VFS Global Expands Visa Services

The Chief Operating Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, Siddharth Mehra, said the company’s expanding services in Nigeria are part of efforts to manage the increasing pressure on visa application systems as more Nigerians travel in organised groups.

“Our mission is to ensure that every traveller’s journey begins smoothly, supported by technology, security, and trust,” he said in a statement issued by the company on Sunday. He added that VFS Global aims to provide a visa application experience that is “flexible, accessible, and reliable.”

The expansion comes amid rising demand for easier and faster visa submissions, particularly in regions far from Lagos and Abuja, where visa processing has historically been concentrated.

According to the statement, VFS Global has introduced mobile submission options and opened new Premium Application Centres as alternatives for applicants seeking to avoid long travel distances and congested appointment schedules.

Among the most widely used services is the mobile visa submission system, which allows applicants to complete biometrics and paperwork from any chosen location, including homes, offices, and team camps. To widen access, VFS Global also opened Premium Application Centres in Enugu, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt.

According to the statement, the centres allow applicants, particularly those applying for UK visas, to submit documents and biometrics without having to travel to Lagos or Abuja.

“VFS Global’s Premium Application Centres, now operational alongside our regular centres in Abuja and Lagos, bring the UK visa application experience closer to home.

“Applicants in Enugu, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt can submit applications and biometrics in a premium, hotel-like environment with added services such as document scanning and upload support, real-time notifications, courier return of passports with optional services like Keep My Passport While Applying and Prime Time Appointments. These centres ensure comfort, privacy, and speed,” the statement noted.

The company has also introduced extended-hours appointments, including evenings and weekends, along with form-filling support for applicants who require guidance through the process.

According to VFS Global, several Nigerian organisations have made large group bookings in recent months, using a combination of mobile submissions and premium centre services.

VFS Global manages administrative visa-processing tasks for 69 governments and operates more than 3,900 application centres across 165 countries. The company added that it has efficiently processed more than 514 million transactions since 2001.