The United Kingdom has launched its largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Africa, located in Ikeja, Lagos, in partnership with VFS Global.
A statement from the British High Commission on Wednesday announced that Nigerians traveling to the UK can now submit visa applications at the new centre, alongside facilities in Abuja and Victoria Island, which commenced operations on November 19.
At the inauguration in Ikeja, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter highlighted the significance of the centre, stating, “Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS will deliver ever-improving services for visa applicants.”
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), noted that the Ikeja centre represents a milestone in providing a world-class visa service. He revealed that over 225,000 UK visas were processed for Nigerian nationals in the year leading to June 2024, underscoring the UK’s commitment to accessible and efficient services.
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, expressed excitement about the expanded partnership, emphasizing the company’s long-standing collaboration with UKVI since 2003.
Nigeria ranks among the top African countries for UK visit visas, accounting for 5% of the global total. VFS Global now operates UK Visa Centres in 31 African countries, with plans to expand to 142 countries worldwide.
The centres offer optional premium services, including document upload assistance, extended application hours, SMS updates, and a “Keep My Passport While Applying” option, allowing applicants to retain their passports until a decision is made. Customers in Abuja can also use the On-Demand Mobile Visa service for applications from home or office.
The statement reiterated that these premium services do not affect visa processing times or outcomes.
