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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@Amarachi, good day.
Pls my biometric is tomorrow, I picked self service, my documents are yet to be uploaded, whenever I login to the email to upload my documents, there’s a security question going to the phone of my agent, which he needs to confirm on his phone so that I can have access to the email. But my agent is nowhere to be found since 3days back, am unable to upload my documents and we have no access to track my wife application also because she went for biometric first.
Pls what can I do to get things done pls, what are the other alternatives to upload my documents and to track the application ?
Thanks, looking forward to your response.
Hi Adeoye, to upload your document, you may have to “upgrade” to the assisted service when you go for your biometrics. You will be charged for this but it seems like your best bet. In the meantime, you can still try to continue reaching out to your agent, and maybe checking to see if you can reset your password and security info since you have access to the email.
This is a messy situation for sure and a good reason to always take care of your applications by yourself.
Hi good afternoon,
I submitted my biometrics since May 2023 and till now my tracking still says your application transferred to VAC.
Any direct email address to tlscontact.com
Thanks,
Lee
Hi Lee, I’m not sure about TLScontact’s email but you should probably send a paid mail to UKVI to get the updated status or at least be informed of the cause of the delay.
please need urgent response if possible. I’m trying to book tls biometrics but the available time I see is the 9.20 10.20 etc they wrote on the top as “appointment hours are reserved for Super Priority Visa applications.” cant I choose the time frame as its available. will it affect my application
I don’t think I understand your question clearly. It seems the only time slots available currently are reserved for the stated category. If you meet the requirement for this category and have paid the extra fees, then you may go ahead and book them. Otherwise you will need to search for other timeslots that are available.
Work visa application is three months already without any update from TLC. What’s happening?
Have you tried sending them an email to get the updated status?
Omission of Hotel Booking
Hello Amarachi
I came for my biometric capturing yesterday being 29/8/2023.
On my way home I discovered that my hotel booking was not included in the documents submitted for scanning.
Please how can I go about this please.
Thank you.
Hello Akanbi, the best thing you can do in this scenario is probably to send a paid email to the UK Gov office.
Maybe if you’re lucky and other parts of your application are strong, they could also request this missing document.
Okay. Thank you very much sir.
Applied for my visa, and got a mail, saying the processing of my application has not been straightforward . Pls wat does ds implies
I’ve seen a few people talk about this. I believe it just means they need more time to process your application and informing you in advance in case the processing time is longer than stated.
Hi Amarachi, just saying thank you for this article. It was very helpful to me and so easy to read. Keep going!
Hi Seun, thanks for visiting my blog and I’m glad to hear that the article was helpful to you!