Visa Guidelines for Traveling to Nigeria

Over the last ten years, the Nigerian government has taken steps to enhance the country’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.

In 2017, new visa regulations were introduced for business travelers and tourists, further refined by the Nigeria Visa Policy 2020. If your trip to Nigeria is for tourism, sports, entertainment, medical, or religious purposes, you may apply for the 90-day Short Visitor Visa.

Just five years ago, applicants for a tourist or visitor visa to Nigeria had to select from one of six categories. Now, you can find a fit in at least 75 categories. Additionally, while visas used to be obtainable only at the nearest Nigeria Consular Mission, you can now apply through one of four authorized channels.

Visa-free entry to Nigeria is granted solely to citizens of ECOWAS/CEDEAO-member nations, Chad, and Cameroon. They must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months and has two blank pages for stamps, or they may use the ECOWAS/CEDEAO travel certificate.

Visa Application Process

The Nigerian Immigration Service encourages prospective travelers to utilize any of its Visa Application Centers located globally. Depending on your nationality and whether you’re seeking a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, current fees can vary from $2 to $400.

Traveling with a US passport

If you hold a US passport, you can apply at the Online Integrated Services (OIS) centers located in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, or Washington D.C. The application fee is $160. The process starts online where you can select your preferred location and schedule an appointment.

A frequent hurdle for first-time applicants applying online is ensuring that their passport photo meets the necessary specifications. The photo must be 35x40mm (1.37x1.57in), in color, and set against a white background.

You will need to download and print your application form, acknowledgement slip, and payment slip. Additionally, prepare the following documents: an email printout of your appointment date, flight and hotel reservations, two recent passport photos, an invitation letter from your host in Nigeria, and a printout of their passport data page.

You'll also need to submit bank statements for at least the past two months, showing a minimum balance of $500–1000, based on the application center. Furthermore, proof of yellow fever and polio vaccinations is required.

Most importantly, you must send these documents using two US Postal Service Priority Mail Express envelopes with matching stamps. Your passport will be returned to you in one of these envelopes, regardless of the outcome of your visa application.

Traveling from around the globe

The e-Visa and Visa on Arrival options are available for all travelers, including citizens of African Union (AU) countries. Western travelers can expect to pay between $140 and $270 for a Visa on Arrival, and will need to provide return tickets, a passport photo (with a white background), and a scanned copy of their passport's data page. There is also a $90 fee for biometric processing.

You can submit your application by following the step-by-step guide on the Nigeria Immigration Service portal. Ensure you have the following documents ready to upload: letter of introduction, letter of invitation, flight itinerary, a copy of your passport data page, your visa application, and a certificate of incorporation (for business purposes).

All Visa on Arrival applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to your scheduled departure. You must obtain approval via email before departing from your home country.

Keep your Reference ID and Application ID handy; these are required by immigration officers to verify your application and grant you entry. The initial approval you receive (via email) is valid for 14 days, meaning you must arrive in Nigeria within that timeframe. Upon arrival, you will be issued a 30-day visa at the port of entry.

If you’re traveling with children, apply for a Visa on Arrival and email the Comptroller-General of Immigration at [email protected]. Include a copy of the child's birth certificate and your passport's data page. Just like the Visa on Arrival process, wait for email approval before heading to the port of entry.

Extending your visit

You can extend your Short Stay Visa, except for transit visas and Temporary Work permits, by visiting the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) offices in Nigeria, located in Abuja or Lagos. Make sure to do this at least 30 days before your visa expires. Extensions of 90 days or more are available.

Upon your arrival

Once you have your visa and arrive in Lagos or Abuja, be prepared for a lengthy wait at the airport—allow two to three hours to get through customs and passport control. If it’s your first visit, brace yourself for the humidity, some hustle and bustle, and possibly unsolicited greetings from airport staff. Keep a friendly demeanor but continue on your way.

Despite these shortcomings, stepping outside the terminal reveals a whole new world; prepare yourself for one of the most unforgettable adventures you’ll experience in West Africa.