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Online, physical or both?
Start online
Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel. Then complete the official online Standard Visitor application with the travel dates, accommodation, funding, employment/family and immigration-history information that applies to the applicant.
A physical step is required
The in-person or assisted stage stated in this guide is: Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel.
Find official offices/centres →If this specific process gets stuck
Use UKVI's official support/contact route and quote the reference generated by this application.
View agency guidance →Only authorised routes. We never present an unofficial agent, cybercafé or third-party payment page as an alternative unless the responsible agency authorises it.
Documents, details and prerequisites you need
This is the complete pre-start checklist from the verified guide. Each item below explains what it is for, where it enters the process and whether the official source actually specifies an original, copy or upload.
A valid Nigerian passport or travel document that remains valid for the whole UK stay
- Why you need it
- Used to identify the applicant's current passport record or to support the passport transaction described in this guide.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 1: Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
Planned UK travel dates, where the applicant will stay and the estimated total trip cost
- Why you need it
- This item is explicitly listed in the verified pre-start requirements for this service. Have it ready before beginning so the application is not interrupted.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 1: Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
Income and funding information, including annual income and the identity/details of anyone paying for the trip where applicable
- Why you need it
- This item is explicitly listed in the verified pre-start requirements for this service. Have it ready before beginning so the application is not interrupted.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 2: Complete the official online Standard Visitor application with the travel dates, accommodation, funding, employment/family and immigration-history information that applies to the applicant.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
Evidence supporting the purpose of the visit, ability to support the trip and intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit
- Why you need it
- Used to locate the taxpayer record connected to the transaction.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 3: Upload or prepare the supporting evidence requested by UKVI, pay the official visa fee and use the application flow to book the visa application centre appointment.
- Original, copy or upload?
- A digital upload is explicitly part of step 3. Prepare a clear file that follows the portal's size/format rules.
Travel history, employer/contact information and UK family/host details where the online form asks for them
- Why you need it
- This item is explicitly listed in the verified pre-start requirements for this service. Have it ready before beginning so the application is not interrupted.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 2: Complete the official online Standard Visitor application with the travel dates, accommodation, funding, employment/family and immigration-history information that applies to the applicant.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
For an applicant under 18: suitable travel/accommodation arrangements and written parent/guardian consent; an unaccompanied child also needs the parent/guardian's full contact details and evidence of the person/place where the child will stay
- Why you need it
- This item is explicitly listed in the verified pre-start requirements for this service. Have it ready before beginning so the application is not interrupted.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 1: Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
Certified English or Welsh translations for any supporting document that is in another language
- Why you need it
- Used to locate the taxpayer record connected to the transaction.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 3: Upload or prepare the supporting evidence requested by UKVI, pay the official visa fee and use the application flow to book the visa application centre appointment.
- Original, copy or upload?
- A digital upload is explicitly part of step 3. Prepare a clear file that follows the portal's size/format rules.
Step-by-step instructions
Follow the process in order. Each step also shows what to have ready, what to check before continuing and what evidence to keep. Where the agency does not publish an extra requirement, this guide does not invent one.
Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel.
- A valid Nigerian passport or travel document that remains valid for the whole UK stay
- Planned UK travel dates, where the applicant will stay and the estimated total trip cost
- For an applicant under 18: suitable travel/accommodation arrangements and written parent/guardian consent; an unaccompanied child also needs the parent/guardian's full contact details and evidence of the person/place where the child will stay
Confirm the correct office/centre, date or appointment instruction before travelling, and take the originals where the guide or agency explicitly requires them.
Keep the appointment, acknowledgement or reference you may need at the physical stage.
Complete the official online Standard Visitor application with the travel dates, accommodation, funding, employment/family and immigration-history information that applies to the applicant.
- Travel history, employer/contact information and UK family/host details where the online form asks for them
- Planned UK travel dates, where the applicant will stay and the estimated total trip cost
- For an applicant under 18: suitable travel/accommodation arrangements and written parent/guardian consent; an unaccompanied child also needs the parent/guardian's full contact details and evidence of the person/place where the child will stay
Confirm the correct office/centre, date or appointment instruction before travelling, and take the originals where the guide or agency explicitly requires them.
