Africa
UK Opens Africa’s Largest Visa Application Centre In Lagos, As Nigeria Generates The Highest Revenue
Nigeria has higher rejection rates
Recent data from the British government indicate that Nigeria was among the top five countries experiencing a rise in study visa rejection rates during the second half of 2023. But Nigeria generates the highest revenue
The United Kingdom has just launched Africa’s largest visa application centre in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. This new centre, operated by VFS Global, aims to make visa submissions easier and more convenient for Nigerians traveling to the UK .
The centre is part of the UK’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with Nigeria, which remains one of the UK’s most important partners. British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter emphasized this point during the launch, expressing hopes that the new centre will provide improved services for visa applicants.
Some of the enhanced services introduced at the centre include:
- Document Upload Assistance: Get help with uploading your documents.
- Extended Submission Hours: More time to submit your application.
- SMS Updates: Stay informed about your application status.
- Courier Passport Returns: Get your passport delivered to your doorstep.
- Mobile Visa Service: Abuja residents can submit applications from their preferred locations.
- Premium Lounge: Enjoy a personalized experience with dedicated staff ¹.
This new facility is a significant improvement in visa services for Nigerians, and it demonstrates the UK’s commitment to providing efficient and accessible visa services in Africa.
NIGERIA GETS THE HIGHEST REJECTTION BUT GENERATES THE HIGHEST REVENUE
The United Kingdom generated over $34 million from 225,000 Nigerian visa applications processed between June 2023 and June 2024. This translates to over N68 billion in revenue for the UK.
The UK’s visa application fees are non-refundable, and the standard six-month UK visitor visa currently costs $150. The UK has also introduced stricter immigration policies, leading to tighter controls on visa applications and a significant drop in visa approvals for Nigerian applicants.
Nigeria has one of the highest visa rejection rates, with a 63% drop in visa approvals compared to the last quarter of 2022. Other countries with high rejection rates include Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and India.
To apply for a UK visa, Nigerians can submit their applications through the UK Visa Application Centre in Lagos or Abuja. The application process typically takes four to six working days, but some applications may take up to 30 days to process.