The United Kingdom has inaugurated its largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Africa, located in Lagos, Nigeria, in partnership with VFS Global, its newly appointed commercial service provider.
In a statement released by the British High Commission on Wednesday, it was announced that residents of Nigeria traveling to the UK can now access state-of-the-art VACs in Abuja, Ikeja (Lagos), and Victoria Island (Lagos). Operations at the new centers commenced on November 19, 2024.
Speaking at the launch event in Ikeja, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter expressed enthusiasm about the development:
"I am delighted to witness the opening of this, the largest visa application centre in Africa. Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS delivers ever-improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), highlighted the significance of the new center:
"The opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an exciting milestone for UKVI and VFS Global in providing a world-class UK visa service in Nigeria and across Africa. In the year to June 2024, we processed over 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories, demonstrating our commitment to accessible and efficient visa services."
VFS Global's Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Alok Singhal, emphasized the company's longstanding partnership with UKVI:
"We are excited to embark on this new journey in Nigeria. We have collaborated with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 and look forward to bringing best-in-class services to travelers from Nigeria.”
The UK remains a top destination for African travelers, with Nigerian nationals accounting for 5% of global UK visit visa applications. Under the new partnership, VFS Global will operate Visa Application Centres for the UK in 31 countries across Africa and 142 countries worldwide.
Nigerian visa applicants can now benefit from optional premium services designed for convenience and efficiency. These include document upload assistance, extended application submission hours, SMS updates, document checking, and passport courier returns. The “Keep My Passport While Applying” service allows applicants to retain their passports after biometrics submission, only resubmitting them once a decision is made.
For Abuja residents, the On-Demand Mobile Visa service offers the convenience of submitting visa applications from home, office, or any preferred location. The Premium Lounge provides a personalized and comfortable experience with dedicated support staff.
The British High Commission reaffirmed that these services are optional and do not affect the visa processing timeline or outcomes. VFS Global, a trusted partner of UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, previously operated in 58 countries and has now expanded to 142 countries under the new contract.
This development reflects the UK's continued commitment to fostering its partnership with Nigeria while ensuring that its visa services meet the needs of applicants across Africa.
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