IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The U.K. has expanded its 24-hour Super Priority visa service to applicants in Nigeria.

What does the change mean? Visa applicants traveling on urgent and short notice now have an option to obtain a visa within 24 hours.

  • Implementation time frame: Immediate.
  • Visas/permits affected: Visitor visas (all short stay visa categories, including business and tourist visas) and Points Based System Tier 4 visas (for applicants legally resident in Nigeria).
  • Who is affected:Applicants for visas in the categories listed above.
  • Impact on processing times: Super Priority visa applications are processed within 24 hours.
  • Business impact: The Super Priority Visa program can be a good option for urgent, last-minute trips. The service is available for a cost of £750 (in addition to the visa fee).
  • Next steps: Visa applicants may apply for Super Priority service at the Abuja and Lagos Victoria Island Visa Application Centres. Appointments are available Monday to Thursday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and on Friday from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

Background: The British High Commission in Abuja announced the new Super Priority visa service Aug. 9. British High Commissioner Paul Arkwright said he expects the service to be “particularly useful” for business travelers. “We understand that business opportunities and urgent requirements can arise at very short notice,” Arkwright said. “We recognise this and want to facilitate such travel to the U.K. with this new super-fast service.” Additional information on the program is available on this government website.

BAL Analysis: The availability of 24-hour service adds an option for those seeking urgent travel from Nigeria. Other options include five-day priority service and 15-day service standard processing. Applicants should note that choosing expedited processing does not guarantee a positive decision in the visa application process.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please contact uk@bal.com.

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