*Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, at the launch of the newly-established biggest UK Visa Application Centre in Africa, in Ikeja, Lagos, through VFS Global, a new commercial partner, affirms ‘Nigeria remains one of the UK鈥檚 most important partners’

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The United Kingdom鈥檚 (UK) biggest Visa Application Centre in Africa has opened in Lagos, Nigeria, through the UK鈥檚 new commercial partner – VFS Global.

The British Deputy High Commission Wednesday, November 27, 2024, disclosed Mr. Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner, and Mr. Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UKVI, joined Mr. Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa for VFS Global, at the official opening ceremony of the new Visa Application Centre (VAC) Centre, in Lagos.

New Visa Application Centres commence operations

According to the Commission, Nigerian residents travelling to the UK can now book appointments to submit their visa applications through VFS Global鈥檚 new state-of-the-art Visa Application Centres (VAC) located in Abuja, Ikeja (Lagos) and Victoria Island (Lagos).

These new Visa Application Centres commenced operations November 19 this year.

Ndidiamaka Eze, Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer/Communications Lead at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO) and British Deputy High Commission, in Lagos, Wednesday stated Mr. Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, spoke at the launch of the new UK Visa Application Centre, in Ikeja, Lagos.

Nigeria is one of the UK鈥檚 most important partners: Baxter, British Dep. High Commissioner

The statement noted Baxter said: 鈥淚 am delighted to witness the opening of this, the largest visa application centre in Africa.

“Nigeria remains one of the UK鈥檚 most important partners, and we hope that VFS deliver ever improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.鈥�

Speaking at the event also, Mr. Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), remarked: 鈥淭he opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an exciting milestone for UKVI and VFS Global in the provision of a world-class UK visa service here in Nigeria and elsewhere across Africa.

“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225k UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories and this new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all applicants.鈥�

Eze further stated Mr. Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, said: 鈥淲e are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration here in Nigeria.

“We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 and look forward to now bringing travellers from Nigeria our best-in-class services.鈥�

The Commission as well averred the UK remains a popular destination for travellers across Africa, with Nigeria being among the highest nationalities by volume for UK visit visas, accounting for 5 percent of the global total.

It noted that in the African region, VFS Global would provide Visa Application Centres for the UK in 31 countries of the world.

The statement explained the UK visa applicants could choose from optional services offered by VFS Global, to provide enhanced comfort and convenience.

These include document upload assistance, Prime Time for application submission outside of business hours, SMS notifications, document checking service, and courier return of the passport once a decision has been made, states the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer at FDCO and British Deputy High Commission.

The statement also noted that at VFS Global Keep My Passport while applying, service allows customers to keep their passports once their applications are submitted and biometrics have been enrolled. “Customers will only need to re-submit their passports when a decision is reached.

“Customers in Abuja can also submit their UK visa applications from the comfort and safety of their homes, offices, or any other preferred location with our On Demand Mobile Visa service,” Eze stated.

Besides, their Premium Lounge service offers a personalised submission experience with dedicated staff members.

The FDCO and Deputy High Commission disclosed the services “are completely optional and have no bearing on the processing timeline and outcomes of visa applications.”

“As a partner to the UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, VFS Global offered visa services in 58 countries before the new contract, and has now been awarded the contract to provide UK visa services in 142 countries worldwide,” Eze said.

Meanwhile, the Commission has said the temporary Visa Application Centres in Port Harcourt and Enugu currently operated by TLS Contact closed from 26 November (Enugu) and 27 November (Port Harcourt) respectively.

It also noted that all customers that had booked appointments in these locations before the transfer to VFS were contacted by TLS ahead of these closure dates.

VFS is keen to expand in markets where commercially viable and will assess locations other than Abuja and Lagos for future openings

The VACs in Abuja and Lagos (Ikeja and Victoria Island) remain fully operational, and we continue to welcome UK visa applications from across Nigeria.

Helpful information for Nigerian UK Visa applicants聽

It is equally explained if a customer wishes to amend an appointment, claim a refund or make a complaint about the service they received from TLS contact in these locations, they can use the following forms:

Port Harcourt

Amend an appointment:

Request a refund:

Complaint form:

Enugu

Amend an appointment:

Request a refund:

Complaint form: heateor_sss_sharing-2" is not in the widget list.

• [do_widget_area footer-1]
  • [do_widget id="text-12"]
• [do_widget_area footer-2]
  • [do_widget id="text-17"]
• [do_widget_area footer-3]
  • [do_widget id="text-7"]
  • [do_widget id="text-20"]
• [do_widget_area footer-4]
  • [do_widget id="custom_html-6"]
  • [do_widget id="text-19"]
• [do_widget_area footer-5]
• [do_widget_area footer-6]
• [do_widget_area sidebar-1]
  • [do_widget id="search-4"]
  • [do_widget id="media_video-4"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-19"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-20"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-15"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-9"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-17"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-18"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-8"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-3"]
  • [do_widget id="text-27"]
  • [do_widget id="text-28"]
  • [do_widget id="text-25"]
  • [do_widget id="custom_html-4"]
• [do_widget_area sidebar-2]
  • [do_widget id="text-29"]
  • [do_widget id="text-21"]
  • [do_widget id="text-14"]
• [do_widget_area widgets_for_shortcodes]
  • [do_widget id="categories-2"]
  • [do_widget id="heateor_sss_sharing-2"]
  • [do_widget id="nav_menu-3"]
• [do_widget_area wp_inactive_widgets]
  • [do_widget id="new_social_media_widget-2"]
  • [do_widget id="sml_subscribe_widget"]
  • [do_widget id="zoom-social-icons-widget-2"]
  • [do_widget id="custom_html-5"]
  • [do_widget id="text-18"]
  • [do_widget id="text-3"]
  • [do_widget id="media_video-2"]
  • [do_widget id="text-30"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-13"]
  • [do_widget id="search-2"]
  • [do_widget id="text-24"]
  • [do_widget id="recent-posts-2"]
  • [do_widget id="text-23"]
  • [do_widget id="text-16"]
  • [do_widget id="text-8"]
  • [do_widget id="custom_html-2"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-11"]
  • [do_widget id="media_image-12"]
  • [do_widget id="nav_menu-2"]
  • [do_widget id="media_gallery-2"]
  • [do_widget id="text-15"]
  • [do_widget id="text-5"]