To better meet the rising demand for UK visas from Nigerian travellers, VFS Global has announced the opening of two new Premium Visa Application Centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt.
These centres are designed to offer more convenience to applicants in southeastern and southern Nigeria and add to the existing world-class visa application centres in Abuja, Ikeja and Victoria Island, Lagos, which have been operational since November 2024.
A statement made available to Science Nigeria stated, “We are pleased to announce that customers can now book appointments at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/nga/en/gbr/ to visit Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt or Omedel Luxury Hotel in Enugu to submit their visa applications and enrol their biometrics ahead of the summer travel season.”
The UK continues to be a leading destination for Nigerian travellers, with Nigeria ranking among the top four nationalities globally for UK visit visa applications. According to official data, Nigerian nationals accounted for 6 per cent of the global total of UK visit visa applications in 2024.
Minister of State at the UK Home Office, Sir Lord David Hanson expressed the UK government’s enthusiasm for the expansion. “We are pleased to reopen the Premium Visa Application Centres in both Port Harcourt and Enugu. In 2024, we received more than 230,000 visa applications from Nigerian nationals across all visa categories. These new centres will provide greater accessibility for applicants in and around Enugu and Rivers states. This expansion reflects the deepening UK–Nigeria relationship and underscores Nigeria’s significance in our global visa operations,” he said.
Head for Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, Alok Singhal added, “We are excited to open these additional, conveniently located touchpoints for our UK visa customers in Nigeria. The new premium application centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt will help us cater to a broader segment of travellers and maintain the same high standards of comfort, efficiency, and premium service as in our Abuja and Lagos centres.”
Applicants using the premium centres will benefit from a range of value-added services, including assistance with document upload, application status notifications and courier return of documents. Additionally, the “Keep My Passport While Applying” service allows applicants to retain their passports after submitting their application and biometrics, only resubmitting when a decision is made.
VFS Global has been a trusted partner of UK Visas and Immigration since 2003. Prior to the current contract, it provided visa services in 58 countries. In 2023, VFS was awarded the expanded mandate to deliver UK visa services in 142 countries globally.
