For Nigerians and other foreign nationals planning to travel to the United Kingdom, (UK) there are several visa routes available depending on the purpose of the trip.
The UK offers visas for people who want to visit, study, work, join family, start a business or eventually settle in the country. There are also special immigration routes for certain nationalities, occupations and circumstances.
The UK Government says the visa a person needs depends on factors including their nationality, reason for travelling, intended length of stay and personal circumstances.
Here is a full list of the main UK visa and immigration routes currently available.
1. Standard Visitor visa
The Standard Visitor visa is one of the main routes for people travelling to the UK for tourism, visiting family or friends, certain business activities and other permitted short-term activities.
Visitors are generally allowed to stay for up to six months, although longer-validity visitor visas can be issued. The visa does not generally allow a person to take employment in the UK.
2. Marriage Visitor visa
This visa is for people who want to come to the UK to get married or enter into a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
It is intended for visitors who do not plan to settle in the UK through the marriage route.
3. Transit visa
A UK Transit visa is for travellers who need to pass through the UK while travelling to another country.
Depending on the circumstances, a traveller may need a Direct Airside Transit visa or another type of transit permission.
4. Student visa
The Student visa is the main route for international students aged 16 or over who want to study on eligible further or higher education courses in the UK.
Applicants generally need an offer from a licensed student sponsor and must meet the relevant financial, English-language and other requirements.
5. Child Student visa
The Child Student visa is designed for children aged between four and 17 who want to attend an eligible independent school in the UK.
It is separate from the adult Student visa route.
6. Short-term study visa
This route allows eligible people to come to the UK for an English language course lasting longer than six months but no more than 11 months.
People who want to study for longer periods normally need a Student visa instead.
UK work visasThe UK has several routes for foreign nationals who have secured employment or who meet particular professional, business or talent requirements.
7. Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa allows eligible foreign nationals to work in the UK for an approved employer in an eligible occupation.
Applicants generally need a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor and must meet the requirements for the route.
8. Health and Care Worker visa
This is a specialised work route for eligible healthcare professionals who have a job offer in an eligible health or social care occupation from an approved UK employer.
It is one of the major routes used by overseas healthcare professionals seeking to work in Britain.
9. Scale-up Worker visa
The Scale-up Worker visa is for eligible workers who have a job offer from a qualifying fast-growing UK business.
It is designed for people with the skills required by qualifying scale-up businesses.
10. Global Talent visa
The Global Talent route is aimed at people who are recognised as leaders or potential leaders in fields including academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology.
Unlike the Skilled Worker route, eligible applicants can apply without having a traditional sponsored job offer.
11. High Potential Individual visa
The High Potential Individual, or HPI, visa is for eligible recent graduates of top overseas universities.
It allows successful applicants to live and work in the UK for a limited period without needing a job offer or sponsorship.
12. Global Business Mobility visas
The Global Business Mobility category contains several routes for overseas businesses moving or sending workers to the UK.
These include:
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa
- Graduate Trainee visa
- UK Expansion Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
- Secondment Worker visa
The appropriate route depends on the nature of the overseas business, the worker’s role and the UK assignment.
13. Innovator Founder visa
The Innovator Founder visa is for people seeking to establish an innovative business in the UK.
Applicants must meet the requirements for an eligible business idea and obtain the necessary endorsement.
14. International Sportsperson visa
This route is for eligible elite sportspeople and qualified coaches who have an endorsement from the relevant governing body.
15. Minister of Religion visa
The Minister of Religion visa is for eligible religious workers who have been offered a role within a religious organisation in the UK.
16. Temporary Work visas
The UK also has several temporary work routes for people coming to Britain for specific types of work.
These include:
- Seasonal Worker visa
- Creative Worker visa
- Religious Worker visa
- Charity Worker visa
- Government Authorised Exchange visa
- International Agreement visa
The requirements and permitted length of stay differ between the routes.
17. Youth Mobility Scheme visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme allows eligible young people from participating countries and territories to live and work in the UK for a limited period.
Eligibility depends heavily on nationality, age and the specific arrangements applying to the applicant’s country.
18. UK Ancestry visa
The UK Ancestry visa is available to certain Commonwealth citizens and British nationals who can demonstrate the required UK ancestry.
It can allow an eligible person to live and work in the UK and can provide a route towards settlement.
19. British National (Overseas) visa
The BN(O) visa is a special route for eligible British Nationals (Overseas) and their qualifying family members from Hong Kong.
It allows eligible applicants to live, work and study in the UK.
UK family visasPeople who want to move to the UK to live with qualifying family members may be able to use one of the family visa routes.
20. Spouse or partner visa
A person may apply for a family visa to live in the UK with an eligible spouse or partner.
The sponsoring partner must have an immigration status that qualifies under the rules, and applicants must meet requirements relating to the relationship, finances and other conditions.
21. Fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner visa
This route allows an eligible person to come to the UK to marry or enter into a civil partnership with their partner.
It is different from the Marriage Visitor visa because the family route is intended for people who subsequently intend to live in the UK with their partner.
22. Child family visa
A child may qualify for a family visa to join or remain with a parent in the UK, depending on the circumstances and immigration status of the parent.
23. Parent family visa
An eligible parent may apply to join or remain with a child in the UK where the relevant requirements are met.
24. Adult dependent relative visa
This route is for certain adults who need long-term care from a relative in the UK because of age, illness or disability.
The requirements are considerably more restrictive than those for ordinary family visits.
25. Graduate visa
The Graduate visa is available to eligible international students who have successfully completed an eligible UK course.
It allows eligible graduates to remain in the UK for a limited period to work or look for work after completing their studies.
Unlike the Student visa, the Graduate route does not require the graduate to have a job offer from an employer before applying.
26. Hong Kong BN(O) route
Eligible British Nationals (Overseas) and their qualifying family members can use the BN(O) immigration route to live, work and study in the UK.
The route is particularly relevant to people from Hong Kong who hold or qualify for BN(O) status.
27. Ukraine schemes
The UK also operates special immigration arrangements for eligible Ukrainian nationals and their family members.
The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows eligible Ukrainians and their immediate family members to come to the UK where they have an approved sponsor.
The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme allows eligible Ukrainians and their family members who already have permission under qualifying Ukraine schemes to extend their stay. Current rules provide for an initial 18-month extension and, for eligible applicants, a further 24-month extension.
28. Protection and asylum routes
People who are already in the UK and need international protection may be able to claim asylum.
This is not a normal route for someone simply looking for a way to move to Britain. Applicants must meet the requirements for international protection, and the asylum process is separate from ordinary work, study and family visa applications
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