New UK Visa Centres Open in Enugu and Port Harcourt

 

Just in time for the bustling summer travel season, the British High Commission has launched two new UK Visa Application Centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt, offering much-needed relief to Nigerian travellers tired of long trips to Lagos or Abuja for visa processing.

In a statement released in Abuja, officials said the new facilities are designed to bring visa services closer to home, particularly for residents in Enugu and Rivers States. These centres will enable applicants to submit their documents and complete biometric enrolment without the stress of long-distance travel.

The expansion is powered by VFS Global, the trusted UK visa services provider, and comes in response to the surge in demand for UK visas from Nigeria. According to Lord David Hanson, UK Minister of State for the Home Office, over 230,000 visa applications were submitted by Nigerian nationals across various categories in 2024 alone.

“These new centres not only improve convenience but also underline the strength of the UK–Nigeria relationship,” Hanson noted.

VFS Global’s Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Alok Singhal, emphasized that the new locations will uphold the same high standards as their Lagos and Abuja counterparts.

“We’re excited to extend our reach with these strategically placed centres, allowing more Nigerians to access our premium services with ease,” he said.

Travellers applying through the new centres can enjoy value-added services such as: Document upload assistance, Real-time tracking of application status, Courier return of processed documents. The “Keep My Passport” service — ideal for applicants who need to travel during processing.

This development is part of a wider global expansion by VFS Global, which began working with UK Visas and Immigration in 2003 and now operates in over 140 countries worldwide following a major contract renewal in 2023.