VFS Global is scaling up its operations across Nigeria in response to mounting pressure on visa application systems, as increasing numbers of Nigerians seek to travel in organised groups and require faster, more accessible processing options.
Siddharth Mehra, the company’s Chief Operating Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the expanded services are designed to ease bottlenecks and improve the applicant experience. “Our mission is to ensure that every traveller’s journey begins smoothly, supported by technology, security, and trust,” he said, adding that VFS Global aims to provide a visa process that is “flexible, accessible, and reliable.”
New Centres and Mobile Services Target Regional Gaps
Visa processing in Nigeria has long been concentrated in Lagos and Abuja, creating challenges for applicants in other regions. The company’s latest expansion introduces a mix of mobile submission options and new Premium Application Centres intended to reduce long travel distances and heavily booked appointment calendars.
The mobile submission service—one of the fastest-growing offerings—enables applicants to complete biometrics and paperwork from their preferred location, from homes and offices to corporate camps. To broaden access, VFS Global has opened premium centres in Enugu, Kano, Ibadan and Port Harcourt, allowing many—especially UK visa applicants—to avoid travel to Nigeria’s main cities.
“Applicants in Enugu, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt can submit applications and biometrics in a premium, hotel-like environment,” the company said, noting additional services such as document-scanning support, real-time application notifications, courier passport return, and options like Keep My Passport While Applying and Prime Time Appointments.
Extended Hours and Support for High-Volume Groups
The company has also rolled out extended-hour appointments—including evenings and weekends—and added form-filling support for applicants needing step-by-step guidance through the submission process.
VFS Global said several Nigerian organisations have recently made large group bookings, combining mobile submissions with premium-centre services to streamline the process for multiple travellers.
Global Footprint Backed by High-Volume Processing
VFS Global, which manages administrative visa procedures for 69 governments, operates more than 3,900 application centres across 165 countries. Since its inception in 2001, the company says it has processed over 514 million applications, positioning it as one of the world’s largest outsourcing and technology partners for visa and consular services.