UK visit visa for a Nigerian partner: fees, documents, tips
To visit a partner in the UK from Nigeria, you'll normally need a Standard Visitor visa, which costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months. You apply online up to 3 months before you travel, then give your fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre run by VFS Global in Abuja or Lagos. Decisions usually take about 3 weeks.
All the fees and rules below were checked on GOV.UK on 10 November 2026. Fees and rules change, sometimes with little notice, so check GOV.UK yourself before you pay anything. And one more thing before we start: this is general information, not legal advice. If your situation is complicated, speak to a regulated adviser.
Do Nigerians need a visa to visit the UK?
Yes. Nigeria is on the UK's visa national list in Appendix Visitor of the Immigration Rules, which means Nigerian citizens need a visa before travelling to the UK as a visitor.
For seeing a boyfriend, girlfriend or partner, the usual route is the Standard Visitor visa. GOV.UK lists visiting family or friends as a permitted activity.
How much does a UK visitor visa cost from Nigeria?
Here are the GOV.UK figures as of 10 November 2026:
| Visa | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor, up to 6 months | £135 | GOV.UK |
| Long-term Standard Visitor, 2 years | £506 | Max 6 months per visit (GOV.UK) |
| Long-term Standard Visitor, 5 years | £903 | Max 6 months per visit |
| Long-term Standard Visitor, 10 years | £1,128 | Max 6 months per visit |
| Marriage Visitor, up to 6 months | £135 | Only if you're marrying or registering a civil partnership (GOV.UK) |
If you need a quicker decision, GOV.UK describes a priority service at £500 extra and super priority at £1,000 extra, on top of the visa fee. Availability depends on the visa and the country you apply from, so check what's offered when you apply. The Home Office also has an official fee calculator for working out costs.
Fees change. Don't rely on a figure from a WhatsApp group or an old blog post, including this one in a year's time.
Where do you apply for a UK visa in Nigeria?
You apply online through GOV.UK first. As part of that application you book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity. At the appointment, GOV.UK says, you'll have your fingerprints and photo taken, and you get your passport back the same day.
UK visa application centres in Nigeria are run by VFS Global, not TLScontact. VFS took over from 19 November 2024, with centres in Abuja, Ikeja (Lagos) and Victoria Island (Lagos). If you've read older guides that mention TLScontact, they're out of date.
For the current list of centres, addresses and opening times, use GOV.UK's Find a visa application centre page, which links to VFS Global's Nigeria site. Booking through those official links keeps things simple.
When should you apply, and how long does it take?
GOV.UK says the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel, and you'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks of applying, proving your identity and providing your documents.
"Usually" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Busy periods happen. If your partner is booking flights for a specific date, a birthday, a wedding, Christmas, apply as close to that 3-month mark as your plans allow, and avoid non-refundable bookings until you have a decision.
What documents do you need to visit a partner in the UK?
The core requirement is that you're a genuine visitor. GOV.UK's guide to supporting documents (updated 8 October 2026) says you need to show that you'll leave the UK at the end of your visit and that you can support yourself and any dependants during the trip.
You need a passport valid for your whole stay. The online form asks about your travel dates, where you'll stay, how much the trip will cost, your home address, your income, and, depending on your circumstances, your travel history and details of anyone paying for your trip.
Supporting documents commonly include evidence of your ties and circumstances in Nigeria, such as:
- your job, business or studies
- your finances, with bank statements showing where the money came from
- family, property or other commitments at home
- previous travel, if you have any
If your partner is paying or hosting
If someone in the UK is providing your travel, accommodation or living costs, the GOV.UK guide says you should provide evidence showing:
- what support is being provided and how
- that the person supporting you has enough money to support themselves and their dependants as well
- the relationship between you and them
- that they're legally in the UK, if that applies
People often call this an "invitation letter". GOV.UK doesn't require a document by that name, but a signed letter from your partner explaining the relationship, the visit and the support they're giving, backed by evidence of their own status and finances, is one way of covering the points above.
Documents that don't help much
The same GOV.UK guide lists documents that are less useful as evidence, including hotel bookings, flight bookings, travel insurance, credit card statements, personal photographs, and bank statements more than a year old. So no need for a folder of couple photos.
Worth knowing too: the Home Office's visit caseworker guidance says that not sending one of the recommended documents is not, on its own, a ground for refusal. The whole picture matters more than ticking every box.
Should you mention the relationship in your application?
Yes. Be honest about why you're coming and who you're visiting. The caseworker guidance says officers must be satisfied that an applicant is a genuine visitor and must refuse if they're not. It also lists previous attempts to deceive the Home Office, by the applicant or their sponsor, as a reason to doubt an application.
Hiding a relationship, or claiming a holiday when you're really visiting a partner, creates inconsistencies that are easy to spot. Telling the truth is simpler and much safer.
Two limits to understand. A Standard Visitor can't marry or give notice of marriage; that needs a Marriage Visitor visa. And GOV.UK says you can't live in the UK for long periods through frequent or successive visits. Visiting a partner is allowed. Using visits as a way of living together isn't. If you're planning to live together in the UK, that's a different visa route entirely.
Where can you get proper visa advice?
GOV.UK is the primary source for rules and fees. If you need advice on your own circumstances, use a qualified adviser. In the UK, immigration advisers are regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), which replaced the name Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) on 16 January 2025.
Nobody can guarantee a visa, but a clear, honest application with the right supporting documents gives you the best footing. If you're still planning the trip itself, our long-distance relationship guide covers agreeing who travels, where you'll stay and who pays.
FAQ
How much is a UK visitor visa from Nigeria?
As checked on GOV.UK on 10 November 2026, a Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months costs £135. Long-term visitor visas cost £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years and £1,128 for 10 years, each allowing up to 6 months per visit. Fees change, so confirm the current amount on GOV.UK before applying.
Is the UK visa centre in Nigeria run by TLScontact or VFS?
VFS Global. It took over UK visa application centres in Nigeria from 19 November 2024, with centres in Abuja, Ikeja and Victoria Island in Lagos. Older articles mentioning TLScontact are out of date. Use GOV.UK's Find a visa application centre page to reach the official VFS booking site and current addresses.
Do I need an invitation letter to visit my partner in the UK?
GOV.UK doesn't require a document called an invitation letter. If your partner is paying for or hosting your visit, you should show what support they're providing, the relationship between you, that they can afford it and that they're legally in the UK. A signed letter with evidence is one common way to cover this.
Can I marry my partner on a UK visitor visa?
Not on a Standard Visitor visa. GOV.UK says you need a Marriage Visitor visa to marry, register a civil partnership or give notice of either in the UK. It costs £135 and allows a stay of up to 6 months. If you plan to live together afterwards, you'll need a different visa route.
How long does a UK visit visa take from Nigeria?
GOV.UK says you'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks of applying, attending your appointment and providing your documents. You can apply up to 3 months before you travel. Priority and super priority services may be available for an extra fee, so check what's offered when you apply.
Who can give me advice about my UK visa application?
Use GOV.UK for official rules and fees. For advice on your personal situation, use an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority, formerly called the OISC. Nobody can guarantee approval, and being open about your circumstances is the best basis for this and any future applications.