Keep the appointment, acknowledgement or reference you may need at the physical stage.
Upload or prepare the supporting evidence requested by UKVI, pay the official visa fee and use the application flow to book the visa application centre appointment.
- Evidence supporting the purpose of the visit, ability to support the trip and intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit
- For an applicant under 18: suitable travel/accommodation arrangements and written parent/guardian consent; an unaccompanied child also needs the parent/guardian's full contact details and evidence of the person/place where the child will stay
- Certified English or Welsh translations for any supporting document that is in another language
Confirm the service, applicant/entity details and amount on the official payment screen before paying. Do not continue from an unsolicited payment link.
Keep the official receipt, payment reference or transaction ID.
Attend the assigned UK visa application centre to prove identity with the passport, provide fingerprints and a photograph, and submit the supporting documents in the method shown by the application.
- A valid Nigerian passport or travel document that remains valid for the whole UK stay
- Income and funding information, including annual income and the identity/details of anyone paying for the trip where applicable
- Evidence supporting the purpose of the visit, ability to support the trip and intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit
Check that every file belongs to the correct applicant/record, is readable and matches the portal prompt before upload.
Keep the application/reference number, acknowledgement or confirmation generated after submission.
Wait for the UKVI decision email and follow the instructions for accessing the visa/eVisa or any passport-related next step; do not book non-refundable travel until a decision is issued.
- A valid Nigerian passport or travel document that remains valid for the whole UK stay
- Planned UK travel dates, where the applicant will stay and the estimated total trip cost
- Travel history, employer/contact information and UK family/host details where the online form asks for them
Check the finished document/result for spelling, identity details, reference numbers and status before relying on it.
Keep the final document/result plus any receipt or reference used to obtain it.
What exactly happens next?
Keep the application/reference number, payment receipt, acknowledgement or downloadable record produced by this service.
Wait for the UKVI decision email and follow the instructions for accessing the visa/eVisa or any passport-related next step; do not book non-refundable travel until a decision is issued.
UKVI says a Standard Visitor visa decision is usually made within 3 weeks after the online application, identity check and supporting documents are completed.
Use UKVI's official support channel with the application/reference details.
Important notes
- Nigerian nationals are on the UK's visa-national list and therefore need the appropriate visa before a Standard Visitor trip.
- The earliest normal application point is 3 months before travel.
- GOV.UK lists UK visa application points in Nigeria including Abuja and Lagos; use the current application flow to confirm the centre available to your case.
Common questions
These answers are generated from the verified requirements, route, fee, timeline and official-source notes for this specific service.
What should I prepare before I start?
Prepare before you begin by gathering every item below. The detailed checklist above explains why each one is needed, where it is used, and whether the official source specifies an original, copy or upload.
- A valid Nigerian passport or travel document that remains valid for the whole UK stay — Document
- Planned UK travel dates, where the applicant will stay and the estimated total trip cost — Other requirement
- Income and funding information, including annual income and the identity/details of anyone paying for the trip where applicable — Document
- Evidence supporting the purpose of the visit, ability to support the trip and intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit — Other requirement
- Travel history, employer/contact information and UK family/host details where the online form asks for them — Document
- For an applicant under 18: suitable travel/accommodation arrangements and written parent/guardian consent; an unaccompanied child also needs the parent/guardian's full contact details and evidence of the person/place where the child will stay — Other requirement
- Certified English or Welsh translations for any supporting document that is in another language — Other requirement
Can I do this online, or do I need to visit an office?
Online + physical visit. Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel. Then complete the official online Standard Visitor application with the travel dates, accommodation, funding, employment/family and immigration-history information that applies to the applicant.
The in-person or assisted stage stated in this guide is: Confirm that the planned activity is permitted under the Standard Visitor route and that a Nigerian passport holder requires a UK visa before travel.
How much does this service cost?
£135 for a standard 6-month visit visa — UKVI lists £135 for a Standard Visitor visa of up to 6 months. Long-term and special visitor categories have different fees.
