent (room in shared accommodation for a single person)
- Transport (monthly travel card or equivalent)
- Food and groceries
- Phone and internet
- Basic personal expenses
For most major UK, Canadian, and Australian cities, a realistic monthly budget for a single person living modestly runs from $1,200 to $2,500 USD. Budget for at least 3 months of this before you arrive, ideally 6.
That is $3,600 to $15,000 USD in living cost reserves, on top of everything else.
UK Skilled Worker Route, Single Applicant
To make this concrete, here is a worked example for a Nigerian nurse applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa as a single applicant with no dependants. All figures are approximate guides; verify each one officially.
| Cost Category | Approximate Amount |
| IELTS (1-2 sittings) | $250 to $500 USD |
| NMC registration process | Check NMC.org.uk |
| Document authentication | Variable, verify at FOMFA |
| TB test (approved clinic) | Check approved clinic list |
| UK Skilled Worker visa fee | Check gov.uk |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (3 years) | Check gov.uk, runs to £000s |
| Flight Lagos to UK | $600 to $1,200 USD |
| First month rent + deposit (London) | £1,500 to £2,500 |
| 3 months living costs | £3,600 to £6,000 |
Add everything up honestly and a single person on the UK Skilled Worker route, going alone with no employer covering any costs, needs the equivalent of £8,000 to £15,000 in accessible savings before they travel. Possibly more depending on the city and personal circumstances.
That is not a scare tactic. It is what the numbers actually look like. Some employers cover visa fees and relocation costs, which changes the picture significantly. Always check your offer letter for what is included.
The Canada Express Entry Route: A Different Cost Profile
Canada PR through Express Entry has a different cost structure because you are applying for permanent residency, not a temporary work visa, so there is no IHS equivalent. But the settlement fund requirement is mandatory and non-negotiable.
The settlement fund requirement for a single applicant is updated regularly and is currently several thousand Canadian dollars. For a family of four, it is significantly more. Check the current figure on ircc.canada.ca.
On top of that, the preparation costs (WES assessment, IELTS, medical exam, police clearance, authentication) are similar to other routes. And the arrival costs, rent deposit, first months of living expenses in a Canadian city, are comparable to the UK.
Canada is not cheaper than the UK to get to. It is differently structured.
What the Exchange Rate Does to All of This
Everything above is quoted in destination currency. When you convert to naira, the numbers are uncomfortable.
At current exchange rates (which change constantly, check a live rate before you calculate), the total cost of relocating to the UK or Canada for a single person, covering preparation, visa, travel, and 3 months of settlement, easily crosses 10 to 20 million naira. For a family, it is higher.
This is not an argument against going. It is an argument for planning honestly and saving with a real target in mind instead of a vague “I need to save a lot.”
Use a currency converter with a live rate to translate every cost figure you find into naira at the moment you are planning. Do not use estimates from six months ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum amount needed to japa to the UK? There is no single minimum because costs depend on your visa type, whether your employer covers any fees, your family size, and your destination city. For a single person on a Skilled Worker visa, covering all preparation, visa, travel, and 3 months of living costs, expect to need at minimum £8,000 to £12,000 in accessible savings, plus any mandatory proof of funds. This figure is a guide, not a guarantee. Check all official fees on gov.uk.
Can I japa with 5 million naira? At current exchange rates, 5 million naira converts to roughly $3,000 to $4,000 USD. Whether that is enough depends entirely on your route and what costs your employer or sponsor is covering. For most self-funded routes to the UK, Canada, or Australia, 5 million naira alone is unlikely to be sufficient to cover visa fees, travel, deposit, and first months of living costs. It may work as part of a larger savings plan where some costs are covered separately.
Does my employer have to pay for my UK Skilled Worker visa? No, there is no legal requirement for an employer to pay your visa fees or IHS. Some employers do, especially those actively recruiting international staff, and it is worth negotiating before you accept an offer. Get any cost coverage commitment in writing as part of your offer letter.
What costs can I reduce or avoid? You cannot avoid mandatory government fees like visa application fees, IHS, or settlement fund requirements. You can reduce costs by booking flights early, finding more affordable accommodation outside city centres, or choosing a destination city with a lower cost of living. Some routes also have employers covering relocation, which removes the largest single cost category.
How long does it take to save enough to japa? That depends on your income and how aggressively you save. If you need the equivalent of $10,000 USD and you can save $500 USD equivalent per month, that is 20 months of consistent saving. The more specific your target number is, the more concrete your savings plan can be. Use DeyWithMe’s japa cost calculator to build a savings timeline based on your actual route and destination.
Build Your Own Number
Generic figures only get you so far. The number you need is specific to your route, your destination city, your family size, and your employer’s terms.
Here is how to build it:
- Confirm your target route and destination country.
- List every cost category from this article that applies to you.
- Check each official fee on the relevant government website. Use the current fee, not anything you read months ago.
- Convert to naira using a live exchange rate.
- Add a 15 to 20 percent buffer for costs you did not anticipate.
- That total is your savings target.
DeyWithMe has destination-specific cost calculators for the UK, Canada, and Australia routes that walk you through this process with current figures. Use them to turn this article into an actual savings plan with a timeline.
