How Much Does It Cost to Relocate From Nigeria to the UK in 2026? A Full Budget for Workers, Students and Families

November 11, 2026

1 View 1 comment

How Much Does It Cost to Relocate From Nigeria to the UK in 2026? A Full Budget for Workers, Students and Families

Last updated: 11 November 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy

Before you resign, sell your car or start packing, you need a clear answer to one question: how much will it actually cost to move from Nigeria to the UK? The visa fee is only the start. The Immigration Health Surcharge, proof of funds, English test, TB test, flight, and your first rent and deposit can easily add up to several times the visa fee. This guide gives a full 2026 budget in pounds and naira for a single skilled worker, a health and care worker, a student and a family of four.

Quick answer: using the fees in force from 8 April 2026 and an exchange rate of about N1,800 to £1, a single person on a three-year Skilled Worker visa should budget roughly £8,700 (about N15.6 million). A health and care worker needs about £5,100 (N9.1 million) because the health surcharge is waived. A master’s student outside London needs about £14,100 (N25.4 million) before tuition, and a family of four on a Skilled Worker visa should plan for about £23,700 (N42.7 million).

All figures are estimates for planning. Check every fee on GOV.UK before paying, and recalculate the naira amounts at the rate you will actually get.

The exchange rate you should plan with

The naira strengthened against the pound in 2026. Legit.ng reported the official market rate at about N1,762 to £1 in October 2026, down from roughly N1,948 at the start of the year. Because transfer providers add a margin and rates move, this guide uses N1,800 to £1 as a planning rate. If the naira weakens, your costs in naira rise, so leave a buffer of at least 10%. If you are sending money from the UK, our guide to sending money to Nigeria at the best rates explains how to compare providers.

UK visa fees and health surcharge for Nigerians in 2026

1. Visa application fees (from 8 April 2026)

The Home Office raised most visa fees on 8 April 2026. The main fees for applications made from outside the UK are:

Skilled Worker: £819 for up to three years, or £1,618 for more than three years. Jobs on the Immigration Salary List pay £628 or £1,235.
Health and Care Worker: £324 for up to three years, or £628 for more than three years.
Student: £558.
Dependants (partner and children) usually pay the same fee as the main applicant.

For the full rules on the work route, read our UK Skilled Worker visa guide for Nigerians. Nurses and carers should also see how to become a nurse in the UK from Nigeria.

2. The Immigration Health Surcharge (the biggest cost)

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) gives you access to the NHS and is paid up front for the whole visa period. In 2026 it is £1,035 a year for most adults, and £776 a year for students and children under 18. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt.

This is where many budgets go wrong. A three-year Skilled Worker visa means £3,105 in IHS for one adult, and a five-year visa means £5,175, on top of the application fee. A family of four pays the surcharge for every member.

3. Proof of funds (maintenance)

Skilled Worker: you must usually show £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, unless your employer certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship. Dependants need extra: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child.
Student: for applications made before 30 November 2026, you need £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to nine months. For applications made on or after 30 November 2026, this rises to £1,570 a month in London (up to £14,130) or £1,203 a month outside London (up to £10,827), plus any unpaid first-year tuition.

Proof of funds is not a fee; it is your own money. But you must have it in your account for at least 28 days, so you need to raise it early.

4. Costs you pay in Nigeria before you travel

English test: IELTS for UKVI cost about N285,000 at the British Council and N315,500 at IDP in October 2026. Our guide to IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL helps you choose.
TB test: required if you are moving for more than six months. Use only a clinic on the GOV.UK list of approved clinics in Nigeria; prices differ by clinic, commonly in the tens of thousands to a couple of hundred thousand naira.
Police certificate for some roles, document translation or certification, and passport renewal if needed.
Optional priority visa service if you need a faster decision.

5. Flights and arrival

One-way economy fares from Lagos or Abuja to London vary a lot by season. As a planning figure, this guide uses £700 per person. December and summer holiday dates are usually the most expensive. Add excess baggage if you are carrying a lot.

