UK govt lifts suspension on processing visitors visa for Nigerians

The British High Commission has resumed the issuance of visitor’s visas to citizens of countries previously on the United Kingdom red list, including Nigeria.

The UK government had placed Nigeria and some other countries on a red list following the outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

On December 6 in a statement, the UK had also announced the suspension of issuance of visitor visas to all applicants from red list countries.

On the announcement on the suspension of processing visitor visa applications in Nigeria, the UK had said the decision will be in effect until the travel ban is lifted.

But, it has now retracted that decision removing Nigeria and other African countries from the list which had generated a public outcry.

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), had in a statement said, “From 4:00 am on 15th December, all countries currently on the red list will be removed”.

In line with the lifting of red list restrictions, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) has lifted the pause on processing visitor visas in all countries previously on the red list, Daily Post reports.

The country further explained that “Visit visas only cover travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, undertaking short-term business activities, undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months), taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic, medical reason (for example, receiving private medical treatment).