UK Visa: Easy Steps, Requirements For Nigerian Citizens
What is a UK Visa?
A UK visa is a document that is required if you want to travel to the United Kingdom for education, business, tourism, work or to reside in the country.
Which types of UK visas are available to Nigerian citizens
There are short stay and long stay visas
For short visits, you can get a tourist or visitor’s visa. They include:
Marriage visitor visa
Permitted paid engagement visa
Short-term study visa
Parent of a Tier 4 child visa
Standard visitor visa ( This is the visa you will need to apply as a tourist)
For visits that will last an extended period, you can get a long term visa.
Long term visas
Government officials get diplomatic visas.
Those intending to study get student visas that are issued for up to three years.
There are three types of student visas.
Tier 4 (Child) student visa for students between 4 and 17 years old who want to study in independent UK schools.
Tier 4 (General) student visa for students over 16 years old who want to study in the UK.
Short-term study visa for students who want to study in the UK for less than six months
What are the standard UK visa requirements?
Across all UK visa types, to get a UK visa and you are a Nigerian, you will generally be expected to provided a combination, or all of the following documents:
A valid ECOWAS travel passport
A UK visa form that is filled online
A recent passport sized colored photograph on a white background. It should be 45mm x 35mm wide.
The required visa fee
If you are not a Nigerian national, you must have evidence of permission to be in the country. You can use a green card, residence permit and other things.
A copy of the passport data page
Letter of invitation
Financial proof through a recent original bank statement
Original marriage certificate for those traveling with their spouses
Parents traveling with children should have original copies of the birth certificates.
Recent utility bills
Details of hotel bookings and flight bookings
Applicants traveling for business purposes should attach the following documents to their application.
Letter of invitation
Full details of the authorized company representative
Physical address
Company phone numbers
UK visa application process from Nigeria?
UK visa applicants from Nigeria should follow this simple process when applying for a visa,
- Fill the application form online
You can apply for the visa at the Teleperformance UK application centers located in Lagos and Abuja. The company works in conjunction with the UK government for immigration and visas. Once the required documents are provided, filling the form is an easy process.
- Pay the fee for the type of visa you want
After filling the form, you can go to the UK immigration and visa website and find out the type of visa you want to apply for. The fees for different visas vary and visiting the website will make you know of the application fee needed.
After paying your visa application fees, your fingerprints and photo will be done at the application center, and your visa fee will not be refundable.
- Book an appointment
After filling the form and paying the fee, you will be given GWF number that you will use later. You will receive confirmation of the date of your hearing through an email. The email will also contain information on the location, and documents required for the appointment.
After booking an appointment with the UK visa application center, you will need to register your details on the Teleperformance website. Lack of registration will deny you access to attend the appointment. The performance of your application can be tracked on the website.
- Go for the appointment
On the given date, you attend the appointment at the UK visa application center. You should not be late for the appointment since it might cause delays that will lead to you having to rebook the appointment. Your bio-metrics will be taken on the day of your submission.
You should bring the following:
Your passport
The required documents
Printed copies of the online visa application form and appointment confirmation
When can you submit your application?
Applicants can submit their complete application form, requirements and ECOWAS passports on weekdays from 8.30 in the morning to 4.30 p.m without including public holidays.
UK visa Nigeria processing time: How long does the visa application processing take?
The visa application processing normally takes four to six days. However, it can take longer if you have a history of rejection or crime. There is also a premium same day service that costs a whole lot more.
What happens during the collection process?
Documents can be collected on weekdays from 10.00 a.m to 4.00 p.m with the exception of public holidays.
You will receive a mobile text message informing you that your application has been sent to the UK embassy when it gets submitted. Once your passport arrives back to the application center, you will be alerted and can plan when to pick your documents.
On your collection day, you should come with your application checklist, photocopy of the biodata page of your passport and original photographic identification.
Third parties are not allowed to collect documents on behalf of applicants with the exception of:
Government representatives
Parents collecting for their children
Or if a family applied together and you have been asked to collect the documents on their behalf.
Why are visa applications rejected?
In case your visa application is refused after completion, you will receive a letter of refusal indicating the reason the application was rejected. Visa applications are rejected for various reasons. The application might be refused under the UK immigration management system known as the points-based system. These include:
Submitting fraudulent documentation
If the applicant has received a deportation order
If the applicant was found guilty of a crime that will warrant jail time for four years or more.
