VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions, has officially launched new Visa Application Centres in Nairobi and Mombasa to provide streamlined UK visa services. The launch comes after VFS Global secured the contract to offer UK visa services in 142 countries, including 31 in Africa.
Starting October 22, 2024, residents of Kenya planning to travel to the UK can book appointments to submit their visa applications at these state-of-the-art centres. This move is part of a broader expansion of VFS Global’s partnership with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which dates back to 2003.
In his statement, Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa for VFS Global, expressed the company’s excitement over the new venture in Kenya. “We are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration here in Kenya. We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with UKVI since 2003 and look forward to now bringing travellers from Kenya our best-in-class services,” said Singhal.
The new Visa Application Centres in Nairobi and Mombasa will offer a variety of optional services to make the visa application process more convenient and efficient for UK-bound travellers. These services include:
- Document Upload Assistance: Providing help with the digital submission of required documents.
- Prime Time Appointment: Allowing applicants to submit their visa applications outside standard business hours for added flexibility.
- SMS Notifications: Enabling real-time updates on the status of applications.
- Document Checking Service: Ensuring all documents are correctly prepared for submission.
- Courier Return of Passports: Returning passports directly to applicants once the decision is made.
Customers in Nairobi will also have access to the On-Demand Mobile Visa Service, which allows them to submit their applications from any preferred location, such as their home or office. Additionally, VFS Global’s Keep My Passport While Applying service will enable applicants to retain their passports after submitting their applications and biometrics. They will only need to resubmit their passports when a decision is reached.
VFS Global emphasizes that all these services are optional and do not affect the processing timeline or outcomes of visa applications. Applicants can book these services in advance through the official website at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ken/en/gbr or at the Visa Application Centres during their scheduled appointments.
Before the new contract, VFS Global provided visa services for the UK in 58 countries. With this latest contract, the company has expanded its reach to 142 countries, solidifying its role as a key partner to UK Visas and Immigration. In Africa alone, VFS Global will now manage UK Visa Application Centres in 31 countries.
This expansion aims to improve the visa application experience for UK-bound travellers by offering them a variety of value-added services and increasing accessibility to visa services across multiple locations.
