In recent months, several countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have imposed stricter visa regulations targeting Nigerian travelers. These policies are part of a broader global trend of immigration crackdowns, citing reasons such as national security, overstaying concerns, economic strain, and the need to align immigration policies with domestic priorities. The United States recently introduced a single-entry, three-month validity visa policy for Nigerians, alongside tougher student visa screening, while the UK and Canada have also enforced similar restrictive measures.
Canada has raised its proof-of-funds requirement for Express Entry applicants to over N17 million, effective July 7, 2025. This update, according to Canadian authorities, is meant to ensure that immigrants can support themselves, and forms part of a larger plan to cut down the number of international students and temporary foreign workers to under 5% of the national population by 2027. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended blockwork visa quotas for Nigerians and other African countries during the Hajj season, aligning with domestic employment goals and the Saudization policy aimed at boosting local workforce participation.
In contrast to these restrictive moves, the UK has announced a digital upgrade, introducing eVisas for Nigerian students and workers from July 15, 2025. This move aims to streamline the visa process, enhance security, and transition the UK to a fully digital immigration system. While applicants must still provide biometric information at visa centers, successful individuals will no longer need a physical visa sticker, and can access their immigration status through a secure UKVI online account. However, this applies only to new applications for work and study visas, with other visa types continuing under the current system for now.
