The British government generated over N40 billion from processing visa applications for Nigerian nationals between June 2023 and June 2024, highlighting the financial significance of Nigeria in the UK’s immigration system.
According to Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration, over 225,000 visa applications from Nigerians were processed within the period under review.
Owen made this disclosure during the launch of Africa’s largest UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lagos, emphasizing the UK’s commitment to enhancing its visa services.
“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories, and this new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient, and meet the needs of all applicants,” Owen was quoted as saying in a statement released by the British High Commission in Lagos.
“I’m delighted to be here in person as we celebrate this important moment together with our customers and partners.”
While Owen did not provide specific details on the revenue generated, an analysis based on the UK’s six-month standard visitor visa fee of $150 and the 225,000 applications suggests the UK earned over $34 million.
Using an average exchange rate of N1,200 to $1 for the period, this amounts to over N40 billion. It is important to note that UK visa application fees are non-refundable, even in cases of rejection.
The period also witnessed a significant increase in visa rejection rates for Nigerian nationals.
Data from the British government revealed that in the fourth quarter of 2023, around one in eight applications were declined, a sharp rise from one in 31 in Q4 2022.
This 63 percent drop in visa issuances compared to the last three months of 2022 coincided with the UK’s tightened immigration policies, including changes to dependent visa regulations and restrictions on the graduate route post-study work visa.
Nigeria was among the top five countries affected by the rise in study visa rejections, along with Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and India, the latter recording higher rejection numbers than Nigeria.
Amidst these challenges, many Nigerians are seeking alternatives, with the United States emerging as a preferred destination for higher education.
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 US institutions.
This marked a 13.5 percent increase in enrolment compared to the previous year.
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