VFS Global has officially launched Africa’s largest UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lagos, with operations beginning on November 19, as confirmed by a recent statement.
This new centre offers Nigerian travelers the convenience of booking appointments to submit visa applications at VACs located in both Abuja and Lagos, including the Ikeja and Victoria Island areas.
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), highlighted the significance of the new centre, stating, “The 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 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,” Owen added.
British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “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 deliver ever improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.”
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa for VFS Global, shared his excitement about the project, noting the long-standing collaboration with UK Visas and Immigration, which dates back to 2003.
VFS Global will continue to offer Value-Added Services (VAS) in 31 African countries to further enhance the visa application experience.
How It Works
VFS Global has introduced several convenient services to make the visa application process smoother for customers.
These include document upload assistance, extended hours for application submission, SMS notifications, document checking services, and courier passport return services once a decision is made.
The company’s “Keep My Passport While Applying” service allows applicants to retain their passports after submitting their application and completing the biometric enrollment. They will only need to submit their passports again once a decision is made.
In Abuja, customers can also utilize the “On Demand Mobile Visa” service, submitting their UK visa applications from the comfort of their home, office, or any other preferred location. The Premium Lounge service offers a personalized submission experience with dedicated staff to assist.
Customers can book their appointments in advance at [VFS Global’s website](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/nga/en/gbr) or at the visa application centre itself.
VFS Global reassured that these services are entirely optional and will not affect the processing timeline or outcome of the visa application.
