The United Kingdom has officially opened its largest Visa Application Centre in Africa, located in Ikeja, Lagos.
This new facility, which is operated in partnership with VFS Global, represents a significant step in enhancing visa application services for Nigerian residents.
The new Ikeja centre, along with existing centres in Abuja and Victoria Island, Lagos, began operations on November 19, 2024. The expansion aims to simplify and expedite the visa application process for Nigerians traveling to the UK.
The British High Commission highlighted that Nigeria is one of the UK’s key markets for visa applications, accounting for 5% of the global total of UK visit visas. Last year alone, over 225,000 visas were processed for Nigerian nationals, reinforcing the UK’s popularity as a destination for Nigerian travelers.
Speaking at the Ikeja centre’s launch, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter expressed his enthusiasm: “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 are optimistic that VFS will continue to deliver exceptional services to visa applicants.”
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), added: “The opening of the new VAC in Ikeja is an exciting development for both UKVI and VFS Global. In the year leading up to June 2024, we processed over 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals. This new partnership underlines our commitment to making visa services accessible and efficient for all applicants.”
The new VACs offer several optional services to improve the convenience of the visa application process, including document upload assistance, prime-time appointments, SMS notifications, document checking services, courier passport returns, and keeping my passport while applying.
In Abuja, applicants can also use the on-demand mobile visa service, which allows submissions from home or office. The Premium Lounge Service offers a personalised experience with dedicated staff for a more comfortable visit.
VFS Global, the commercial partner managing UK visa services, now operates VACs in 142 countries, up from 58 nations. In Africa, it runs UK visa centres in 31 countries.
VFS Global clarified that while these additional services offer greater convenience, they do not affect the visa processing time or the outcome of applications.
