Nigeria is the fourth-largest source of UK visa applications on earth — and the system processing them changed almost completely in the last two years. VFS Global replaced TLScontact as the sole operator in November 2024 (if a guide mentions TLS, it’s outdated), the Ikeja centre in Lagos is now Africa’s largest UK visa application centre, and fees rose again on April 8, 2026: £135 for the six-month visitor visa. The UK decides Nigerian applications entirely on paper — no interview — which makes your file the whole argument. Here’s the 2026 process, the TB-test rule that catches first-timers, and the two failure patterns behind most Nigerian refusals.
Fees verified against the UK Home Office schedule effective April 8, 2026; centre details verified against current reporting. Rules change — gov.uk is authoritative. Not legal advice.
Fees and Where to Apply
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | £135 — long-term options: £506 (2 yrs), £903 (5 yrs), £1,128 (10 yrs) |
| Student visa | About £558 since April 2026, plus the £776/year Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Processing | ~3 weeks standard · Priority 5 working days (+£500) · Super Priority next day (+£1,000) |
| Where | Apply online at gov.uk, then biometrics at VFS Global: Lagos-Ikeja (free appointment), Lagos-Victoria Island, Lagos-Lekki, Abuja — plus premium centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt (+£150) |
The TB Test: The Step First-Timers Miss
Applying for anything longer than six months — student, work, or spouse routes — requires a tuberculosis test at a Home Office-approved IOM clinic (Lagos, Abuja, or Benin City; roughly $95 for adults, $46 for children under 11). Results take a day or two, and the certificate is valid for six months — so don’t test too early, or delays elsewhere in your file can force a repeat. The standard six-month visitor visa does not need one.
Where Nigerian Applications Are Won and Lost
UKVI applies the genuine visitor requirement — “will this person leave when their stay ends?” — and Nigerian refusals cluster around two answers it doesn’t like:
- Financial evidence that doesn’t tell a story. Six months of bank statements, stamped by your bank, showing consistent income that matches your declared life. There’s no official minimum balance — a coherent salary history beats a big number — but the classic killer is the large deposit landing weeks before the application. Caseworkers are trained on exactly that pattern, and it reads as misrepresentation, not wealth. If family fund the trip, declare the sponsor openly with their own statements and proof of relationship.
- Ties to Nigeria that exist but aren’t documented. Employer letter with salary, approved leave, and a return date; CAC registration and tax clearance if self-employed; property documents (C of O, deed); children’s school enrolment; a spouse’s employment. The officer can only weigh what’s in the file — evidence you didn’t submit doesn’t exist.
The same logic runs the US process (when categories reopen) and Canada’s paper review — build the ties file once, use it everywhere.
If You’re Refused
The refusal letter states specific reasons — treat it as your instruction manual. There’s no appeal for visitor refusals (administrative review exists only for rare procedural errors, within 28 days, no new documents), and the refusal is recorded electronically and declared on every future application, forever. You may reapply immediately, but with unchanged documents you’ll get an unchanged answer: take four to eight weeks, fix the exact gaps named, address the refusal explicitly in a cover letter, and resubmit. Industry trackers put Nigerian visitor approvals around two in three — the difference between the halves is almost always evidence quality, not eligibility.
Students and Workers, Briefly
- Students: CAS from your university, the ~£558 fee + IHS, maintenance funds held 28 days, TB certificate — and note many Nigerian degree holders qualify for an English-requirement exemption via an Ecctis letter instead of IELTS (confirm with your university). Since 2024, taught-master’s students cannot bring dependants — the change that hit Nigerian applicants hardest.
- Workers: sponsorship from a licence-holding employer is everything — verify any offer against the UK’s public register of licensed sponsors before believing it. Health professionals should read our nursing-abroad registrar map; the qualified-nurse route is open, while the entry-level care-worker route closed in 2025.
Whatever the route, your Nigerian passport needs validity for the whole journey — renew first if it’s tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a UK visa from Nigeria in 2026?
£135 for the six-month Standard Visitor visa since April 8, 2026 (about ₦255,000 at current rates, plus any service fees). Long-term visitor options run £506–£1,128; students pay about £558 plus the health surcharge.
Where do I do UK visa biometrics in Nigeria?
At VFS Global centres — Lagos (Ikeja, Victoria Island, Lekki) and Abuja, with premium centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt. VFS replaced TLScontact in November 2024; Ikeja’s appointment is free.
Do I need a TB test for a UK visa?
Only for stays over six months (student, work, spouse routes) — at IOM clinics in Lagos, Abuja, or Benin City, ~$95, valid six months. Standard visitors don’t need one.
How long does a UK visa take in Nigeria?
About 3 weeks standard after biometrics; Priority (5 working days) costs £500 extra and Super Priority (next day) £1,000 — speed only, no effect on the decision.
How much bank balance do I need?
There’s no official figure — officers weigh six months of consistent, stamped statements against your trip’s cost. A sustained modest balance with clear income beats a suddenly inflated one every time.
Can I appeal a UK visitor visa refusal?
Effectively no — visitor refusals carry no appeal right. The remedy is a stronger reapplication that explicitly addresses each reason in the refusal letter, which you must declare on all future applications.
Sources
- UK Home Office — fees from April 8, 2026
- GOV.UK — Standard Visitor visa
- GOV.UK — TB tests for UK visas
Disclaimer: General information verified as of August 2, 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Fees and rules change — gov.uk is the final word.