Withholding documentation of a criminal background
Lack of enough funds
Overstaying the visit or submission of falsified documents on previous trips to the United Kingdom.
If you did not comply with all the application requirements
Lack of a valid passport or valid travel documents
If the consulate does do not find a reason for your visit to the United Kingdom.
What happens after the visa application has been rejected?
If a visa application is rejected under the points-based system, the applicant can only apply for an administrative review.
The rejection letter specifies if the applicant can appeal the decision. If no reason is specified, a fresh application will have to be made.
How long does the visa appeal process take?
The whole appeal process takes approximately 12 weeks beginning from the submission of the appeal to the hearing and final decision
What is the visa appeal process?
An applicant can appeal by taking the following steps.
First, the applicant needs to complete the appeal form/ IAFT-2 form to appeal the reason to refuse the visa application.
Once the application form is completed and signed, it should be submitted to the First-Tier Tribunal that is an Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
Once you submit the documents to the chamber, you will get a receipt on what the documents being received. The documents submitted will be forwarded to the relevant authorities, and the review will begin.
The original decision will be upheld or overturned, and the applicant will receive communication on the decision.
A hearing for the applicant will be arranged, and the applicant will be informed at the hearing. A judge will review the documents, and a decision will be made within ten days from the hearing date.
If the appeal is for the applicant, the visa officer will communicate and finish the application process.
If the application is still rejected after the appeal, the applicant will have to file a new application.
How can an applicant re-apply after the previous application was rejected?
An applicant can re-apply for a new visa after the first one was rejected or immediately after the appeal process. However, when applying, care should be taken to ensure the form is filled correctly and relevant information has been included to avoid the application from being rejected again.
When can you ask for a visa administration review if you are not in the UK?
You can get an administrative review if:
You are not in the UK
You applied outside the United Kingdom
Your application was rejected on or after April 6, 2015
You do not have the right to appeal
You did not make an application as a short term student or visitor
How do you apply for an administrative review?
If you want to apply for an administrative review, you need to do it within 28 days of receiving the decision.
The application form will either be with the refusal letter, or you might be asked to download the form. You must indicate the reasons for refusal and why you believe it was a mistake in the form.
The completed form should be sent using the method indicated in the refusal letter. While the decision is being reviewed, you are not supposed to send new information unless it is expressly requested.
How long does the administrative review take?
An administrative review takes 28 days. However, once the review is completed, you cannot request a second review unless new results are indicated in the results of the first review.
When can the administrative review be withdrawn?
A request for an administrative review can be withdrawn if any other immigration or visa application is made.
If you request for a review of a decision that was made, the application will be withdrawn.
You can request for withdrawal by writing a letter and giving all your details.
What are visa and immigration reconsideration requests?
If you made your visa application while in the UK, you could ask for a review of the application decision. The review is a reconsideration request.
How do you make a reconsideration request?
When making a request, you need to do it within 14 days after getting the application results. You are only allowed to make one reconsideration request.
A reconsideration request is made by following a simple procedure:
Write a letter that gives an explanation why you believe the decision made was wrong.
Check the policy you applied under and look for the right rules and policies.
Send the request to the team that made the original decision on the application. Send the application to the address that was on the letter
When can a reconsideration request be made?
You can make the request if you believe the decision was made without following the proper rules and policies. However, you must be in the UK when making the request.
You can make a consideration request if you applied to:
Get a transfer of conditions where you want to transfer your visa to be a biometric residence permit.
Transfer your leave to remain as a biometric residence permit known as ‘no time limit.’
Switch your visa, extend your leave, or settle in the UK
You can make a request if your application was successful but you think the expiry date is wrong.
You can make a request if:
There is new evidence about the application date
There is new evidence showing your documents were authentic
There is evidence that the information received by the UK visa and immigration counsel was not available to the team who took part in making the decision.
When can’t you make a reconsideration request?
You cannot make the request if you have the option of an administrative review or right to appeal.
The decision letter will inform you of the options you have and if you are eligible for a reconsideration request.
When can a reconsideration request be rejected?
The request will be rejected if:
You make a new visa application before or after you send the request
You have been given permission to move to another visa category
You left the UK, and your permission already expired
You were deported from the UK
You have exhausted your appeal rights
You lost your case in a previous judicial review.
