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The short answer
As at October 2026, GOV.UK says a Skilled Worker applicant usually needs at least £1,270 in their bank account, held for 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of the application. You do not have to show it if your employer completes the 'sponsor certifies maintenance' section of your certificate of sponsorship, and partners and children need their own amounts on top.
Most Nigerians applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa worry about the wrong number. The money you must show is small compared with the money you must pay. This guide separates the two, using what the Home Office's own pages say as at October 2026.
The maintenance figure and the 28-day rule
GOV.UK's Skilled Worker cost page says you will usually need at least £1,270 available to support yourself when you arrive. The rules on holding it are exact:
- The money must have been in your account for at least 28 days in a row.
- Day 28 must be within 31 days of the date you apply.
- Overdraft facilities do not count (Appendix Finance FIN 3.1).
- The most recent statement must be dated within 31 days before you apply (FIN 7.1), and the evidence must cover the whole 28-day period (FIN 7.3).
The balance must not dip below £1,270 at any point in those 28 days. A balance that touches £1,269 for one night restarts the clock. If your money is in naira, the Home Office converts it at the OANDA spot rate for the date of your application (FIN 1.1), so a naira balance that was enough when you checked may not be enough on the day you submit. Our guide on which exchange rate the Home Office uses explains how to size a naira balance with a buffer.
When you do not need to show the money
GOV.UK lists two exemptions:
- You have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months when you apply.
- Your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270. Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this: the employer completes the 'sponsor certifies maintenance' section under 'Additional data'.
For an applicant in Lagos or Abuja, the second exemption is the one that matters. Ask your employer in writing whether they will certify maintenance, and then check your certificate of sponsorship once it is assigned. If the field is not completed, plan to hold the £1,270 yourself. Do not rely on an email promise from a recruiter; the certificate is what the caseworker sees.
Money for your partner and children
If your family comes with you, GOV.UK sets separate amounts that you, or they, must hold:
| Person | Amount (as at Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| You (main applicant) | £1,270 |
| Partner | £285 |
| First child | £315 |
| Each additional child | £200 |
Worked example
Example: Chidi, a software engineer in Lagos, is joining a UK employer that has not certified maintenance. His wife and two children will apply with him. He needs £1,270 + £285 + £315 + £200 = £2,070, held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of the applications.
The money you pay is far larger
The maintenance funds are the smaller part of the bill. GOV.UK lists these costs for applications from outside the UK, as at October 2026:
| Cost | Up to 3 years | More than 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Standard application fee (per person) | £819 | £1,618 |
| Fee if job is on the immigration salary list | £628 | £1,235 |
| Immigration health surcharge | usually £1,035 per year | usually £1,035 per year |
Example: a three-year visa from Nigeria at the standard fee would cost £819 plus 3 × £1,035 = £3,105 surcharge, so £3,924 for one person, before any maintenance funds. Each dependant pays their own fee and surcharge. You will be told the exact amount when you apply, so treat this as a planning figure. The job itself must also meet the salary rules: GOV.UK states a standard minimum of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher, with lower figures in some cases.
What to check first
- Confirm with your employer whether they will tick 'sponsor certifies maintenance' on your certificate.
- If not, move the £1,270 (plus dependants' amounts) into an account in your own name at least 28 days before you plan to apply, and leave it untouched.
- Use a bank that can issue a statement showing your name, the account number, the bank's name and the balance across the full period.
- Add a margin for currency movement if the funds sit in naira.
- Budget separately for the application fee and surcharge, paid when you apply.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account can hold GBP alongside NGN, which lets you keep the maintenance funds in pounds so the balance is not exposed to the naira rate during the 28 days. You can also generate a verifiable statement through VerifyDoc.ai. Whether any given statement satisfies UKVI is for the caseworker, so check the Appendix Finance rules on regulated institutions first. For the wider picture, see which financial documents UK visas accept and planning a japa savings pot.
Questions people ask
How much money do I need in my account for a UK Skilled Worker visa from Nigeria?
As at October 2026, GOV.UK says £1,270 for the main applicant, held for 28 days in a row ending within 31 days of applying, plus £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child.
Can my employer cover the £1,270 instead?
Yes, if your employer completes the 'sponsor certifies maintenance' section on your certificate of sponsorship. Then you do not need to show the funds yourself.
Does my naira balance count for the Skilled Worker visa?
Foreign-currency funds are converted at the OANDA spot rate on your application date under Appendix Finance, so the naira must be worth at least £1,270 on that date and throughout the period.
Is the £1,270 the total cost of the visa?
No. You also pay the application fee (from £819 from outside the UK) and usually £1,035 a year in health surcharge, as at October 2026.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa – how much it costs (updated Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa – your partner and children · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Finance (updated Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.