Nigerian nationals emerged the second highest recipients of United Kingdom’s Worker Visas between December 2019 to June 2022. Nigeria was only topped by Indian nationals whose recipients increased from 57,087 to 102,981 in the same period.

This was disclosed by the UK Home Office in its National Statistics report titled, “Why do people come to the UK? To work”, published on Thursday, August 25, 2022.

The report disclosed that the UK Government Worker Visa approvals increased from 113,555 in 2019 to 222,349 by year ending, June 2022, a 96% increase.

What the report is saying

The report revealed that Nigerian approvals had increased by 11,854, a 303% level change from 3,918 in December 2019 to 15,772 in June 2022, making Nigerians the second highest recipients.

Meanwhile, in the same period, Indian workers grew 80%, a growth of 45,894, from 57,087 in December 2019 to 102,981 by June 2022.

It added that the “Worker” visa category which was previously known as “Skilled worker” visa, includes sponsored visas which typically lead to settlement.

The report stated, “In the year ending June 2022, ‘Worker’ visa grants increased by 96% (+108,794) to 222,349 compared with 2019, and now represent 67% of all work visas.

“There were 87,266 grants of ‘Skilled Worker’ visas and an additional 96,249 grants of ‘Skilled Worker – Health & Care’ visas. Grants for ‘Skilled Worker’ visas have grown every quarter since they were first introduced in December 2020, and together represent over half (55%) of all work visas granted in the latest year.

“The ‘Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility)’ route was launched in April 2022 to replace the ‘Intra-company Transfer (ICT)’ visa and there have been 2,927 grants to main applicants up to the end of June 2022. Excluding dependants, ICT-related visas together represented 18,247 grants which is 33% lower than the 27,138 visas granted in Tier 2 ICT routes in 2019, continuing the decline since 2016 seen in these visa routes.

The report also added that Indian nationals continue to be the top nationality granted ‘Worker’ visas, accounting for 46%. It also saw the greatest increase across all nationalities, increasing by 45,894 (+80%). In contrast, grants to nationals of the United States fell by 1,474 (-16%).

Nairametrics reported earlier that The United Kingdom has opened applications for Nigerian and other foreign nationals to apply for the 2022 scale-up visa, effective from August 22.

According to a statement issued by the British government, the development would see growing businesses attract the right talent to enhance productivity across the economy as it is believed that scaling up is an important phase for high-growth businesses to continue growing and drive their international competitiveness.