Question 1

How much does it cost to move from Nigeria to the UK?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the route, and the cost is split between the UK's own fees (charged in sterling) and the naira cost of getting that sterling together. See the cost table above for the fee categories and the exchange rate caveat, and check the current amount on GOV.UK before applying.

Question 2

Can I move to the UK from Nigeria without a job offer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on some routes. The UK Global Talent Visa and the UK Innovator Founder Visa are both assessed on the applicant or the business idea rather than a job offer. The UK Skilled Worker Visa, by contrast, needs a licensed sponsor and a genuine job offer.

Question 3

Do Nigerians need IELTS for a UK visa?

Accepted Answer

Usually, some form of it. Nigeria is not on the short list of countries UKVI grants a blanket English-language exemption to, so most Nigerian applicants still need to meet the requirement through an approved test or a qualifying English-taught degree. See the language test section above.

Question 4

How long does a UK visa take from Lagos?

Accepted Answer

Processing time varies by route and by demand. Applications go through VFS Global's Lagos or Abuja centres for biometrics; check the current service standard on GOV.UK before booking travel or setting a notice period around it.

Question 5

Can my family come with me?

Accepted Answer

Most of the routes above allow a partner and children to apply alongside the main applicant, with the specific rules set by that route. See the individual route guide linked above for the family rules that apply to it.

Question 6

Which route suits a founder rather than an employee?

Accepted Answer

A founder building a genuinely innovative business generally looks at the UK Innovator Founder Visa; someone with an established track record and no fixed employer may fit the UK Global Talent Visa; someone with a specific job offer from a licensed UK employer looks at the UK Skilled Worker Visa instead.

Question 7

Do I need a degree to move to the UK from Nigeria?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the route. Where a route does weigh qualifications, a Nigerian degree is not automatically read the same way as a UK one, and UK ENIC's statement of comparability is the recognised way to show equivalency. See the documents section above.

Question 8

What happens at an eMigr8 Lagos event, and does attending help?

Accepted Answer

eMigr8 runs in-person masterclasses in Lagos with real coaches and, where relevant, the accredited bodies that assess specific routes. The field notes section above comes directly from questions asked at that event. See the events link above for what is coming up.

Question 9

Is this legal or immigration advice?

Accepted Answer

No. eMigr8 provides coaching and guidance, not legal advice or immigration consultation. For route-specific detail, see the individual guide linked above for the route you are considering.

Question 10

Is the exchange rate a real problem when paying UK fees from Lagos?

Accepted Answer

It can be. UK fees are set in sterling, and Nigeria's official and parallel exchange rates have differed materially in recent years, with no guarantee of access to the official rate for a personal payment of this size. See the cost table above.