Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Ruby, post: 6, member: 2"] Look, I'm not going to promise you anything unrealistic. I'm not going to tell you "relocate in 30 days" or "this one secret trick guarantees approval." Those are scams, and you know it. But let's talk about the visa routes that Nigerians are ACTUALLY using to relocate successfully in 2025. Not the "pay me and I'll sort you out" schemes. Not the too-good-to-be-true stuff. The real, legitimate pathways that require work, planning, money, and patience - but that actually lead somewhere. [B]Why "Japa" Is Harder Now (The Truth)[/B] Let's address this first. If you've noticed it's gotten harder to relocate, you're not imagining it: [LIST] [*]The UK tightened student visa rules and banned dependents for most students [*]Canada's Express Entry scores are higher than ever (usually 520-540 range now) [*]Australia changed their points system [*]Many European countries increased financial requirements [*]Post-pandemic, embassies are more careful about everyone [/LIST] But here's what people miss: harder doesn't mean impossible. It means you need better preparation and more realistic expectations. The people still successfully relocating are the ones who understand this and plan accordingly. [B]How to Use This Guide[/B] I'm going to break down EVERY major pathway. For each one, you'll see: [LIST] [*]Who it's actually for (be honest with yourself about where you fit) [*]Real timeline expectations [*]Actual costs (not just visa fees - the FULL cost) [*]Current approval rates and challenges [*]What changed recently [*]Strategic tips [/LIST] Pick the route that matches your actual situation, not the one that sounds easiest or fastest. [HEADING=1][B]PATHWAY 1: STUDY VISAS[/B][/HEADING] This remains one of the most reliable routes, especially if you're under 35 and don't have advanced degrees yet. [B]UNITED KINGDOM - Still Working But Stricter Who it's for:[/B] [LIST] [*]People who can afford £25,000-£35,000 per year (tuition + living expenses) [*]Those serious about actually studying [*]People who understand they probably can't bring dependents anymore (unless PhD or government scholarship) [/LIST] [B]What Changed in 2024-2025:[/B] [LIST] [*]Most students cannot bring spouses/children anymore [*]Post-study work visa (Graduate Route) is still available (2 years after Bachelor's/Master's, 3 years after PhD) [*]Increased financial requirements slightly [*]They're scrutinizing "low quality" courses more - focus on Russell Group universities and legitimate institutions [/LIST] [B]The Real Cost:[/B] [LIST] [*]Tuition: £15,000-£25,000 per year (varies by course and university) [*]Living expenses: £12,000-£15,000 per year minimum [*]Visa application: ~£490 [*]Immigration Health Surcharge: ~£470 per year [*]Flight, initial setup: £2,000+ [/LIST] [I]Total Year 1: £30,000-£45,000 (roughly ₦35-52 million naira)[/I] [B]Timeline:[/B] [LIST] [*]University application: 3-6 months before course starts [*]Visa processing: 3 weeks (15 working days) standard, faster if you pay for priority [*]Start planning at least 9-12 months before intended start date [/LIST] [B]Strategic Tips:[/B] [LIST] [*]Apply to universities that genuinely fit your academic profile (don't aim too high or too low) [*]Your Statement of Purpose matters - make it genuine and specific [*]Choose courses that lead to careers on the UK shortage occupation list (healthcare, IT, engineering, etc.) [*]The Graduate Route gives you 2 years to find a job, but start job hunting in your final semester [*]Join African student associations when you arrive - they're your support system and networking [/LIST] [B]Approval Rate:[/B] High if you have genuine financial backing, good academic history, and apply to legitimate institutions [B]CANADA - More Expensive Than Before Who it's for:[/B] [LIST] [*]People who can afford $30,000-$50,000 CAD per year [*]Those targeting PR afterward (Canada is PR-friendly for international students) [*]People willing to go to smaller cities (better approval rates than Toronto/Vancouver applications) [/LIST] [B]What Changed:[/B] [LIST] [*]Cost of living requirements increased significantly [*]They're rejecting more applications from "Designated Learning Institution" colleges that seem like visa mills [*]Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) now required - your institution needs to issue this [*]Stricter scrutiny on study plans that don't make logical sense [/LIST] [B]The Real Cost:[/B] [LIST] [*]Tuition: $15,000-$35,000 CAD per year [*]Living expenses: $15,000-$20,000 CAD per year [*]Visa application + biometrics: ~$235 CAD [*]Medical exam: ~$200-300 CAD [*]Flight and setup: $3,000+ CAD [/LIST] [I]Total