Quick facts
Visa needed?
Yes
Standard Visitor Visa
Visa fee
£135
Rose from £127 in Apr 2026
Processing time
~3 weeks
Priority (~5 days) adds ~£500
Max stay
6 months
Per visit
Long-term options
2, 5, 10 yrs
£475 / £903 / £1,128
TB test
Required
From UK-approved clinic in Nigeria
Your application checklist
Core documents
✓
Passport valid 6+ months with 2+ blank pages
Must be in good condition — no damage that could void it. Include old passports if you have prior travel history.
✓
TB test certificate from a UK-approved clinic
Required for Nigerian applicants. Book at an approved clinic in Lagos, Abuja, or another approved location — check the current list on GOV.UK before booking.
✓
6 months of bank statements — steady, not spiked
A consistent balance matters more than a large one. A sudden deposit right before applying is one of the top refusal triggers — build your balance gradually over months, not days.
✓
Employment letter or business evidence
Employed: letter confirming role, salary, and approved leave dates. Self-employed: CAC registration and financial records. This is your strongest evidence you'll return to Nigeria.
✓
Accommodation proof & travel itinerary
Hotel booking, or an invitation letter if staying with family/friends (include their UK immigration status). Keep the itinerary realistic and specific.
✓
Onward or return flight booking
Proof you intend to leave the UK after your visit — strengthens your genuine visitor case significantly.
Before you fly
✓
Travel insurance
NHS treatment isn't free for visitors. Insurance also strengthens your visa application by showing responsible planning.
✓
Carry supporting documents in hand luggage
Border Force can ask for accommodation details, return ticket, and funds evidence — keep them accessible, not checked in.
✓
Money that works in pounds
Naira exchange rates fluctuate — a multi-currency card avoids repeated conversion losses during your trip.
On arrival
✓
Answers must match your application exactly
Purpose, duration, accommodation — any contradiction with your visa application can mean refused entry even with a valid visa.
✓
Never overstay
Overstaying damages every future UK application and can trigger re-entry bans. Leave before your visa expires, no exceptions.
How to apply — step by step
01
Apply online at GOV.UK
Complete the application at gov.uk — travel plans, finances, employment, background. Pay the £135 fee online in USD via the VFS Global portal. Apply up to 3 months before travel.
02
Book your TB test
Must be from a UK Home Office-approved clinic in Nigeria. Do this early — appointment slots and result processing both take time, and an expired test means reapplying.
03
Book your VFS Global biometrics appointment
Centres in Lagos and Abuja. Bring every supporting document, organised and consistent. VFS service charges apply separately from the visa fee.
04
Wait for your decision (~3 weeks)
Priority service (~5 working days) available for roughly £500 extra. Your decision arrives as an eVisa linked digitally to your passport — the UK fully moved to eVisas in February 2026, no more paper vignettes.
Why Nigerian applications get refused
Sudden large deposits. A big lump sum appearing in your account days before applying reads as borrowed "show money." Caseworkers check statement patterns over months, not just the final balance.
Weak ties to Nigeria. No stable job, no property, no family obligations documented — caseworkers need concrete reasons to believe you'll return, not just a promise.
Inconsistent documentation. Your form says "tourism," your invitation letter says "helping with family business" — contradictions between documents are one of the fastest routes to refusal.
Reapplying without addressing the refusal. If you were refused before, your new application needs to directly show what's changed — simply reapplying with the same weak evidence repeats the outcome.
Expired or missing TB test. A lapsed or forgotten TB certificate is an easy, entirely avoidable rejection reason. Book it as your first step, not your last.
Smart traveller essentials
Travel insurance that strengthens your application
NHS treatment isn't free for visitors, and showing insurance in your application demonstrates responsible planning to caseworkers.
Compare travel insurance →
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Spend in pounds without repeated conversion loss
A multi-currency card converts naira to GBP at the real rate — Nigerian bank cards typically add significant mark-up on every UK transaction.
Get a Wise card →
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UK data from the moment you land
Skip airport SIM queues — an eSIM installed in Nigeria activates automatically when you arrive in the UK.
Browse UK eSIMs →
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Official sources
This checklist is compiled from
- → GOV.UK — Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor
- → GOV.UK — Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
- → VFS Global — UK visa application centres in Nigeria
- → GOV.UK — TB testing for a UK visa
✓ Last verified: July 2026 · The visitor visa fee rose in April 2026 — always confirm the current fee on GOV.UK