Pay only through the responsible agency or the official payment channel linked in this guide.
How long should it take?
UKVI says a Standard Visitor visa decision is usually made within 3 weeks after the online application, identity check and supporting documents are completed.
Processing can still take longer where identity checks, document corrections, payment confirmation or manual review are required.
What happens after I submit or complete the main step?
Keep the evidence for UK Standard Visitor visa: Keep the application/reference number, payment receipt, acknowledgement or downloadable record produced by this service.
Complete the final published step: Wait for the UKVI decision email and follow the instructions for accessing the visa/eVisa or any passport-related next step; do not book non-refundable travel until a decision is issued.
What should I do if the portal, payment or application gets stuck?
Use UKVI's official support/contact route and quote the reference generated by this application.
Keep any application number, receipt, acknowledgement, transaction reference or screenshot that can help the agency trace the request.
What should I be careful about?
- Nigerian nationals are on the UK's visa-national list and therefore need the appropriate visa before a Standard Visitor trip.
- The earliest normal application point is 3 months before travel.
How do I verify that these instructions are current?
This guide was last checked on 2026-09-28. The official government or agency sources used to verify it are listed directly below this section.
Where an agency changes a fee, deadline or procedure, the official source takes priority over this independent guide.
Is MyNigeriaGuide the government website for this service?
No. MyNigeriaGuide is an independent information service. Applications, payments, approvals and final decisions remain with the responsible government agency.
Visa questions Nigerians commonly need answered
Foreign visa rules are country-specific. These answers explain the issues that commonly cause confusion without inventing a universal bank balance, sponsor rule or appeal process.
How much money must be in my bank account?
Income and funding information, including annual income and the identity/details of anyone paying for the trip where applicable
Use the exact financial-evidence rule in the checklist above. The evidence should match who is paying for the trip, the trip length and the application form. Do not rely on an unofficial agent's fixed “required balance” unless the destination authority itself publishes that amount.
Can another person or company sponsor my trip?
Only use sponsorship where this visa route accepts it. If a sponsor is paying, follow the country-specific checklist for the sponsor letter, relationship to the applicant, identity or immigration-status evidence, financial evidence and any undertaking/responsibility form.
Sponsorship does not automatically replace documents the destination still requires from the applicant, such as employment, study, business, family or other evidence connected to the applicant's own circumstances.
What if the applicant is under 18?
For an applicant under 18: suitable travel/accommodation arrangements and written parent/guardian consent; an unaccompanied child also needs the parent/guardian's full contact details and evidence of the person/place where the child will stay
Where the detailed checklist above does not list a child rule, open the exact official instructions before submitting. Birth certificates, parental/guardian consent, parent IDs/passports, custody documents and details of the adult travelling with or hosting the child can be required.
Should I buy a flight ticket before the visa is approved?
Use the type of travel evidence the official checklist asks for. Several visitor-visa systems ask for a reservation or itinerary rather than a non-refundable paid ticket. Do not turn a reservation requirement into an unnecessary non-refundable purchase.
If this country's official instructions specifically require a paid ticket or another form of confirmed travel, that country-specific requirement takes priority.
What happens if the visa is refused?
Read the refusal/decision letter first. It should identify the reason and, where the law provides one, the appeal, review or reconsideration route. Some visa systems instead expect a new application.
If you reapply, address the stated reason and disclose previous refusals whenever the form asks. Do not submit altered, false or contradictory documents to try to overcome a refusal.
Does getting the visa guarantee entry at the airport or border?
No. A visa normally allows you to travel to a border and request entry; border authorities can still check whether you meet the entry conditions and whether the purpose of travel matches the visa.
What should I carry when I actually travel?
Keep your passport and visa/eVisa or grant notice accessible. Also carry the important evidence relevant to your trip, such as return/onward travel, accommodation or host details, invitation letter, travel insurance and evidence of funds or sponsorship where those formed part of the visa route.
Official sources
These are the government or agency pages used to verify this guide. Open them directly whenever you want to confirm the source.
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