The United Kingdom has expanded its visa services in Nigeria with the opening of new Premium Visa Application Centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt, providing greater convenience for prospective travellers in the South-East and South-South regions.
Announced on Monday by the UK Home Office, the centres—located at Omedel Luxury Hotel in Enugu and Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt—are operated by VFS Global and are aimed at accommodating growing demand, particularly ahead of the busy summer travel season.
Appointments for the new centres can be booked online through the VFS Global website.
These new facilities join existing UK Visa Application Centres in Abuja and two locations in Lagos (Ikeja and Victoria Island), which have been serving Nigerian applicants since November 2024.
The UK remains a popular destination for Nigerian travellers, with Nigeria ranking among the top four countries for UK visit visa applications, contributing approximately six percent of total global applications.
UK Minister of State at the Home Office, Rt. Hon. Lord Hanson, highlighted the significance of the new centres, stating, “In 2024, we received over 230,000 visa applications from Nigerians across all categories. These new centres reflect our commitment to enhancing access and strengthening the UK–Nigeria relationship.”
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, said the expansion will make the visa process more accessible. “These premium centres will offer the same high-quality service as our facilities in Abuja and Lagos, ensuring convenience and efficiency for travellers.”
Applicants using the Premium Centres will have access to enhanced services, including assistance with document uploads, real-time application updates, courier return of documents, and the option to retain their passports during processing.
VFS Global, a key partner of UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, manages UK visa services in 142 countries and operates over 3,500 centres worldwide. The company has handled more than 309 million applications since its inception in 2001.
