The UK is one part of the world that Nigerians love to visit and migrate to. Records from the UK Office for National Statistics show that more than 250,000 Nigerian citizens currently reside in the UK. Their residence in the UK is for several reasons such as work, school, and colonial ties to mention a few.
Would you like to travel to the UK from Nigeria? Then it is important for you to know what the trip would cost. This post will show you the cost of traveling to the UK from Nigeria along with all the key pieces of information you will need.
Cost of UK Visa in Nigeria
It is no secret that many Nigerians are migrating to other countries to find better job opportunities, good transportation, improved healthcare, and the proverbial “greener pastures.” The UK happens to be one of the countries that Nigerians migrate to the most. If you are going to travel to the UK from Nigeria, you need to first get a visa.
The UK has different types of visas that Nigerian citizens can apply for. This section will show you the different types of visas and how much they cost.
Study Visa
Individuals that seek to study in the United Kingdom are required to apply for a study visa. This visa has certain requirements that you are expected to satisfy before it can be granted. Some of these eligibility requirements include:
- Must be able to read, speak, understand, and write English.
- Must have the financial capacity to support themselves all through the duration of the study program.
- Must have received an admission offer from a licensed sponsor.
- If the student is less than 18 years old, they are required to provide a document showing parental consent.
With this out of the way, check below for the different types of UK study visas and their current costs in Nigeria.
| UK Study Visa | Visa Application Fee ($) | Visa Application Fee (₦) |
| Student – main applicant and dependents | $485 | ₦202,967.65 |
| Child Student | $485 | ₦202,967.65 |
| Short-term study visa | $259 | ₦108,388.91 |
| Parents of children at school | $718 | ₦300,475.82 |
| The points-based system, Tier 4 – Isle of Man | $485 | ₦202,967.65 |
| EC as a student at Gurnsey and Jersey | $485 | ₦202,967.65 |
Kindly note that the conversion rate is the official bank rate of ₦418.49.
Visitor Visa
The UK visitor visa is designed to allow citizens of countries in the European Union and more than 60 other countries entry to the UK. This visa allows an individual to stay for six months at most in the UK. There are different categories of UK visitor visas. The table below will show you the different categories and how much each one cost in Nigeria:
| UK Visitor Visa | Visa Category | Visa Application Fee ($) | Visa Application Fee (₦) |
| Standard Visitor visa – for the UK, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey | Short-term (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry) | $132 | ₦55,240.68 |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 2 years) | $503 | ₦210,500.47 | |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 5 years) | $912 | ₦381,662.88 | |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 10 years) | $1145 | ₦479,171.05 | |
| Visiting academic – more than six months up to 12 months | $265 | ₦110,899.85 | |
| Marriage visitor visa | $132 | ₦55,240.68 | |
| Permitted paid engagement visa | $132 | ₦55,240.68 | |
| Private medical treatment – more than six months up to 11 months | $265 | ₦110,899.85 | |
| Visit the UK in a Chinese tour group (the UK only) | $132 | ₦55,240.68 | |
| Transit | Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | $49 | ₦20,506.01 |
| Visitor in Transit visa | $89 | ₦37,245.61 | |
| Visit purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft (fee also applies to the Isle of Man) | $89 | ₦37,245.61 | |
| Parents of children at school | Parent of a Student child visa (up to 12 months) (Tier 4 Isle of Man) | $718 | ₦300,475.82 |
| Child visitors | Short-term (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry) | $132 | ₦55,240.68 |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 2 years) | $503 | ₦210,500.47 | |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 5 years) | $912 | ₦381,662.88 | |
| Longer-term (valid for up to 10 years) | $1145 | ₦479,171.05 |
Kindly note that the conversion rate is the official bank rate of ₦418.49.
Join Family Visa Fees
The government department in charge of UK visas is known as the UK Home Office Visas and Immigration. This body is also in charge of family visas and it allows relatives to come and join their family members resident in the UK. In simpler terms, the UK Join Family Visa allows relatives to stay in the UK with their relatives who are resident for over six months.
Who needs the UK Join Family Visa?
There are different visas under this category and they cover different types of individuals. The list below shows who should apply for the UK Join Family Visa:
- Parents
- Child or children
- Partner or Spouse
- Family members who need long-term care
That being said, the table below shows the different types of visas under this category and how much they cost:
| UK Join Family Visa | Visa Category | Visa Application Fee ($) | Visa Application Fee (₦) |
| Parents of children at school | Parent of a Student child visa (up to 12 months) (Tier 4 Isle of Man) | $718 | ₦300,475.82 |
| Family of settled people (settlement) | Family visas – Joining your partner, parent, proposed civil partner, or child (also applicable to EC to the Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Gurnsey | $2121 | ₦887,617.29 |
| Family visas – Adult dependant relative (also applicable for EC to the Isle of Man) | $4525 | ₦1,893,667.25 | |
| Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative | $540 | ₦225,984.60 | |
| Dependent children under 21 only apply under “Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay” to the immigration rules. | Free of charge | Free of charge | |
| Settlement for current and former members of HM armed forces and their dependents | Pre-1997 Gurkhas (outside immigration rules) | $2121 | ₦887,617.29 |
| Overage dependant children of pre-1997 Gurkhas | $2121 | ₦887,617.29 | |
| HM Forces dependants applying under parts 4,5,7 or 8 of Appendix Armed Forces | $2121 | ₦887,617.29 | |
| Exempt | Diplomatic Posting to the UK (Dependant) | Free of charge | Free of charge |
| Members of the armed forces and their families (non-settlement) | Dependents of exempt international forces applying under Part 10 of Appendix Armed Forces | $718 | ₦300,475.82 |
| Family members of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals | Apply if you are living in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with a British citizen | Free of charge | Free of charge |
Kindly note that the conversion rate is the official bank rate of ₦418.49.
