• A visa is required for Nigerian nationals traveling to the UK.passport approval image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
  
  International travel to the UK has become easier with tourist visa waiver exemptions, and biometric data analysis. Biometric data has allowed those traveling to England a simpler experience by scanning their fingers at a UK port of entry. Visa waver exemptions have allowed nationals of certain countries to enter the UK without a visa. Nigerian nationals, however, must apply for the UK tourist visa before entering the country.
  
  

Travel Intent

• To qualify for the UK tourist visa, the applicant must intend to stay in the UK for less than a six months, and but be in the UK for business or tourism purposes. A different application must be filed if the applicant intends on staying longer than six months, intends on going to school, or intends on working while he is in the UK. The applicant must also intend on leaving when the visa expires and return to Nigeria. The applicant may have to prove intent to leave by showing ties to Nigeria through documentation.
  
  

Financial Support

• The visa applicant must be able to show that he has sufficient funds to provide for his stay in the UK. Financial support cannot come from any state funds, including unemployment. There must be enough money to support the visa applicant and any dependents traveling with him.
  
  

Visa Application

• A completed visa application form VAF1A (General Tourist) is required. The application can be downloaded as a PDF from the UK Border agency website. The application asks a series of questions such as name, marital status, travel plans, citizenship information, passport information, contact information, information about dependents, current employer and schooling. The application must be completed, printed and signed.
  
  

Passport and Passport Photos

• The visa applicant must possess a valid national passport. The passport must have at least one blank page on the inside of the passport (both sides of the page must be blank). The passport must also have at least six months before expiration after the intended date of departure from the UK. Also, an additional color passport photo must be submitted with the application and all other documents.
  
  

VFS (Visa Facilitation Service) Global

• The UK Border Agency is partners with VFS Global to help collect all applications, additional documentation, take the biometric finger scans, and collect the visa application fee. In Nigeria there are three VFS Global partners located in Abuja, Victoria Island (Lagos), and Ikeja (see Resources).