WHERE CAN FOREIGN VISA BE OBTAINED IN NIGERIA? HERE ARE TOP 10 BEST PLACES YOU CAN GET A VISA IN NIGERIA (PRACTICAL GUIDE + WHERE YOU CAN GO).

 

The Top 10 Best Places Anyone Can Get a Foreign Visa in Nigeria

If you’re planning to travel from Nigeria — whether for study, work, family, or tourism — one of the first hurdles is where and how to submit your visa application. Over the last few years the visa landscape in Nigeria has matured: official embassies and consulates are concentrated in the capital, private outsourced Visa Application Centres (VACs) operated by companies like VFS Global and TLScontact make biometric enrolment and document submission easy, and several major cities now host premium or satellite centres so applicants don’t always have to travel to Abuja or Lagos. Below I list the top 10 places you can obtain (or start the process for) foreign visas in Nigeria, why each is useful, and practical tips to make your application smoother.

1. Abuja — the diplomatic heart (best for embassy-level processing)

Why it’s top: Abuja is Nigeria’s capital and home to the majority of resident embassies and high commissions. If your application requires an embassy interview, original-document checks, or consular appointments (for example, for some immigrant visas, apostilles, or special diplomatic queries), Abuja is usually the place to go. Most major VAC operators also run full-service centres in Abuja to receive Schengen, UK, Canadian, and other applications. 

Practical tip: Book ahead. Embassy-linked centres in Abuja tend to be busy weekdays, so early appointment slots and premium options (where available) can save you hours.

2. Lagos (Victoria Island) — best for speed and many consulates

Why it’s top: Lagos — especially Victoria Island and Lekki — hosts numerous consular branch offices, commercial visa centres, and premium VACs. Many Schengen member states, Italy, France, and others use TLScontact in Lagos, while VFS and other providers maintain offices for the UK, Portugal, and more. If you live in the southwest, this is often the most convenient, well-staffed option. 

Practical tip: Allow extra travel time for Lekki/Victoria Island traffic and confirm whether your VAC prefers you to arrive by appointment only.

3. Lagos (Ikeja / Lekki-area VFS centres) — practical alternative

Why it’s top: Lagos is big — and for that reason many providers keep multiple centres (Ikeja and Lekki/Ikeja-VI options). A centre in Ikeja often handles heavy footfall but can offer more appointment availability, while Victoria Island is typically more central for business travellers. Use the VFS “find a centre” tool to pick the one that handles your destination country. 

Practical tip: Double-check which Lagos branch processes your destination country’s visa (different VACs in Lagos can serve different countries).

4. Port Harcourt — convenient for the South-South region

Why it’s top: Port Harcourt now hosts visa application centres for several countries (and UK/Schengen handling via VFS/TLS arrangements), making it a top option for applicants in Rivers, Bayelsa and nearby states. For many southern applicants this avoids a long trip to Lagos or Abuja. 

Practical tip: Confirm the exact centre address and opening hours online before you travel — some centres operate limited days for passport collection and biometrics.

5. Enugu — a growing hub for southeast applicants

Why it’s top: Enugu has become a recognized VAC location for certain countries (UK opened/expanded services there in recent updates), which benefits applicants from the southeast (Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo). These satellite centres are often “premium” or appointment-only but can cut travel time and expense. 

Practical tip: Some Enugu centres were introduced as premium/off-season services; check whether standard fees or premium surcharges apply.

6. Kano — expanding northern access

Why it’s top: Kano’s addition to the VAC map (notably UK/VFS locations) is big news for northern Nigeria. Instead of long trips to Abuja or Lagos, residents in Kano and the northern states can now submit biometric data and documents much closer to home. This expansion reflects an effort by providers to decentralize service delivery across Nigeria. 

Practical tip: New centres may initially have limited appointment slots — book early and monitor official VFS/TLS pages for slot releases.

7. Consulate/Embassy Branches in Lagos (country-specific)

Why it’s top: Some countries keep consular offices or honorary consulates in Lagos even though their embassies are in Abuja. These branches can process passports, handle emergency travel documents, and sometimes facilitate certain visa questions or referrals to VACs. If your travel requires consular help beyond VAC services, Lagos consulates are often the fastest route. 

