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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Got a mail that my passport is ready for collection from TLS five days ago. Paid fir courier services. My passport is yet to be delivered. What do I do next
Have you received a tracking number from the Courier company? If not, you could try 1) giving it a few more days to see if you do. 2)going to the centre to pick up yourself – you might lose the amount you paid for the service though. Lastly, as I always say, the Nairaland UK thread is a great place to find out the latest about UK visa applications. Try asking there as well. You might get a more direct response from someone who’s experienced the same thing as you.
Hello and thank you for this informative post. I have a small problem. I have just paid for the self service on TLS, however i am told on the website that I have to enter a username and password before I can proceed with the self-upload. Do you have an idea of that, because I don’t know what username and password I am to use.
Hi Udo, try logging in again to the GOV.UK site. From there, you should be able to access the TLSContact site where you’ll upload your documents.
Thank you for this.
Why is “No Service” on TLSCONTACT, making it difficult to book appointment. Can I go to their centre without appointment?
Thanks.
Hi Olabisi, please see my response to Jeremiah in the comment just below yours regarding appointment booking. Walk-ins are not currently allowed.
Hi there. Please I need your help. I don’t know if you’ve encountered something like this before. I made payment for my NHS and visa fee on Friday afternoon, and I have been trying to book for an appointment date since then, but unfortunately, I have been having so much difficulty in getting a date. The website is so unresponsive. I don’t know if the website is battling with a glitch, I’m not sure. I have tried all the dates this year, I can’t even see or click on anything, it’s unresponsive and I can’t proceed to checkout.
Please what do you advise I do?
Hi Jeremiah, the first thing I’d advise is to change your browser and use a PC if possible. That may take care of the unresponsive page problem. As for the availability of dates, I’m sorry, I don’t have too much insight into that.
Edit: I saw this suggestion by Opeyemi007 on Nairaland: “Choose self-service and remove the flexi appoinment, it should show closer dates”. It might be worth trying.
Thanks so much Amarachi, I opted and paid for assisted service because there were no closer dates for self service but i really want to upload my documents myself. The problem now is that i can’t find option to self upload. I downloaded the edossier app to see if i can upload using it but it requires PIN which i can’t find on my TLS page. Do you have any idea how i can do that?
Hi Sophir, I don’t think you can use the self service option after selecting Assisted Service but I may be wrong. You simply need to go to the application centre with all your documents in colored, A4 format. I’m not sure about the app or PIN. I suggest you ask on Nairaland as well. There’s more updated information in the UK Visa enquiries thread.
Hi Amarachi please I didn’t submit my TB test online as supporting documents. Please can I be allowed to make payment on my interview day so it can be included with my supporting documents.
Hi Anu, just based on my experience at the time I submitted, yes, you can submit it on the day of your biometrics and pay the ‘Assisted Service’ fee. I assume this isn’t a tourist visa? Just wondering why you need the TB test.
Hi,amarachi. Pls I made a mistake of uploading my offer letter dat isn’t signed. I noticed dis after submission. Pls is dia anything I can do so dat I won’t b denied of visa
Hi Noheemot, I don’t think this is a big deal. If you have also uploaded your payslips, introduction letter and any other documents to show proof of employment, it should be fine. If you’re still skeptical, consider asking this question on the Nairaland UK visit visa thread. You’ll get a more direct response/advice there.
Hi, where you able to still submit after going for your biometrics? Because I have same issue as you now.
good morning, does this mean that I should have scanned and printed all the documents on an a4 paper before going to the center?
Yes, you should. There’s also a place to do so within the building but I imagine it will be more expensive than what you would do at home.
Hi all, pls for the assisted service who will upload for me? Is it those business centres at the gate or the officials inside that do checks?
Hi Nimi, it’s the staff inside the TLS centre that do.
Nice info Amara. You did not say much about those who are self employed and the kind of documents that may be required. Please throw more light on this. Thank you.
Hello Amarachi, I have been worried about my application. I noticed that a document was missing from the uploaded self service submission I made so I requested at TLS that the particular document should be added (although it came with a fee which I paid). I’m just wondering if my previous uploaded documents wouldn’t have been taking out.
Hi Lola, this happened to me too. I missed out my bank statements during my self-upload and had to pay for TLS to include it. I got my visa, so I guess it’s safe to say that the self-uploaded documents were still intact and you shouldn’t worry too much about that.
Good morning Amarachi, thanks for this blog. Please I am having a challenge. I intend visiting the UK with my kids. I filled the application form individually on gov.uk and I was linked to TLS contact page. I am a family of 3. I was able to book self-service for myself on 21st October, but I can’t find the same date or time for my kids.what can I do, I just don’t understand this process. I want to use self-service and upload the documents myself, and it is the same docs we are all using. hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Ade, were you able to self-upload the documents for yourself? I assume your appointment/docs should suffice for your kids. I’ll confirm from a friend who recently applied for his family and update this comment when I get a response.
Update: my friend had to submit and pay individually for each child. I think you should call TLS to see if they can help or ask on Nairaland. There’s a lot more update there.
Hi Amarachi. What if someone does not have invitation letter from UK,is there assistance in that?
Hello, Abbey, a letter of invitation is not a compulsory document you need to apply for a UK tourist visa, however, it helps to increase your chances of getting one.
It might help if you write a letter of introduction if no one is inviting you. See the UK website’s guide for documents needed for a standard visitor visa: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa/documents-you-must-provide