Live and Work in the UK: Visa Routes, Rent and First Month

Moving to the UK in 2026 is possible, but the rules are stricter than they were two years ago. Which route you choose decides what you pay, whether your family can come and how long settlement takes. This guide sets out the options, then covers money, healthcare and the first weeks after you land.

The main routes compared

Most of these routes also charge the Immigration Health Surcharge, explained below.

Skilled Worker

This is the main job-offer route. Since 22 July 2025, most new jobs must be at graduate level (RQF 6) and pay at least £41,700 or the occupation's going rate. New applicants have needed B2 English since January 2026. Read our full Skilled Worker visa guide.

Health and Care Worker

This is a cheaper version of the Skilled Worker route for regulated health professionals, with no health surcharge. Care workers can no longer apply from overseas. See who still qualifies.

Student and Graduate

Many Nigerians reach UK work through study. The Student visa fee is £558. After a degree, the Graduate visa lets you work in most jobs without a sponsor.

The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years for PhD holders). It cannot be extended, but you can switch to a Skilled Worker visa, often with the lower new-entrant salary.

Global Talent

This route is for leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts and culture, or digital technology. Most applicants need an endorsement from an approved body first. It needs no job offer and is flexible, but the bar is high.

Family

A partner of a British citizen or settled person usually needs a combined income of at least £29,000 a year (for first applications since 11 April 2024). The first grant lasts up to 2 years and 9 months.

Upfront costs: the Immigration Health Surcharge

Most visa applicants pay the surcharge upfront for the whole visa:

A 3-year Skilled Worker visa therefore carries £3,105 of surcharge per person, on top of the visa fee. For a couple with two children, that adds up quickly.

Once you have paid the surcharge, or are exempt, you can use the NHS from the start of your visa. Prescriptions in England, dental care and eye tests may still cost extra.

What rent really costs

The Office for National Statistics publishes official private rent figures every month. Its September 2026 release (covering August 2026) reported:

These are averages across all property sizes. A room in a shared house costs much less than a whole flat, and newcomers often start in shared housing.

Rents are also rising at different speeds. In the year to August 2026, the North East and North West had the fastest rent inflation of any English region (5.8% each). London rose 3.5% and the South East 3.0%. Cheaper regions are still much cheaper, but the gap is narrowing.

When you compare job offers, set the salary against local rent, not the national average. A role in Manchester, Leeds or Glasgow can leave you with more each month than a higher-paid one in London. The ONS publishes figures for every region, so you can check before you agree to relocate.

Rent is usually the biggest cost, but also budget for council tax, energy, broadband, a phone plan and transport. These vary widely by city. We have not listed figures we could not check against an official source.

eVisas have replaced BRPs

The UK no longer issues physical biometric residence permits for most people. Your status is now an eVisa, held in a free UKVI account.

What this means for you:

• Create your UKVI account when you are told to during your application.
• Add your current passport to the account before you travel, and update it if you renew your passport.
• When an employer or landlord asks for proof, generate a share code from your account.
• Visa stickers (vignettes) stay valid until they expire.

Before you travel: Nigeria-specific preparation

Nigeria is on the UK's TB test list, so you need a certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic. Many job routes also need a police certificate, and the Skilled Worker route usually needs a B2 English test or an Ecctis-assessed degree.

Allow time for your passport and NIN records to match exactly. Mismatched names or dates of birth across documents are a common cause of delay.

First month in the UK, step by step

1. Check your eVisa works. Log in to your UKVI account and confirm your status and passport details.
2. Collect your share code. Your employer will do a right-to-work check before or on your first day.
3. Secure housing. Start with short-term or shared housing, and view a property before paying a deposit.
4. Register with a GP. It is free, and you do not need proof of address or immigration status.
5. Open a bank account. Many banks will ask for proof of address. Your employment contract or a tenancy agreement often helps.
6. Apply for a National Insurance number. You need it for tax and work records. Ask your employer what they need meanwhile.
7. Register to pay council tax where you live, if your landlord does not include it.
8. Keep every document. You will need payslips, tenancy records and travel history for extensions and settlement.

First-month checklist

• UKVI account working, passport linked
• Share code generated for your employer
• Right-to-work check completed
• Short-term housing booked, long-term search started
• GP registration done
• Bank account opened
• National Insurance number applied for
• Council tax arranged
• Emergency contacts and NHS 111 saved in your phone
• Copies of every immigration document saved in the cloud

Finding a job that can sponsor you

The safest starting point is the official register of licensed sponsors. Our guide to UK visa sponsorship jobs explains how to use it, how to check if a job is eligible, and the scams to avoid, including anyone who charges you for a certificate of sponsorship.

A note on settlement

Most work routes currently lead to indefinite leave to remain after 5 years. The government has consulted on making 10 years the norm under an earned settlement model, and from March 2027 settlement applicants will need a higher level of English. Plan your career on the assumption that settlement could take longer than older guides suggest.