UK earned over N40bn in visa fees from Nigerians between 2023-2024

The British government generated more than ₦40 billion from processing visas for Nigerian nationals between June 2023 and June 2024, according to Marc Owen, director of visa, status, and information services at UK Visas and Immigration.

Owen disclosed this during the launch of Africa’s largest UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lagos. He revealed that over 225,000 visa applications from Nigerians were processed within the review period, reflecting the continued strong demand for UK travel.

“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225k UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories. This new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient, and meet the needs of all applicants,” Owen said.

Using the standard UK six-month visitor visa fee of $150 as a benchmark, the revenue from Nigerian visa applications amounts to over $34 million, equivalent to ₦40 billion at an average exchange rate of ₦1,200 during the period. Notably, visa application fees are non-refundable, even in cases of rejection.

The announcement comes amid a notable rise in visa rejection rates for Nigerian nationals. Data from the British government earlier this year highlighted that in the second half of 2023, approximately one in eight Nigerian study visa applications were rejected, up from one in 31 in the previous year.

The UK’s tightened immigration policies, including restrictions on dependent visas and changes to the graduate route post-study work visa, have contributed to the higher rejection rates. This led to a 63% drop in study visa approvals for Nigerians in Q4 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

The stricter UK immigration policies have prompted many Nigerians to consider alternatives, with the United States emerging as a popular destination. In the 2023/2024 academic year, Nigeria ranked as the seventh-largest source of international students globally and the highest in Africa, with 20,029 Nigerian students enrolled in U.S. institutions — a 13.5% increase from the previous year.

The British government’s earnings from Nigerian visa applications underscore the growing demand for international travel and migration options, even amid tighter immigration regulations.