Can I get a Nigerian visa at the airport?

Intending visitors to Nigeria often ask us if they can get a visa at the airport on arrival. The answer is Yes…and No!

YES, because you can get a Nigerian visa at the airport if you do the needful. In fact many visitors to Nigeria choose to get a visa on arrival.

NO because you cannot just board a flight to Nigeria and expect to be issued a visa at the airport upon arrival. You will be sent back to your country. To qualify for a Nigeria visa on arrival, you must first apply and obtain a letter of approval.

Citizens of all nationalities who require a visa to enter Nigeria can get a Nigerian Visa on Arrival (VoA). However, to qualify for a Nigerian Visa on Arrival, you must first get an approval letter.

Here is how the Nigerian Visa on Arrival program works:

1. The visa on arrival (VoA) is issued as a business visa to non African nationals.
2. You must obtain an approval letter before you can get the visa
3. It is open to citizens of all nationalities
4. You must have a passport with at least six months validity
5. Flight itinerary indicating return ticket is required

How to get a Nigerian visa at the airport on arrival

The only way you can get a Nigerian visa at the airport on arrival is if you apply for and get an approval letter from the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). There are two ways to submit an application for a Nigerian visa on arrival approval letter:

Self-application

If you have supporting documents for Nigeria visa on arrival, you can submit an online application by yourself and submit all required documents.

If your application is approved, you will get a mail within 48 hours with the approval documents. Majority of visitors who apply on their own don’t get this approval letter. You cannot travel without the approval documents, otherwise you will be turned back from the airport.

Apply through Destinali

The surest way to get Visa on Arrival (VoA) approval is to apply through Destinali, a travel documents processing company that can help with speedily processing of visa on arrival approval letter from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Here is how to get visa on arrival approval letter through Destinali.

Conclusion

If you must travel to get a Nigerian visa on arrival (VoA) at the airport, you must first get an approval letter from the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). You can apply for approval on your own but there is no guarantee you will get it.

If, however, you apply through a travel representative in Nigeria such as Destinali, you are sure to get approval at a cost.