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Nigeria → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Nigeria
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Nigeria to the United Kingdom

Inflows of nationals of Nigeria recorded by the United Kingdom; stock of nationals of Nigeria living there; and acquisitions of the United Kingdom's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

5,20810k2012201520182019
5,20810k2012201520182019
Data table
20129,000
20137,000
20147,000
20158,000
20166,000
201710,000
201810,416
201910,416
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——8,900
2022——8,713
2021—178,0006,734
2020——8,065
201910,416—8,839
201810,416100,0008,696
201710,000106,0006,941
20166,00095,0009,810
20158,000104,0008,049
20147,00084,0008,074
20137,000114,0009,268
20129,000101,5148,878
2011—114,0007,932
2010—106,0007,870
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Nigeria who live in the United Kingdom: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

162k324k19901995200020052010201520202024
162k324k19902000201020202024
Data table
199044,047
199561,112
200083,822
2005125,003
2010189,847
2015236,603
2020286,251
2024324,007
Estimate, 2024
324,007
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.7%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
7
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Nigeria, and students from Nigeria at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor104,898
  2. Study36,922
  3. Work11,758
  4. Family1,523
  5. Other1,438

Visas issued by year

141k282k201020122014201620182020202220242025
141k282k201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010125,765
2011137,492
2012128,831
2013131,156
2014122,967
2015103,674
201672,690
201771,010
201882,488
2019108,096
202054,961
2021106,598
2022249,332
2023281,658
2024153,916
2025156,539

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

36k72k20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
36k72k201520172019202120232025
Data table
201518,080
201616,175
201712,790
201810,695
201910,775
202012,835
202120,845
202243,495
202372,325
202457,435
202538,010
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

First residence permits issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of Nigeria (Eurostat).

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019008,83910,796
201811,69608,69610,524
201711,19406,94512,642
201611,59309,81016,072
201513,76908,06617,881
201415,38508,07317,973
201316,16109,26617,325
201216,16708,8760
201119,65507,9310
201021,71307,8700
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United Kingdom in Nigeria, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
ConsulateCalabar—
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from Nigeria move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from Nigeria, 2023
  1. Canada17,465
  2. United States16,330
  3. Germany6,368
  4. Italy6,182
  5. Spain3,326
  6. France1,797
  7. Netherlands1,518
  8. Australia1,394
  9. Türkiye1,100
  10. Finland1,020
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more