…Retention Rate Surpasses India, China, US
…Graduate, Work Visa Routes Fuel Rise In Long-Term Stay
Daud Olatunji
Nigerian students have emerged as the international graduates most likely to remain in the United Kingdom after completing their studies, despite the British government’s tightening immigration policies and plans to make permanent residency more difficult.
A new briefing on international student migration showed that about 78 per cent of Nigerians who entered the UK on student visas in 2020 still held valid visas by the end of 2025—the highest retention rate among the major nationalities examined.
The report indicates that Nigerian graduates are increasingly staying in the UK by switching to work and other visa categories rather than returning home immediately after their studies.
In comparison, 58 per cent of Indian students from the same cohort still had valid visas after five years, while graduates from countries such as China and the United States were significantly less likely to remain in Britain.
The findings underscore a growing trend of international students extending their stay in the UK after graduation, largely through the Graduate Visa route and other immigration pathways that allow them to live and work legally.
According to the report, 41 per cent of all migrants who received initial UK study visas in 2020 still had legal permission to remain in the country by the end of 2025.
Of this figure, 26 per cent had transitioned to work visas, six per cent remained on study visas, while the remaining 59 per cent no longer held valid visas, suggesting they had most likely left the UK.
The report also revealed a sharp increase in post-study retention compared with previous years. Only 25 per cent of international students who arrived in 2019 still held valid UK visas five years later.
However, the report cautioned that remaining in the UK after graduation does not automatically place migrants on the path to permanent residency.
It explained that time spent on student visas and the Graduate Visa does not count towards the conventional five-year residency requirement for indefinite leave to remain.
Instead, graduates who remain on those visa categories must rely on the UK’s long-residence route, which requires 10 years of continuous lawful residence before becoming eligible to apply for permanent settlement.
The pathway may become even more demanding following proposals unveiled by the UK government in November 2025 to overhaul settlement rules.
Under the proposed reforms, the standard residency period required for permanent settlement would be doubled from five years to 10 years, although the report noted that implementation details were still unclear as of June 2026.
Despite the tougher immigration landscape, the report concluded that Nigerian graduates continue to be among those most likely to establish longer-term lives in the UK by successfully transitioning into employment and other eligible visa categories after completing their studies.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
