In a bid to boost the UK’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector and drive economic growth, the UK government plans to relax visa restrictions for foreign AI experts. This could open up opportunities for Nigerians skilled in AI and other tech fields to contribute to the UK’s growing tech ecosystem.
The Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, released on Monday, proposes leveraging the immigration system to attract graduates from top global AI institutions, including India’s IITs and Carnegie Mellon University in the US, which are currently excluded from the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa eligibility list.
Addressing Barriers for AI Talent
The report, led by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, emphasizes the need to remove barriers such as high visa costs and complex processes, which deter startups from hiring overseas talent. The proposal also suggests revising the salary threshold for skilled worker visas to account for stock options as part of employee compensation.
Why This Matters to Nigerians
For Nigerians in the UK or those looking to Japa and leverage their tech skills, these changes could provide a clearer pathway to securing visas, especially for those in AI and other tech fields. The proposed updates aim to address the bottlenecks currently discouraging skilled professionals from relocating to the UK.
AI Industry Backed by Government
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have both thrown their support behind the AI sector, promising to remove barriers that hinder its growth. Measures include speeding up planning permissions for data centres and investing in digital skills training for the UK workforce.
Immigration Landscape in 2024
The announcement comes amid strict visa rules introduced in 2024 to reduce net migration. These rules included bans on family dependents for many overseas employees and increased salary thresholds for skilled workers to £38,700.
Provisional data shows that visa applications dropped by 42% in 2024, with only 547,000 applications received between April and December compared to 942,500 in the same period in 2023.
A Bright Spot for Nigerians in Tech
Despite the broader restrictions, the relaxation of rules for AI experts signals a shift towards attracting global talent. For Nigerians with AI expertise or aspirations to enter the field, this could be a chance to contribute to one of the world’s most innovative sectors while benefiting from improved visa pathways.
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