Great news for UK visa applicants in Nigeria’s south! The British High Commission has officially reopened its visa application centres in Port Harcourt and Enugu, making the process more accessible to residents in these regions. The announcement was made by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Regional Director, Marc Baxter.
Both centres will resume operations at their previous locations:
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Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt
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Omidal Luxury Hotel, Enugu
Expanded Services to Improve Convenience
In addition to their reopening, these centres will now offer additional services to make visa processing easier:
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Keep My Passport: Hold on to your passport while your visa application is being processed.
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Document Upload Support
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Real-time Status Updates
This means applicants no longer have to surrender their passports while waiting for a decision—offering more freedom for local or regional travel during the processing period.
Planning Ahead is Key
Baxter encouraged applicants to begin planning well in advance, particularly if intending to travel during peak periods. Applications can be submitted up to three months before the intended travel date.
“If you’re planning to travel to the UK in the coming months—whether for work, study, tourism, or to visit friends and family—please start planning now,” Baxter advised.
He also emphasized the importance of submitting complete applications with all required documents ready.
Context and Transition to VFS Global
As of January 2025, all UK visa application services in Nigeria are now managed by VFS Global, following the exit of TLScontact. This shift is part of a wider global migration affecting 31 African countries.
Existing UK visa application centres are now located in:
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Abuja – Churchgate Plaza, Central Business District
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Lagos (Ikeja) – Ile Oja Opebi Mall
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Lagos (VI) – Churchgate Plaza, Victoria Island
These additional centres in Port Harcourt and Enugu will ease the burden on applicants who previously had to travel to Lagos or Abuja.
Fast Facts
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Nigerians made up 10% of all new UK visas issued in the past two years.
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VFS Global manages all UK visa applications in Nigeria.
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More regional centres may be opened based on application volumes.
This move reflects the UK’s continued commitment to supporting legitimate travel and simplifying access to its visa services across Nigeria.