Year 1: $35,000-$60,000 CAD (roughly ₦32-55 million naira)[/I] [B]Timeline:[/B] [LIST] [*]Apply to programs 6-12 months before start date [*]Visa processing: 8-12 weeks currently (sometimes longer from African countries) [*]Get medical exam early - it's valid for 12 months [/LIST] [B]The PR Pathway:[/B]After graduation: [LIST] [*]Apply for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) - length depends on your program length [*]Work in Canada (preferably in a skilled role) [*]Gain Canadian work experience (huge for Express Entry points) [*]Apply for PR through Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program [/LIST] This is Canada's selling point - there's a clear path from study permit to permanent residence. Many people who couldn't qualify for Express Entry directly can qualify after Canadian education + work experience. [B]Strategic Tips:[/B] [LIST] [*]Choose programs that are 2+ years to get 3-year PGWP [*]Research which provinces are easier for students (Atlantic provinces often are) [*]Your study plan needs to make sense - why this course, why Canada, how it fits your background [*]Show strong ties to Nigeria (property, family, job you're leaving) - they need to believe you'll leave if things don't work out [*]Consider colleges in smaller cities - same education, lower cost, potentially easier visa approval [/LIST] [B]Approval Rate:[/B] Moderate - they're rejecting more than before, but genuine students with solid applications still get through [B]IRELAND - Growing Popularity Who it's for:[/B] [LIST] [*]People who want European residence [*]Those looking for slightly lower costs than UK [*]People in IT, healthcare, business fields (Ireland's strong sectors) [/LIST] [B]Why Ireland:[/B] [LIST] [*]Post-study work visa: 1 year for Level 8 degrees, 2 years for Level 9/10 [*]Good tech job market (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple all have European HQs there) [*]Can lead to PR after legal residence [/LIST] [B]The Real Cost:[/B] [LIST] [*]Tuition: €10,000-€20,000 per year [*]Living expenses: €10,000-€12,000 per year [*]Visa: ~€300 [*]Immigration fee: €300 [/LIST] [I]Total Year 1: €20,000-€35,000 (roughly ₦20-35 million naira)[/I] [B]Strategic Tips:[/B] [LIST] [*]Focus on universities in the Skillnet sector (better employment outcomes) [*]Dublin is expensive - consider Galway, Cork, Limerick [*]Show clear career progression plan [*]Ireland wants to see you'll contribute economically [/LIST] [B]Approval Rate:[/B] Good for qualified applicants with proper documentation [B]OTHER STUDY DESTINATIONS Germany:[/B] Free or very low tuition at public universities, but you must learn German for most programs. Living expenses ~€900 per month. Good option if you're willing to learn the language and have time. [B]Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary:[/B] Emerging options with lower costs (€3,000-€8,000 tuition per year). Growing Nigerian student populations. Consider these if budget is very tight. [B]Australia:[/B] Expensive ($30,000-$45,000 AUD per year total) but strong job market and PR pathways. Very strict visa conditions now. [HEADING=1][B]PATHWAY 2: EXPRESS ENTRY TO CANADA[/B][/HEADING] This is for skilled workers who want to skip the study route and go directly to permanent residence. [B]Who it's for:[/B] [LIST] [*]People with university degrees [*]Those with skilled work experience (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) [*]People who can score 520+ CRS points (or can improve to that level) [*]Those willing to wait 1-3 years potentially [/LIST] [B]Current Reality:[/B]C RS cutoff scores are brutal right now. Recent draws have been 525-545 for general draws. Let me break down how you get points: [B]CRS Factors:[/B] [LIST] [*]Age: Maximum points if 20-29 years old [*]Education: A Master's gives more points than Bachelor's [*]Language: CLB 9+ in English or French (French gives bonus points) [*]Work experience: More years = more points [*]Canadian education/experience: Bonus points [*]Provincial nomination: +600 points (basically guarantees invitation) [*]Arranged employment: +50-200 points depending on LMIA type [*]Sibling in Canada: +15 points [/LIST] [B]Real Talk About Scores:[/B] If you're scoring under 470 without any of the "bonus" factors (PNP, Canadian experience, LMIA, French), Express Entry might not be your best route right now. You'd be waiting years hoping for scores to drop. [B]Ways to Improve Your Score:[/B] [LIST=1] [*][B]Learn French:[/B] Even moderate French (TEF at CLB 5+) adds significant points. This might be your best investment. [*][B]Get a Master's degree:[/B] Adds 23-50 points depending on your situation. Online degrees from Canadian universities