VFS Global’s Chief Operating Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, Siddharth Mehra, said the company is expanding its services in Nigeria to ease the growing pressure on visa application systems as more Nigerians travel in organised groups. He explained that the company wants every traveller to begin their journey smoothly, supported by strong technology, security, and trust. He also emphasized that VFS Global is committed to providing a visa application process that remains flexible, accessible, and dependable for everyone.
The expansion responds to the increasing demand for easier and faster visa submissions, especially in states far from Lagos and Abuja, where most visa processing has traditionally taken place. To reduce stress on applicants, VFS Global introduced mobile submission services and opened several Premium Application Centres to help people avoid long-distance travel and crowded appointment slots.
One of the most popular solutions is the mobile visa submission service, which allows applicants to submit their biometrics and documents from any preferred location, including homes, offices, and campgrounds for large groups. To give more Nigerians access to convenient processing, the company also opened Premium Application Centres in Enugu, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt.
These centres allow applicants—especially those seeking UK visas—to complete their biometrics and documentation without travelling to Lagos or Abuja. The company said the new centres operate like comfortable, hotel-style environments where applicants enjoy added services such as document scanning, upload assistance, real-time updates, and optional services like courier passport delivery, Prime Time appointments, and the “Keep My Passport While Applying” option. The goal is to offer speed, privacy, and convenience.
VFS Global also introduced extended appointment hours, including evenings and weekends, and now offers form-filling support for applicants who need help navigating the process. In recent months, several Nigerian organisations have taken advantage of these improvements by booking large group submissions through a mix of mobile services and premium centres.
The company manages administrative visa-processing responsibilities for 69 governments and operates more than 3,900 application centres in 165 countries. Since 2001, VFS Global has processed more than 514 million transactions, a record it says reflects its experience and capacity to support growing travel demands worldwide.
