The visa centres, operated by VFS Global, are situated at Omedel Luxury Hotel in Enugu and Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt. These additions are expected to improve convenience for applicants in the Southeast and South-South regions of the country, especially as travel demand increases during the summer season.
Onyinye Madu, a representative of the British High Commission Communications Office, confirmed that the new centres are now fully operational and accepting appointments via the VFS Global website. She emphasized that these centres complement the already existing facilities in Abuja, Ikeja, and Victoria Island, Lagos.
“The UK remains one of the most popular travel destinations for Africans, with Nigerian nationals among the top four in volume for visit visa applications, making up six percent of the global total,” Madu noted.
UK Minister of State at the Home Office, Lord David Hanson, underscored the strategic importance of the new centres. “We received over 230,000 visa applications from Nigeria in 2024 alone. The reopening of these Premium Visa Application Centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt not only brings the service closer to our applicants but also reflects the importance of the UK-Nigeria relationship,” he said.
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, highlighted the enhanced user experience at the new centres. “Applicants will benefit from the same world-class service we offer in Lagos and Abuja. With these additional locations, we can now serve a wider audience more efficiently,” he stated.
In addition to standard application services, the centres offer several value-added options including document upload assistance, status notifications, and courier delivery of documents. Applicants may also choose the "Keep My Passport While Applying" service, allowing them to retain their passports while a decision on their visa is being processed.
VFS Global, which has partnered with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, significantly expanded its global reach in 2023 after securing a contract to manage UK visa services in 142 countries, up from 58.
With these latest developments, the UK government reinforces its commitment to making travel more accessible for Nigerian citizens while strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between both nations.