If you are thinking of visiting the UK, either for tourism or just to spend time with friends and family, you will need to get a “visitors visa” from the UK gov’t. Contrary to popular belief, visiting the United Kingdom (UK) on a tourist visa isn’t as tricky as you must have been made to believe. It is a straightforward process, and your chances of getting one aren’t as slim as you think. In this article, we will be showing you how to apply for a UK tourist visa in Nigeria, and all the requirements needed to qualify for it.

What You Can do With a UK Visitor’s Visa

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor:

  • for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacationto see your family or friendsto volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charityto pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)for certain business activities, for instance, attending a meeting or interviewto take part in a school exchange programto do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example, a dance courseto study, do a placement, or take an examas an academic, senior doctor, or dentistAlso, for medical reasons

What you can not do with a UK Visitor’s Visa.

You cannot;

  • do any paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person.claim public funds.live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits.marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.

Eligibility Requirement

You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You must be able to show that:

  • you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visityou’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

In some cases, you may need to meet extra eligibility requirements:

  • to study, do a placement, or take an examas an academic, senior doctor, or dentistfor medical reasons.

Information you’ll need to provide include;

  • the dates you’re planning to travel to the UKwhere you’ll be staying during your visitcost of your tripyour current home address and how long you’ve lived thereyour parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)how much you earn in a yeardetails of any criminal, civil, or immigration offenses you may have committed

Other circumstances might require that you provide other information like;

  • details of your travel history for the past 10 yearsyour employer’s address and telephone numberyour partner’s name, date of birth, and passport numberthe name and address of anyone paying for your tripthe name, address, and passport number of any family members you have in the UKa certificate showing that you’ve had tuberculosis (TB) test if you’re visiting for more than a 6 months period.

How to Apply

The first step of the application process is to apply online. Part of the online application requires that you book an appointment at a visa application center. There are three UK visa centers in Nigeria to get a tourist visa; Abuja, Ikeja, and Victoria Island.

During your appointment, you’ll need to:

  • prove your identity with your passport or travel documenthave your fingerprints and photograph takenprovide the required documents that show you’re eligible for a Standard Visitor visa

Visa Fee:

Conclusion

It takes about 3 weeks after you’ve applied online, proved your identity, and provided your documents, to get a response. Once a decision has been made, you’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application.