The British government collected over $40 million from processing more than 225,000 UK visa applications from Nigerians between June 2023 and June 2024, according to official figures. Despite this significant revenue, rejection rates for Nigerian applications have surged, fuelling dissatisfaction and shifting interest towards alternatives like the United States the Nigerian Sun newspaper reported.
During the launch of Africa’s largest UK visa application centre in Lagos, Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration, revealed the figures. ‘In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories,’ Owen stated. The move to expand visa services in Lagos, he said, underscores the UK’s commitment to improving accessibility and efficiency for applicants.
A breakdown of visa categories shows significant costs for applicants. For example:
- Short-term visas (up to six months): $150
- Two-year visas: $565
- Five-year visas: $1,009
- Ten-year visas: $1,260
- Student visas (6–11 months): $262
With an exchange rate of ₦1,700 to $1, and using the student visa fee as a baseline for half of the applications (112,500) and the short-term visa fee for the other half, total revenue exceeds ₦68bn (over $40 million). Notably, UK visa fees are non-refundable, even for rejected applications.
Spike in Rejections for Nigerian applicants
Despite contributing significantly to the UK’s visa revenue, Nigerians have faced mounting visa rejection rates. Between Q4 2022 and Q4 2023, rejection rates rose sharply, with one in eight applications declined in the latter period—compared to just one in 31 the year before.
Nigeria was among the top five countries with the highest rejection rates in the second half of 2023. Stricter UK immigration policies, including changes to dependent visas and graduate post-study work visas, are likely contributing factors.
Other countries, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, also reported high rejection rates, but Nigeria’s figures remain particularly stark.
Nigerians look to the US for educational opportunities
Frustrated by the hurdles of UK visa applications, many Nigerians are turning to the United States for higher education. In the 2023/2024 academic year, Nigeria ranked as the seventh-largest source of international students globally and the largest in Africa, with over 20,000 Nigerians enrolled in US institutions—a 13.5 per cent increase from the previous year.
Balancing revenue and policy
The UK’s visa policies appear to prioritise revenue generation while tightening immigration rules, especially for applicants from high-rejection countries like Nigeria. These policies risk alienating prospective students and professionals who are critical contributors to the UK’s international community.
As Nigerian applicants increasingly explore opportunities elsewhere, particularly in the US, the UK may need to reassess its approach to balancing economic gains with its immigration stance to maintain its appeal as a destination for Nigerians.
Credit: Sun newspaper