count. [*][B]Improve English scores:[/B] Going from CLB 8 to CLB 9 in all categories adds points. Take prep courses, retake the test. [*][B]Get a Provincial Nomination:[/B] This is the game-changer. +600 points means you're getting invited. [/LIST] [B]Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)[/B] Different provinces have their own immigration streams. Some you apply to, others nominate directly from the Express Entry pool. [B]Easier PNPs for Nigerians[/B] [LIST] [*][B]Saskatchewan:[/B] SINP International Skilled Worker - has its own occupation list [*][B]Nova Scotia:[/B] NSNP Labour Market Priorities - sometimes sends "letters of interest" to people in the EE pool [*][B]Ontario:[/B] OINP Human Capital Priorities - largest program but competitive [*][B]Atlantic Immigration Program:[/B] If you have a job offer from Atlantic provinces [/LIST] Each PNP has specific requirements. Research which one fits your profile. [B]The Real Cost[/B] [LIST] [*]Express Entry profile: Free to create [*]Language tests: $200-$300 USD [*]Educational Credential Assessment: $200-$300 CAD [*]If invited to apply: $1,365 CAD (primary applicant + $850 per spouse + $230 per child) [*]Medical exam: $200-$300 per person [*]Police certificates: Varies [*]Settlement funds: $13,310 CAD for single person (must have this in your account) [/LIST] [I]Total: Plan for $5,000-$10,000 CAD (₦4.5-9 million naira)[/I] [B]Timeline[/B] [LIST] [*]Creating profile: 1 day [*]Waiting for ITA: Could be months or years depending on your score [*]After ITA: 60 days to submit full application [*]Processing after submission: 6 months is the goal (often longer) [/LIST] [B]Strategic Tips[/B] [LIST] [*]Enter the pool even if your score isn't competitive yet - you might get a provincial nomination [*]Update your profile immediately when things change (new degree, improved language scores, etc.) [*]Consider the job seeker visa route - go to Canada, find a job, get LMIA, return to EE pool with more points [*]Network with people who've done it successfully (check the other thread on this) [*]Don't pay "agents" who promise to get you through - it's a points-based system, they can't game it [/LIST] [B]Approval Rate:[/B] If you get an ITA and submit a complete, truthful application, the approval rate is very high. The hard part is getting the ITA. [HEADING=1][B]PATHWAY 3: UK SKILLED WORKER VISA[/B][/HEADING] This is the direct work visa route - you need a job offer from a UK employer. [B]Who it's for:[/B] [LIST] [*]Professionals with skills in demand (IT, healthcare, engineering, finance) [*]People with 3+ years experience in their field [*]Those who can find a UK employer willing to sponsor them [/LIST] [B]How It Works[/B] The UK employer must be a licensed sponsor. They give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is your golden ticket. With that, you apply for the Skilled Worker visa. [B]Eligible Occupations: [/B]The job must be on the eligible occupations list and meet minimum skill level (RQF Level 3 or above, which is roughly A-level equivalent). [B]Salary Requirements: [/B]Generally £38,700 per year OR the "going rate" for that specific occupation (whichever is higher). Some occupations have lower thresholds if they're on the shortage list. [B]The Real Challenge:[/B]F inding a UK employer willing to sponsor you. Sponsorship costs them money (sponsor license + CoS fees + immigration skills charge). They need to believe you're worth that investment. [B]Where to Find These Jobs:[/B] [LIST] [*]LinkedIn (filter for companies that sponsor visas) [*]Reed.co.uk, Indeed.co.uk (look for "visa sponsorship" in job description) [*]Tech companies (often sponsor) [*]NHS (for healthcare workers) [*]Skillnet jobs (government website lists sponsors) [/LIST] [B]The Real Cost:[/B] [LIST] [*]Visa application: £719 (3 years) or £1,420 (5 years) [*]Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year [*]For 3-year visa: ~£3,826 total [*]Plus relocation costs [/LIST] [B]Timeline:[/B] [LIST] [*]Finding job: 3-12 months typically (can be faster or slower) [*]After job offer: Employer applies for CoS [*]After receiving CoS: You apply for visa [*]Visa processing: 3 weeks standard (faster if you pay extra) [/LIST] [B]Path to Settlement: [/B]After 5 years on Skilled Worker visa (+ meeting salary and other requirements), you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) - that's permanent residence. [B]Strategic Tips:[/B] [LIST] [*]Build your LinkedIn profile professionally [*]Get UK-style CV (different format from Nigerian CV) [*]Target industries known to sponsor (tech, healthcare, engineering) [*]Be realistic about salary expectations - you won't earn Nigerian CEO money as a newcomer [*]Some companies