6. Your first month in the UK

Rent deposit: in England, a tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent for most lets. On a £900 a month room or studio, that is about £1,038.
First month’s rent paid in advance.
Set-up costs: bedding, kitchen items, a winter coat, a SIM and phone plan, transport and food until your first salary. Budget at least £600 for one person.

For monthly living costs after you arrive, see our cost of living in the UK guide for Nigerians.

Sample budgets for 2026

Sample relocation budgets from Nigeria to the UK in 2026

Single Skilled Worker, three-year visa

Visa fee: £819
IHS (3 years): £3,105
Proof of funds: £1,270
IELTS and TB test: about £235
Flight: £700
Deposit, first month’s rent and set-up: about £2,538
Total: about £8,667 (N15.6 million)

Health and Care Worker, three-year visa

Same as above, but the visa fee is £324 and there is no IHS. Total: about £5,067 (N9.1 million). Many care employers also pay the visa fee or flight, which lowers this further.

Master’s student outside London (application from 30 November 2026)

Visa fee: £558
IHS for a typical 16-month visa (one year and a half-year charge): about £1,164
Living-cost funds for nine months: £10,827
IELTS, TB test, flight and set-up: about £1,535
Total: about £14,084 (N25.4 million), before tuition fees

Tuition for a one-year master’s often runs from about £15,000 to £25,000 or more, and most universities require a deposit before issuing your CAS. After graduation, the UK Graduate Route visa lets you stay and work for a period.

Family of four (two adults, two children) on a Skilled Worker visa

Visa fees (4 x £819): £3,276
IHS for three years: £6,210 for two adults and £4,656 for two children, total £10,866
Proof of funds: £1,270 + £285 + £315 + £200 = £2,070
IELTS for the main applicant and TB tests for the family: about £460
Flights (4 x £700): £2,800
Deposit and first month’s rent on a £1,500 a month home, plus set-up: about £4,231
Total: about £23,703 (N42.7 million)

Note that dependants are not allowed on every route; most taught postgraduate students and care workers on newer visas cannot bring family. Check the current rules for your route before planning a family move.

How to reduce the cost

Ways to reduce the cost of moving from Nigeria to the UK

Ask your sponsor what they will cover. Some employers pay the visa fee, flight or first weeks of accommodation, or certify your maintenance so you do not need to show £1,270.
Prepare well for IELTS so you pass the first time.
Rent a room or shared house first and move to a bigger place after a few months.
Change money through regulated channels and compare rates; never use street dealers for large sums.
Book flights early and avoid December where possible.

Scams that inflate the cost

Fake recruiters charge millions of naira for “sponsorship” or a Certificate of Sponsorship. Under UK rules, sponsors must not charge workers for the CoS, and the Home Office does not sell visas through agents on social media. Check that any employer appears on the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors and pay visa fees only on GOV.UK. Our UK visas for Nigerians guide covers refusal risks, and the Japa hub links to every route.

FAQ

What is the minimum cost to relocate to the UK from Nigeria?

For a single health and care worker whose employer covers some costs, the total can be under £5,000. For most single skilled workers, plan for about £8,000 to £9,000.

Do I need to show proof of funds for a Skilled Worker visa?

Usually yes: £1,270 held for 28 days, unless your employer certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge in 2026?

£1,035 a year for most adults and £776 a year for students and children. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.

Did UK visa fees go up in 2026?

Yes. Most fees rose on 8 April 2026. For example, the Skilled Worker fee for up to three years went from £769 to £819 and the Student visa from £524 to £558.

How much should a student show from 30 November 2026?

£1,570 a month in London or £1,203 a month outside London, for up to nine months, plus outstanding first-year tuition.

Sources

Join the discussion

Have you tried this, or do you have a question we did not answer? 1 reader has already shared their view. Naijatipsland members help each other with real, first-hand experience.

Share your view Start a new forum topic Get updates on WhatsApp

1 Comment

Log in to Reply
Ade Adeniyi November 11, 2026 at 4:44 am
Editor’s note: I built this budget from the official fees and real first-month costs because so many people underestimate the health surcharge and the money needed in the first weeks. Please treat agents who quote a single “package price” with caution and check every fee on GOV.UK. – Ade