The United Kingdom has inaugurated its largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Africa, situated in Lagos, Nigeria. This state-of-the-art facility, operated by VFS Global, aims to improve visa application services for Nigerians traveling to the UK.
The new centre in Ikeja complements existing VACs in Abuja and Victoria Island, Lagos, which began operations on November 19. Speaking at the launch in Ikeja, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter emphasized the significance of 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,” Baxter said.
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), described the launch of the Ikeja centre as a landmark event.
“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 more than 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories.
This partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring visa services are accessible, efficient, and meet applicants’ needs,” Owen stated.
Nigeria accounts for 5% of the global total of UK visit visas, positioning it as a major source of UK-bound travelers in Africa.
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. “We 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 travelers from Nigeria our best-in-class services,” he said.
The new VACs offer various optional services to enhance customer convenience, including assistance with document uploads, Prime Time appointments outside regular hours, SMS notifications, and courier services for passport returns. The “Keep My Passport While Applying” service allows applicants to retain their passports until a decision is made.
In Abuja, applicants can also access an ‘On Demand Mobile Visa’ service, enabling them to complete applications from home or office. For those seeking a premium experience, the centres provide a dedicated Premium Lounge with personalized submission services.
VFS Global has been providing visa services for UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 and now operates in 142 countries, up from 58 previously. In Africa, the organization runs VACs in 31 countries.
The new Lagos facility is expected to significantly enhance the visa application process for Nigerian travelers, reinforcing the UK’s position as a preferred destination in Africa.
According to the British High Commission, these optional services do not affect visa processing times or outcomes.