recruit internationally - research which ones [*]Consider contract-to-hire roles [/LIST] [B]Approval Rate:[/B] High if you have a genuine job offer from a licensed sponsor and meet all requirements [HEADING=1][B]PATHWAY 4: FAMILY SPONSORSHIP[/B][/HEADING] If you have close family members who are citizens or permanent residents in your target country, this might be your most straightforward route. [B]Who Can Sponsor You Canada:[/B] [LIST] [*]Spouse/common-law partner [*]Parents/grandparents (through lottery system) [*]Dependent children [/LIST] [B]UK:[/B] [LIST] [*]Spouse/partner [*]Parents (if you're a child) [*]Adult dependent relative (very restricted) [/LIST] [B]USA:[/B] [LIST] [*]Spouse [*]Parents (if sponsor is US citizen) [*]Children [*]Siblings (if sponsor is US citizen) - but this has 10+ year wait times [/LIST] [B]The Reality of Spousal Sponsorship:[/B] This is common. If you marry someone who's already a citizen/PR in Canada, UK, USA, Australia, they can sponsor you. But embassies scrutinize these heavily because of marriage fraud. [B]What They Look For:[/B] [LIST] [*]Genuine relationship (photos together over time, communication history, visits) [*]You knew each other before the sponsorship process [*]Your relationship makes cultural sense (similar backgrounds, logical how you met) [*]Financial ability of sponsor to support you [/LIST] [B]Timeline:[/B] [LIST] [*]Canada: 12-18 months typically [*]UK: 6-12 months [*]USA: 12-24 months depending on visa type [/LIST] [B]The Real Cost:[/B] [LIST] [*]Varies by country but generally $1,000-$5,000 in fees [*]Plus medical exams, police certificates [*]Travel for visits if you haven't met in person enough [/LIST] [B]Strategic Reality Check:[/B] Don't marry someone just for a visa. These relationships get investigated thoroughly, and if it's found to be fraudulent, both people face serious consequences including bans and criminal charges. If you have a genuine relationship with someone abroad and they're willing to sponsor you, this can be a beautiful route. Just be prepared for the scrutiny. [HEADING=1][B]PATHWAY 5: START-UP AND ENTREPRENEUR VISAS[/B][/HEADING] These exist but they're for specific people - those with genuine business ideas and capital. [B]UK Start-Up Visa / Innovator Founder Visa:[/B] [LIST] [*]You need endorsement from an approved body [*]Must have an innovative, viable, scalable business idea [*]Innovator Founder needs £50,000 investment funds [*]This is NOT easy - don't let anyone tell you otherwise [/LIST] [B]Canada Start-Up Visa:[/B] [LIST] [*]Need support from designated Canadian investor, angel investor group, or business incubator [*]Must have qualifying business [*]Very competitive [*]Investment requirements vary [/LIST] [B]Portugal/Spain Golden Visas:[/B] [LIST] [*]Invest significant money in property or business (€500,000+) [*]Leads to residency [*]Expensive but straightforward if you have the capital [/LIST] [B]Real Talk: [/B]Unless you have a genuinely innovative business, significant capital, or connections to investors, these routes are extremely difficult. The success rate for Africans is low because the bar is high. If you're a successful entrepreneur in Nigeria with a proven business, these might work. If you're just starting out, focus on other pathways first. [HEADING=1][B]PATHWAY 6: ASYLUM/REFUGEE STATUS[/B][/HEADING] I'm including this because people ask, but let me be very clear: [B]This is NOT a japa strategy.[/B] This is for people who are genuinely fleeing persecution. If you're LGBT and facing persecution, if you're facing religious persecution, if your life is genuinely in danger for protected reasons, asylum exists for you. But don't claim asylum falsely as an immigration strategy. It's: [LIST] [*]Unethical [*]Likely to fail (and you'll be deported) [*]Makes it harder for people who genuinely need asylum [*]Can result in bans from multiple countries [/LIST] If you have a genuine asylum claim, seek proper legal advice from refugee organisations. Japa is not easy in 2025. It requires money (usually ₦20-50 million depending on route), time (1-3 years typically), qualifications, and luck. Some of you reading this will make it. Some won't, despite trying hard. That's the reality. But every single person who successfully relocated started where you are now - reading, planning, hoping. The difference is they took action systematically, stayed persistent, and didn't give up when things got hard. Choose your route. Make your plan. Take the first step today. Which pathway are you seriously considering? What's holding you back? What questions do you have? [/QUOTE]

Verification: Which currency uses the symbol ₦ ?

Top Bottom

Back

Search

Search

Reply to thread