UK rejects 35.4% of Nigerian visa applications
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on ThisDay
Illustrative image · Matthis Volquardsen · Pexels · Licence PexelsThe United Kingdom rejected Nigerian visitor visa applications at a rate of 35.4% in the first quarter of 2026, according to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) report. Of more than 4.06 million decisions on Nigerian applicants between 2005 and March 2026, the historical British refusal rate was 33.1%, compared with a global average of 14.8%.
In the United Kingdom, 35.4% of visa applications submitted by Nigerians were rejected in the first quarter of 2026, the Nigerian newspaper ThisDay reports, citing a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The UK rejection rate for Nigerian applicants stood at 33.1% over the period from 2005 to the first quarter of 2026, compared with a global average of 14.8%.
In 2025, the United Kingdom rejected approximately 77,571 Nigerian applications, or 33.1% of the cases examined. In 2024, around 77,706 applications were rejected, at a rate of 33.5%. Over 21 years, the British authorities made more than 4.06 million decisions on Nigerian visas, including 1,344,595 refusals.
Travel obstacles also affect applications to other destinations. According to US State Department data cited by ThisDay, the adjusted refusal rate for B1/B2 visitor visas for Nigerians reached 57% in the 2025 financial year, compared with 46.51% in 2024. For the Schengen area, the refusal rate was 45.9% in 2024 and 46.7% in 2025, according to European Commission figures.
IATA identifies the complexity and cost of procedures as the main concerns for travellers deterred from going abroad. The report also notes that the adoption of biometric systems remains low in Africa, while interest in digital travel solutions is high.
