Apply for a UK Visa in Nigeria

Read the 2023 updated UK visa post here

Very rarely would you see a Nigerian willing to travel to UK for anything asides school, work etc. Why? The value of the pound sterling to the Naira can be daunting. Lol. Just in case this doesn’t bother you, then here’s what you need to know to apply for a UK visa in Nigeria.

The United Kingdom is made up of countries like Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. All tourist visas to United Kingdom must be applied in person at the nearest Embassy of United Kingdom .

Who Needs a UK Visa?

Citizens of the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Commonwealth countries are not required to apply a UK visa prior to entering the UK. Nigerians NEED a visa though.

See countries that need a UK Visa

Types of UK Visa

There are different reasons why people want to apply for a UK visa in Nigeria, that is why the United Kingdom has an organized visa system based on the purpose of visitor under multiple visa types.

Here are the UK visa types:

• Work & Business Visas.
• Study Visas.
• Visitor Visas.
• Family Visas.
• Settlement Visas.
• Transit Visas.

1. Work & Business Visas:

Available for those who want to live and work in the UK for a short time. Has various categories and sub categories.

Work & Business Visa Categories

• Highly qualified foreigners:
  • Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa: This visa is for exceptionally talented foreign persons who want to work in the UK and they are internationally distinguished as eminent figures in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology, or have the potential to become global leaders of their respective field, in the future. They must not be from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. APPLICATION FEE IS £293 FOR MOST APPLICANTS AND £595 FOR DEPENDENTS.
    Find out in full how to apply for a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa here
  • Tier 1 (Investor) Visa: This visa is for foreigners who are not from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, and want to make big investments in the UK. To apply for a Tier 1 Investor Visa one will have to pay £1,561 either if applying from out or within the UK.
  • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa: This visa is based on the British Point Based System, that is issued to international businesspersons who want to invest £50,000 to £200,000 in the UK. It  is given for three years and four months.
  • Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa: This Visa is a business visa issued for one year to residents of overseas countries who are graduates that have been officially endorsed as having a credible and genuine business idea to come to the UK to live and establish their business. You must however, not be a doctor, dentist nor take money from the UK.
• Skilled foreign workers with a job offer in a shortage area
  • Tier 2 (General) Visa: To apply for this visa you must have a job offer in the UK and provide a certificate of sponsorship issued by the employer. As a holder of Tier 2 General Visa, you will be permitted to travel outside the UK while on this visa and also to bring dependents to the UK.
  • Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Visa: This is a UK work visa for skilled workers of a multinational company in a foreign country, with minimum 1 year work-experience in such company, expecting to get transferred in a job in the UK branch.
  • Tier 2 (Sportsperson) Visa: This visa is for recognized sportspeople who are not from the EEA or Switzerland to go to the UK.
  • Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) Visa: For people coming to the UK for a full-time job offer in a religious organization, as a minister of religion, missionary, or as a member of a religious order. The job you’re expecting to fill, must not be such that could be filled by the UK/EEA workforce. Your sponsor must have hunted for local workers by advertising the job for at least 28 days within 6 months right before having issued you the offer.
• Youth mobility and temporary foreign workers
  • Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Visa: The Tier 5 Temporary Worker visa is a visa that is issued for employment in the UK. This visa has 5 SUB CATEGORIES TOO. The Charity Worker visa –  for candidates who want to get an unpaid charity job in the UK; Creative and Sporting visa – for candidates who want to get a job or to perform as sportspersons, entertainers or creative artist; Government Authorized Exchange visa, International Agreement visa and Religious Worker visa . The fee is £235.
  • Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) Visa: meant for citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea and Taiwan, or British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories citizen or a British national of ages 18 to 30, who want to come to the UK to work and live temporarily.
• Other

 

Documents required to apply for a UK visa in Nigeria

The following is the list of documents that you should have to apply for a UK Visa in Nigeria:

1. A United Kingdom application form.
2. Original, signed Nigeria passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity.
3. An original receipt of the UK visa application payment.
4. Passport Photo: 2 Include a passport style photo, with a white background, taken within the last 6 months.
5. Copies of bank statements from the past 3 months.
6. Employment Letter. A letter from your employer/school (on business letterhead, with contact details), stating that a leave of absence has been granted and that you will be returning to your current job. If you are self-employed, include a copy of your business license and tax return. If you are retired please submit proof of your retirement fund.
7. Personal Invitation. If visiting friends or family, you must provide letter of invitation with the contact information of the host and visitor, purpose and duration of the visit, confirmation of accommodation including the address, signature and date. You will also need to provide proof of the host’s status in United Kingdom ie. copy of their United Kingdom passport’s information page, or, if they are not a citizen of United Kingdom, copies of their United Kingdom residence permit and their national passport’s information pages.
8. Travel itinerary (for tourist visa applicants)

Hope this helps you when you want to apply for a UK visa in Nigeria.

xoxo

See how to get a US visa