The United Kingdom issued 132,000 visas to Nigerians in the first half of 2023, up from 324,000 in the full year 2022. This represents a 10% share of all permits issued by the UK in that period.
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, said the visa increase was due to several factors, including the strong economic ties between the two countries and the growing number of Nigerians studying in the UK.
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Baxter also noted that the UK government recently changed its rules on student visas, which will allow students to bring their dependents to the UK. This is expected to lead to further growth in Nigerian students coming to the UK.
The UK government has also increased the fees for applications. Baxter said this was necessary to cover the costs of processing and providing services to visa holders.
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He advised Nigerians to apply for visas well before their travel, as there can be delays in processing applications.
The increase in issuance to Nigerians is a positive sign for the relationship between the two countries. It also reflects the growing economic and educational ties between the UK and Nigeria.
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