The United Kingdom government has published a list of 65 countries and territories whose citizens or children of citizens may qualify to apply under the Windrush Scheme.
Nigeria is among the African countries named on the list, alongside Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and several others.
The scheme is aimed at people who are already living in the UK but do not have documents proving their right to live and work in the country.
What the Windrush Scheme Covers
According to the UK government, eligible applicants may be able to obtain official documentation confirming their right to live and work in Britain if they meet the required conditions.
The scheme does not automatically give applicants immigration status. Instead, it provides a way for eligible people to obtain evidence of their existing right to remain in the UK.
Eligibility can apply to a person who is a citizen of one of the listed Commonwealth countries, or in some circumstances, to the child of such a citizen.
Nigeria Among African Countries Listed
Nigeria is one of several African nations included in the government’s list.
Other African countries named include Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
The list also contains countries and territories across the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.
Full List of 65 Countries and Territories
The countries and territories listed by the UK government are:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Brunei
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Cyprus (excluding the Sovereign Base Area)
- Dominica
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hong Kong
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Sri Lanka
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Eswatini
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Virgin Islands
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The inclusion of Nigeria means eligible Nigerians already settled in the UK may be able to use the Windrush Scheme to obtain proof of their right to live and work there, subject to meeting the scheme’s requirements.