Changes in 2024: VFS Global is now the official visa service partner for UK Visas and Immigration in Kenya and Nigeria.
Nigerian citizens need a visa to visit the United Kingdom. Therefore, in this post, I’ll show you the UK visa application process in Nigeria and some important things you need to know. If you’re applying for a visa for the first time, be sure to read my guide, detailing general rules about visa applications and ways to build your travel history in Nigeria.
The UK Visa Application in Nigeria – The Process
The first step to applying for a visa is to fill out the online application form on the Gov.UK website. Navigate to ‘Visas and Immigration’ and select the category of visa you wish to apply for. In my case, I selected ‘Visit the UK’.
To clarify, this option can be used for a short stay visit for up to 6 months. Next, you should select the type of visa. I selected ‘Standard Visitor Visa’. Lastly, click the ‘Apply’ link and the ‘Apply Now’ button.
Choose your preferred language and country. This should be where you live and will provide your biometrics. Go ahead and fill in the necessary information, then, pay the visa application fee after completion.
Note that the form may take some time to fill out. Luckily, you can fill it in bits, and then return to your application at a later time.
UK Standard Visitor Visa Fee
The costs of a UK visa may vary depending on the kind of visa you apply for. The duration and whether or not you pay for a priority visa will also affect the cost. A regular short-stay 6-month visa costs £115 at the time of this writing.
PS: It is now £158 (September 2024) and could cost from £500 upwards if you choose to expedite the process.
After paying the visa fees, you will be redirected to the TLScontact website to schedule an appointment. You will be required to pay an additional fee of £80 for adults. TLScontact also provides additional services at varying costs.
When I applied, I opted for a Prime Time appointment (7:00 – 8:30 am) and had to pay another ₦37,000 (now a whooping ₦77,600) at the venue.
Once you have confirmed your appointment, you should scan and upload ALL your supporting documents. I didn’t upload my bank statements. As a result, I had to pay an extra ₦10,000 at the TLScontact office to get this done. Now, this amount is 11,700 in 2022, 29,900 in 2024. PS: Don’t mind me while I keep track of the price changes here 🙂
It’s also important to note that TLScontact only accepts payments with a Nigerian (Naira) card. Other visa application centres I have been to accept only cash, so, naturally, I went to this centre with a wad of cash. I tried to pay with a US bank card but they didn’t accept that either. I ended up asking other applicants to pay on my behalf, while I did a transfer back to them.
After the document pre-check, you will be asked to go in for your biometrics.
UK Visa Application Supporting Documents
The documents needed for your visa application include, but are not limited to the following;
- Letter of Invitation from the UK
- Letter of Introduction from employer
- Evidence of employment (employment letters, promotion letters, etc)
- Bank statements (I submitted 6 months)
- Payslips (I submitted 6 months)
- Photocopy of your international passport bio-data page
- Flight Itinerary (if transiting)
- Documentation from the Host in the UK ( passport copy, letter of invitation, bank statement )
- Original Marriage Certificate if applying with a spouse
- Original Birth Certificates of children if applying with children
- Family Photographs (if applicable, depending on visa type)
- Evidence of assets
Where is TLScontact Located?
TLScontact has offices in Abuja, Lagos (Ikeja and Victoria Island)
Victoria Island: Ground Floor, Ivie House, 4/6 Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays from 08:30 – 15:00 – for submission. Prime Time Appointments are between 07:00 and 08:30 am
Passport Return 10:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday
Ikeja: Ground and First Floors, Etiebets Place, 21 Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays from 08:30 – 15:00 – for submission. Prime Time Appointments are between 07:00 and 08:00 am
Passport Return 10:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday
Abuja: Third floor, Murkhtar El-Yakub Place beside Metro Plaza, on Plot 1129 Zakariya Maimalari Street, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays from 08:30 – 15:00 – for submission. Prime Time Appointments are between 07:00 and 08:00 am
Passport Return 10:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday
What Should You Do Before and During Your Appointment?
- Fill out the online application form
- Schedule your appointment date. Beware of additional costs associated with prime-time appointments and special services.
- Arrive on time. I can’t stress this enough. There is a steep penalty for showing up late.
- Upload ALL your supporting documents online. If you miss even one document, officials will automatically sign you up for the ‘Assisted Service’. Consequently, you will pay an additional fee.
- If you opt for the assisted service option, make sure all your documents are in A4 formats
- Print out the visa supporting documents checklist.
- Go with your passport biodata page
- Remember that the centre only accepts (Nigerian) card payments
- All other documents I went with were not collected but if it makes you feel comfortable, go with them.
UK Visa Application in Nigeria Processing Time
It takes an average of 15-21 working days to get a response for a regular visa. However, this time may vary from one application to the next. Be sure to apply for your visa well ahead of time. You can also pay to get a priority visa in 5 days or 24 hours but be aware that these options could be quite costly.
What Next?
The TLScontact service will send regular emails to keep you updated on the status of the progress of your application. Alternatively, you can track the progress from the UK immigration website.
That’s it for the entire UK visa application process in Nigeria. I hope you find this guide useful. Feel free to share your visa experience with me or ask any questions you might have in the comment section.