Work Visa Fees
The UK Work visa gives you the opportunity to work while living in the UK. However, this visa is only valid for a specific period. The good news is that you can renew most of the work visas indefinitely.
It is imperative to note that for you to qualify for a UK Work visa, you have to satisfy certain eligibility requirements and make the necessary documents available. There are different types of UK work visas, check the list below to find out:
- Skilled Worker Visa
- UK Start-Up Visa
- UK Graduate Work Visa
- UK Domestic Worker Visa
- High Potential Individual Visa
- International Sportsperson Visa
- Minister of Religion Visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme
- Global Business Mobility Worker Visas
- Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
- Expansion Worker Visa
- Secondment Worker Visa
- Service Supplier Visa
- Graduate Trainee Visa
- Temporary Worker Visas
- Creative Worker Visa
- Seasonal Worker Visa
- International Agreement Worker Visa
- Charity Worker Visa
- Government Authorized Exchange Visa
Each of these work visas hasits eligibility requirements. Ensure that you find out the requirements and documents for the category you want to apply for before submitting your application. Check the table below to find out the cost of each of these visas:
| UK Work Visa | Visa Category | Visa Application Fee ($) | Visa Application Fee (₦) |
| The points-based system, Tier 1 (also applicable to the Isle of Man) | Tier 1 investor – main applicant and dependents | $2260 | ₦945,787.40 |
| Family of settled people (settlement) | Tier 1 entrepreneur – main applicant and each dependant | $1422 | ₦595,092.78 |
| Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) – dependants only | $505 | ₦211,337.45 | |
| Tier 1 exceptional talent – dependants only. | $847 | ₦354,461.03 | |
| Work – applications made outside the UK (also applicable in the Isle of Man) | Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependents | $323 | ₦135,172.27 |
| Temporary Work (also applicable to the Isle of Man) | Temporary Work – Religious Work – main applicant and any dependents | $320 | ₦133,916.80 |
| Temporary Work – International Agreement Work – main applicant and dependant | $340 | ₦142,286.60 |
Kindly note that the conversion rate is the official bank rate of ₦418.49.
Settlement Visa
The UK Settlement visa allows you to live in the UK, study, or work there with almost no restrictions in the future. It is also known as “indefinite leave to remain” and it is regarded as the most comprehensive as well as long-term status a foreigner can obtain. Applying for this visa can be quite complex, especially for Nigerians. The table below shows the cost of the UK Settlement Visa in Nigeria.
| UK Settlement Visa | Visa Category | Visa Application Fee ($) | Visa Application Fee (₦) |
| Family of settled people (settlement) | Family visas – Joining your partner, parent, proposed civil partner, or child (also applicable to EC to the Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Gurnsey) | $2121 | ₦887,617.29 |
| Family of settled people (settlement) | Family visas – Adult dependant relative (also applicable for EC to the Isle of Man) | $4525 | ₦1,893,667.25 |
| Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative | $540 | ₦225,984.60 | |
| Dependent children under 21 only apply under “Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay” to the immigration rules. | Free of charge | Free of charge | |
| Returning residents | Returning resident | $718 | ₦300,475.82 |
| Family reunion to join asylum seekers | Family reunion, under Part 11 of Asylum, Immigration Rules (pre-flight dependants) | Free of charge | Free of charge |
| Post-flight dependants | $2121 | ₦887,617.29 | |
| Family reunion – other dependent relatives | $540 | ₦225,984.60 |
Kindly note that the conversion rate is the official bank rate of ₦418.49.
Cost of Flights to the UK from Nigeria
Now that we know the different UK visas for Nigerian citizens and their costs, let’s look at another important piece of information. In this section, we will highlight the cost of flights to the UK from Nigeria.
Different airlines make the trip from Nigeria to the UK. Currently, these airlines mostly travel from the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Lagos. Some of these airlines include:
- Kenya Airways: N683,412 – N736,344
- EgyptAir: N325,836 – N400,000
- Virgin Atlantic Airways: N594,457 – N700,000
- KLM: N593,956 – N637,558
- British Airways: N1.4 million – N1.5 million
- Ethiopian Airlines: N1.1 million – N1.2 million
- Turkish Airlines: N408,329 – N520,000
- Lufthansa: N411,369 – N550,000
- Air France: N642,075 – N817,285
PRICES LAST UPDATED 1ST FEBRUARY, 2023.
Some of the popular routes from Nigeria to the UK include:
- Nigeria to London
- Nigeria to Manchester
- Nigeria to Oxford
- Nigeria to Birmingham
- Nigeria to Aberdeen
- Nigeria to Newcastle upon Tyne
- Nigeria to Belfast
- Nigeria to Edinburgh
- Nigeria to Glasgow
- Nigeria to Swansea
- Nigeria to Liverpool
- Nigeria to Cardiff