Practical tip: For consular services (not VAC submissions) call ahead to confirm whether they handle visa interviews or only emergency/document services.

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8. Visa Application Centres run by VFS Global (nationwide coverage)

Why it’s top: VFS Global is the outsourced partner for many countries’ visas (UK, Canada, Portugal, and others). Their network in Nigeria includes multiple cities and is optimized for biometric capture, document checks, and courier passport return. The VFS platform also allows tracking and premium services. Using VFS centres ensures you’re interacting with the government-authorized channel for many countries. 

Practical tip: Use only official VFS booking links — avoid third-party “agents” who ask for extra fees to make appointments; VFS offers paid value-added services directly if you want concierge treatment.

9. TLScontact (Schengen, France, Italy and selected countries)

Why it’s top: TLScontact handles applications for a range of European and other governments and operates high-volume centres in Lagos and Abuja, among others. If your destination is a Schengen country, France or Italy (or other TLS partners), their Nigeria centres are often the correct first step for appointment scheduling, biometrics, and document submission. 

Practical tip: Schengen applications sometimes route applicants through a central Schengen “country of stay” decision — make sure you pick the correct embassy/VAC based on your main Schengen destination.

10. Specialized/premium centres and local immigration mission offices

Why it’s top: Beyond the large VAC networks there are specialized premium centres (often run in partnership with hotels or business centres) and official immigration missions (for example, missions to neighbouring countries or Nigeria’s own missions abroad). These premium centres offer extra conveniences like dedicated interview rooms, faster passport return, or evening slots — useful when deadlines are tight. Also, if you need visas to neighbouring countries (or to complete Nigerian mission processing), some regional missions (or local mission offices) will assist directly. 

Practical tip: Premium services cost more but can be worth it if you’re on an urgent timeline — compare the fee to the value of saved time.

How you can choose the right centre (quick checklist)

1. Check who handles your country: Not every VAC handles every country. Use the official embassy or the VAC provider’s “find a centre” page. 

2. Book online, confirm documents: Most centres require an online appointment and strict document sets. Bring originals + copies.

3. Avoid unofficial middlemen: Use only the official provider websites (VFS, TLScontact, embassy pages) — scams often appear during busy seasons. 

4. Plan for biometrics: Many visas now require fingerprints and a photo — the centre will capture these.

5. Factor in passport return: Understand whether the centre returns passports by courier, pickup, or embassy collection.

Recent trends you must know

• Governments continue to outsource enrolment and processing to VAC operators (VFS, TLScontact, etc.), which means many countries’ visa submissions are now handled through private centres rather than directly at embassies. This has expanded geographic coverage inside Nigeria. 

• New VACs have been added in cities like Enugu and Kano in 2025 to improve access. If you’re travelling from the southeast or the north, check for these new local options before committing to a trip to Lagos or Abuja. 

Final tips — make your application as smooth as possible

• Start early. Visa processes and appointment windows can be tight during peak travel months.

• Follow the embassy’s checklist to the letter — most rejections stem from missing documents or inconsistencies.

• Keep digital copies of everything and take screenshots of appointment confirmations.

• If you need specialized help (study permits, work permits, immigrant visas), consider a licensed immigration consultant — but verify credentials and avoid anyone promising “guaranteed visas.”

• Always use the official embassy or VAC pages for the latest policy updates; visa rules change frequently.

Closing

The visa landscape in Nigeria is now better connected than it used to be: Abuja and Lagos remain the most important hubs, but Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and a growing network of VFS/TLS centres mean you can often apply closer to home. Use the official provider pages and embassy sites linked above to find addresses, book appointments, and confirm the documents you need — and good luck with your application!

Selected sources and further reading

• TLScontact — Abuja & Lagos centre pages (France/Italy) for addresses & opening hours. 

• VFS Global Nigeria — list of centres, partner countries, and news on new centres (Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano). 

• U.S. Embassy Nigeria — visa guidance for Abuja and Lagos missions. 

• News on recent expansions/new openings (UK VACs reopening in Enugu/Port Harcourt; Kano centre announcement).