Residents of northern Nigeria seeking UK travel documents can now process their applications closer to home, as a new UK Visa Application Centre is set to open in Kano on 2 July 2025.

The centre, located at the Bristol Palace Hotel on Guda Abdullahi Road, aims to ease the burden of travel for applicants who previously had to visit Lagos or Abuja to submit biometric data and supporting documents.

According to a statement from VFS Global, the company handling visa services for the UK government, the Kano centre will operate strictly by appointment and only during designated hours.

“This initiative is in response to growing demand and to improve the overall customer experience,” the statement read.

Applicants must book appointments online in advance and are advised to appear only on the exact date and time confirmed to them. Walk-ins will not be permitted.

The Kano centre becomes the latest addition to the UK’s expanding visa infrastructure in Nigeria, follwing the November 2024 launch of the UK’s largest visa application centre in Africa in Lagos. That centre, located in Ikeja, was opened through the UK’s commercial partner, VFS Global, and joined other operational centres in Abuja and Victoria Island.

At the Lagos launch, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter said, “Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS delivers ever-improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.”

The UK processed more than 225,000 visa applications from Nigerians in the year to June 2024, with Nigeria accounting for 5% of all UK visit visas globally.

To meet growing demand, applicants across Nigeria can now access additional value-added services through VFS Global, including premium lounges, document checking, passport courier returns, and biometric enrolment assistance. Customers in Abuja also have the option of home or office-based application submissions through the On Demand Mobile Visa service.

The new Kano centre, however, will strictly operate according to the published schedule and only provide services during the official appointment windows.

Further information on operating hours and available services is accessible via the Visa Application Centre’s official website.