AS of October 22 2024, residents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles can now access newly launched Visa Application Centres (VACs) by VFS Global, bringing a streamlined approach to UK visa applications. The centres, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, offer residents an easier and more efficient visa submission process, coupled with an array of optional services designed to add flexibility and convenience.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has partnered with VFS Global to manage these centres, allowing applicants to schedule their appointments through VFS’s platform. Marc Owen, Director for Visa, Status and Information Services at UKVI, remarked on the development, saying, ‘The opening of our new Visa Application Centres marks an exciting milestone in providing a world-class UK visa service. We’re committed to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient, and meet the needs of all applicants.’
Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, echoed this sentiment, stating, ‘We are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration across Sub-Saharan Africa. This long-standing partnership, which began in 2003, now allows us to extend our best-in-class services to travellers from these African countries.’
Beyond standard application processing, VFS Global’s new VACs offer several optional services to streamline the visa process. These include assistance with document uploads, a Prime Time service for appointments outside standard business hours, SMS notifications, document checking, and courier delivery of passports following visa decisions. These services, available for an additional fee, aim to make the visa process more manageable for applicants with specific needs.
For residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Madagascar, and Mauritius, VFS Global offers a ‘Keep My Passport While Applying’ service. This option allows applicants to retain their passports after submitting their biometric information, only needing to resubmit them when a decision is reached.
All optional services are available for booking either online at VFS Global’s website or at the Visa Application Centre on the day of the appointment. Importantly, these services do not affect the processing timeline or outcome of applications, ensuring fair treatment across all applicants.
This development is part of a broader initiative by VFS Global, which has extended its services to 142 countries, including 31 nations in Africa. The contract, awarded by UKVI, reinforces the UK’s commitment to making visa services accessible globally, particularly in regions with a high volume of applicants.
Having provided visa services for UKVI since 2003, VFS Global initially served 58 countries. This latest contract highlights the evolving relationship between the UK and African nations, simplifying visa access for thousands of travellers.
