Nigerian Visa: Requirements and Application Procedure

You require a visa to enter Nigeria, unless you are from the following countries:

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Chad
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Liberia
• Mali
• Niger
• Senegal
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

If you don’t hold passport from any of the above countries, then you will need a visa before you can enter Nigeria for tourism, business, work, etc.

Generally, citizens of West African countries do not require a visa to enter Nigeria.

Clearly understand the purpose of your visit (visa category) before deciding on what visa type may be suitable for you.

Are you visiting for any of the following reasons or purposes?

• Tourist/Vacation/Pleasure Visit
• Business/Training/Conference
• Diplomat/Foreign Government Official
• Domestic Employee/Nanny
• Transit
• Performing Athlete/Artist/Entertainer
• Crew Member
• Employment/Work Permit
• Exchange Visitor
• Media/Journalist
• Medical Treatment Visitor
• Religious Work
• Settlement/Fiance
• Student/Academic/Vocational/Study

Then, there is a visa for you. Depending on the purpose of your visit, here are the various types of visa you may apply for, the requirements and application process.

Nigerian Visa Types, Specific Requirements and Application Procedures

• Tourist Visa
• Visa on Arrival (e-visa)
• Business Visa
• Temporary Work Permit
• Transit Visa
• Subject to Regularization (STR)
• Diplomatic Visa

1. Nigeria Tourist Visa

Nigerian Tourist Visa is issued to citizens of all countries who require visa to enter Nigeria, except ECOWAS nationals and other countries which Nigeria has entered into visa abolition agreements.

Foreign travelers who wish to visit Nigeria for the purpose of tourism, vacation, pleasure visit, or those who wish to visit family and friends qualify to get a Nigerian Tourist Visa.

Requirements/Checklist for Nigeria Tourist Visa

The following are the basic requirements for getting a Nigerian tourist visa:

1. Passport valid for at least 6 months, with at least 2 blank visa pages for endorsement.
2. Two recent passport photographs (white background)
3. Evidence of sufficient funds (bank statement)
4. Address of host in Nigeria or Evidence of hotel reservation.
5. Invitation letter from host in Nigeria.

Validity

The Nigerian Tourist Visa is valid for 90 days (that is, 3 months); it is not valid for employment purposes.

Applying for a Nigerian Tourist Visa

If you have the above requirements, you can now apply for a Nigerian Tourist Visa in the following way:

1. Fill the online application form on the Nigerian Immigration website. After completion of application, print out the completed form.
2. Pay the applicable visa fees online on the immigration portal and print out the payment receipt.
3. Affix 2 passport sized photographs to completed Visa Form IMM22, along with the other requirements (letter of invitation, reservation confirmation, etc.) and submit in to Nigerian Embassy/Consulate/High Commission in your country of residence.

Note that you must have permanent resident status in a country you are apply from. Here is a full list of Nigerian Embassies in various countries with their addresses and contacts.

The visa fees also vary depending on your nationality/passport. There is also an additional $20 processing fee. So if the visa fee for your country is $60 for instance, you will end up paying a total of $280.

Here are Nigerian visa fees for all countries.

2. Nigeria Visa on Arrival

If you can’t get a Nigerian visa at the embassy in your country of residence, it is possible to get a Nigerian visa on arrival (VoA). Here is how to apply for a Nigerian Visa on Arrival.

With a visa on arrival, you don’t need a visit to the embassy, you only need to fill an online application, pay the visa fee and then wait for an approval letter from the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service.

But before you fill the online application for Nigerian visa on arrival, you will require the following documents.

Applicant Requirements for Nigeria Visa on Arrival (VoA)

1. A letter of self-introduction/application
2. Flight itinerary (with a valid return ticket)
3. Passport data page of applicant (with at least 6 months validity)
4. Two recent passport photographs
5. Letter of Invitation to Nigeria
6. CAC Certificate of Host Company

If you have all the above requirements ready, you may now submit your application for a Nigerian visa on arrival (VoA).

After submitting your application, print out your application form and sign where applicable. Then, proceed with the online visa payment.

After payment, print out the payment receipt and acknowledgement slip, and wait to receive an approval from the Nigeria Immigration Service via email within two working days.

If your VoA application is approved, you should get a letter of approval within 48 hours. You cannot travel to Nigeria without the Letter of Approval; you will be denied entry and sent back from the airport.

Here’s how the Nigerian visa on arrival approval letter looks:

If you don’t receive the letter of approval after two working days, it means your visa on arrival application may have been declined for one reason or the other.

If you want a sure way to get a Nigerian visa on arrival, then let us do the processing for you. We offer a unique service that lets us process and expedite your Nigerian visa on arrival with guaranteed 100% visa approval and nothing less, or you get your full money back.

In a nutshell, you can get a Nigerian visa at the embassy in your country of residence or on arrival. However, you will need to strictly comply with the visa application requirements and processes in both cases in order to have your visa approved.

If you apply for a Nigeria visa on arrival, then you must obtain a letter of approval from the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration before traveling. This letter is evidence of visa approval and what qualifies you to enter Nigeria.