Disclaimer: All information presented is correct at the time of writing. They are subject to change without notice. Always confirm travel details and necessary requirements with respective embassies & airlines before you travel.
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Good evening
Please how much is tls premium Lodge??
Hi Elizabeth, it’s currently GBP 89 / NGN 43,500 according to the TLSContact website. You can check the site for more updates.
Hello Amarachi
I’m FAVOUR I just rescheduled my appointment date and paid for only the assisted service fee
I’m I to pay for my courier service again
Note: I’ve paid for this services before amending my appointment date due to I couldn’t make it on the first appointment date
Hi Favour, I don’t believe you need to pay for the courier service again. Do you see anything on the website requesting for this payment again?
Goodafternoon
No I didn’t but the payment was brought up again and my husband paid for everything again, can I get a refund for the first one I paid or would it affect the appointment or affect them sending my passport down to me
Morning, I applied for student visa on 5th July. I opted for assisted service for my documents. My proof of fund has been in my account for 30days before visa application. I did not print my bank statement until yesterday since it is assisted service for August. Pls will the printing date on my bank statement be acceptable since I am printing it after the online application
Yes it will. Many embassies only accept statements that are printed at most 14 days before submission, so yours should be fine as it is within that timeframe and as long as you still have the required POF.
Please I have a situation similar to this.
My proof of funds has been in the accounts for over two months before the day I submitted my visa application in october. I am yet to print out my bank statement. I paid for assisted service for the day of my biometrics which is this November. Can I print out the bank statement a week before my biometrics? If yes can it be printed from the end of September to the first week in November?
Yes, you can print it out a week to submission. As for the duration, it’s best to follow the guidelines from the UK Gov website. At the very least a 3-month bank statement is necessary. If you’re going for your biometrics later in the month and print out your statement up to the first week, ignoring the other weeks/days, I feel that’s a potential red flag. It is best to print it as close as possible to your submission/biometrics date.
PS: This is just my opinion. I’m not a visa expert and ultimately, it is up to the VO to analyze your documents and make their own decisions.
Can I go to UK as a tourist just for 2weeks vacation
Am working in a company and earning good salary . My question is? can’t I visit UK without an invitation letter. Or is a mandatory that there most be an invitation letter.
Yes you can visit on your own as a tourist, without an invitation letter. You would need to provide all the necessary documents to prove your intent. This includes your hotel accommodation, return flight tickets, daily itinerary, etc. The UK application process is fairly strict these days, so leave no stone unturned when preparing your application to improve your chances of getting the visa.
Not sure if this post is still active for comments.
I made an application for visitors visa and paid for priority service “self service”. Although the appointment date has been booked and shows online, I didn’t get any receipt for payment I made for priority. I’m concerned cos how else would I show evidence that I made such payment. It says no where on the tls contact site
Hmm, I also applied for priority when I submitted my application and just looked at my emails for any receipts. I could find two receipts for Self Service appointment – Regular and Prime time appointment, but nothing to show the priority payment I made for the visa processing itself. I assume this is the one you are referring to? My application was indeed processed as priority, so I think this has to be on the UK visa processing end, not TLScontact – which you get the receipts for. I may be wrong though.
Hi, I’m Esther. Can I use a bank statement printed from the bank app for pof? My appointment is Tuesday 25th at Ikeja by 8am. Due to the holiday, I’m not able to get the statement from the bank.
Hi Esther, usually embassies require your bank statements to be stamped by the bank. So you can print it out yourself and take it to get stamped. I don’t know if it’s going to be a problem otherwise, but personally, I would not risk presenting an uncertified bank statement.
Hy Amara, I forgot to upload a particular document, during my self upload, I had to pay about 12k to add it, at TLS Center, within seconds she was done, I am worried if my previously uploaded documents I self uploaded is still intact.hope it won’t be removed…
Hi Makky, I had this same scenario when I applied the last time. Forgot a document and paid 10k to upload it at TLS. I got the visa, so I think the self-uploaded documents remain intact.
I can’t found the self service on my application but all others service are there
Hello Adeniran, I’m not sure why this is the case. Could you try logging out and in again via the Gov.UK site to see if it makes a difference?
Ok thank you but I notice no slot is available in lagos centre
Hi, good morning, i did my biometrics yesterday, i am sure i uploaded all necessary documents, under sponsorship, financial, relations and the others category. The only thing they thicked are my passport and sponsorship column? Pls what happened? I even uploaded my tb certificate too.
Hello, do you mean the guys who collect your doc at the counter ticked only those documents? I think that’s fine, as far as you’re sure you uploaded everything, then you shouldn’t worry too much about it. Also, since you’ve already done your biometrics, I don’t think there’s much else you can do now but wait. Good luck.
Hello,
Please i need a link to apply for UK visiting visa online from Nigeria.
Thanks.
Hello Tope, as mentioned in the article, the site is Gov.UK. Follow the links to the visa type you want to apply for. For a Standard visitor visa, this is the direct link to apply. But it’s important you go through the site for updated requirements and processes.