Running on African time? Here are the highlights:
- The UAE has banned transit visas for Nigerians and now requires a $10,000 bank statement for certain categories of travellers.
- The United States reduced visa validity for Nigerians to a 3-month, single-entry visa, added mandatory social media screening, and threatened further restrictions.
- The UK has closed care worker visas to new applicants, raised salary and education thresholds for skilled jobs, restricted dependents, and extended permanent residency to 10 years.
- Canada increased its Express Entry proof-of-funds requirement to over ₦17 million for single applicants, amid a volatile exchange rate.
- Now more than ever, it’s critical to move with strategy, not luck.
- MyJapa Limited offers expert guidance to help you navigate these changes and secure your immigration goals before the window narrows further.
Let’s be honest, Nigeria’s passport is having a tough year. If you’ve been scrolling social media and thinking, “Maybe I should wait,” you might want to sit up. While many Nigerians are still plotting their Japa in theory, the countries we’ve long considered visiting or migrating to are quietly building higher walls.
In the space of just a few weeks, the UAE, the United States, United Kingdom and Canada have all made significant immigration policy changes, and none of them favour Nigerians. From stricter visa conditions to higher financial requirements, it’s becoming clearer by the day that the global attitude towards Nigerian immigrants is shifting. And not in a good way.
Start with the UAE. Once a favorite weekend destination and business hub for Nigerian travelers, they have now banned transit visas for Nigerians. And tourist visas are now only available to those above 45 years old who aren’t travelling alone. And if you’re lucky enough to fit those criteria, be ready to present a six-month bank statement showing consistent inflows of $10,000 – yes, in dollars. Not naira. That’s about 15 million naira in the current economy, just to prove you won’t be an entry burden.
Across the Atlantic, the United States, the land of dreams and opportunities, has decided to cut back. For years, Nigerians could get a five-year, multiple-entry visa. That window has closed. Under a new visa policy adjustment, Nigerians are now being issued single-entry visas with only a three-month validity. The government didn’t stutter. No long explanations. Just a policy change and a new reality.
In the previous weeks, they had paused student interviews, and then resumed with a new condition for application – social media screening for all applicants. Then they threatened to place a visa ban on Nigeria and some other countries if we do not meet certain security standards. It looks like as the days go by, they are tightening their policies and slowly raising the bar for entry. If you’re not ready or not strategic, you will miss out.
The UK just made major immigration changes that affect Nigerians hoping to move through the care or skilled worker route. As of July 1st, 2025, care worker visas are closed to new applicants outside the UK, and only high-paying, graduate-level jobs now qualify under the Skilled Worker route. Rules around dependents, English language, and permanent residency have also tightened. It’s no longer business as usual, a full strategy reset is now required.
And then there’s Canada. Known for its welcoming approach to immigrants and international students, even Canada has started to tighten its belt. The proof-of-funds requirement for single applicants under the Express Entry program has now risen to over 17 million naira. Couples need significantly more. This is just the cost of convincing the system that you won’t arrive broke. With the exchange rate becoming significantly
With the exchange rate becoming significantly more volatile by the day, meeting these financial thresholds is becoming increasingly difficult, not because people aren’t saving, but because the goalpost keeps shifting. What was required a few months ago is no longer enough, and there’s no guarantee it won’t change again soon. For many Nigerians, the dream of a new life abroad is starting to feel less like a plan and more like a luxury.
So, what exactly is happening? Why the sudden clampdown?
To start, it’s a matter of reputation. Some Nigerians have unfortunately exploited loopholes – overstaying tourist visas, submitting fake financial statements, and bypassing processes with forged documents. These instances, while not reflective of the entire population, have contributed to a global narrative of distrust. But it’s not just that. There’s also a sense that countries are becoming more protective of their systems. Immigration is now a political tool, a symbol of order, responsibility, and control. And Nigeria, with its internal instability, is no longer seen as a stable contributor to global migration.
Still, the real problem is how ordinary Nigerians are responding. Many continue to approach immigration with a “maybe next year” attitude. Meanwhile, the policies are changing faster than ever before. Every month brings a new requirement, a higher cost, or a tighter restriction. And once these doors are shut, they rarely reopen the same way.
The reality is simple, policies are rapidly changing against our favour. Whether for school, work, or permanent relocation, the options are narrowing and the requirements are increasing. Those who wait too long may find themselves locked out, not because they weren’t qualified, but because they didn’t act fast enough.
This is not the time for guesswork. The time for “just applying on your own” without guidance has passed. Immigration is no longer a linear process. It is now a strategy game, and one misstep can cost you everything – time, money, and opportunity. If you’re serious about leaving, you need to be intentional. You need to plan, prepare, and work with people who understand how the system works — and how quickly it’s changing.
At MyJapa Limited, we’ve helped hundreds navigate this process with precision and purpose. From identifying the best pathways to helping you gather documents, prepare financials, and stand out in a pool of global applicants, we’re more than consultants, we’re your japa partners. We know the policies. We monitor the changes. And we move fast because we know time isn’t on your side.
So, if you’ve been dreaming of Japa, it is time to wake up and move. Don’t wait until the policy changes again. Don’t assume you’ll always have the chance. The doors are closing, but they’re not shut yet.
Let’s help you get in. Book a consultation today and let’s take your future from “one day” to now.
