The Republic of Nigeria is a wonderful country known for many things. It is located in the West of Africa and is known for being one of the countries with the most populous black nation in the world.
Foreign citizens who want to visit Nigeria will most likely need to apply for a visa. So, for further information regarding the Nigeria visa policy, read the article below.
Who Needs a Visa for Nigeria?
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Nigeria:
- Benin
- Gambia
- Niger
- Burkina Faso
- Ghana
- Senegal
- Cameroon
- Guinea
- Seychelles
- Cabo Verde
- Guinea-Bissau
- Sierra Leone
- Chad
- Liberia
- Togo
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
Other Visa Exemptions
Here are some other visa exemptions:
- Former citizens of Nigeria who are holders of a valid foreign passport, but they have the expired Nigerian passport can enter the country without a visa:
- Diplomatic or service passport holders of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the country:
- Brazil
- China
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Diplomatic passport holders from Turkey do not need a visa to enter the country.
- Public affairs passport holders from China do not need a visa to enter and stay in the country for 30 days.
How to Apply for a Nigeria Visa?
Here are all the options for applying for a Nigeria visa:
- Apply online.
- Apply at the port of entry.
Apply Online
Foreign applicants who want to apply for a Nigeria visa online must follow these instructions:
- Enter the official page of the Nigeria Immigration Office.
- Choose the type of visa you are applying for.
- Choose the country you are applying from.
- Start the application and fill out the application form with all the required information.
- Attach other required documents to support your visa application form.
- Finish the applicable visa fee payment.
- Wait until you receive an answer.
Apply at the Port of Entry
All African travelers are allowed to apply for a visa on arrival. The applicant must have a valid passport to apply for a Nigeria visa on arrival.
Other documents may be required, so contact the Nigeria embassy or consulate. The embassy will inform you regarding the required documents you need to submit.
Nigeria Visa Requirements
To apply for a Nigeria visa, submit the following documents:
- Passport that is valid for at least six months after the return date.
- A fully completed visa application form.
- Two passport-size photographs. Photos should be taken within the last three to six months.
- A document proving that the applicant has finished the applicable visa fee payment.
- A flight itinerary. Proof that you have purchased a return ticket to your home country (it doesn’t have to be real ticket).
- An accommodation proof in Nigeria. This document must be a hotel reservation, rental agreement, or invitation letter.
- A letter of invitation. You need to submit proof of invitation from a friend or a family member residing in Nigeria.
Note: The Immigration Office can request other documents to support your visa application form. Remember that any missing document can lead to your visa being denied.
Nigeria Visa Processing Time
The processing time for a Nigeria visa application is approximately 48 hours. The processing time can be extended if there is any missing/false information or document.
Duration of a Nigeria Visa
The duration of a Nigeria visa is between seven to 90 days (renewable). For further information regarding the visa duration, the embassy of Nigeria will inform you once the visa is issued.
Nigeria Visa Fees
The Nigeria visa fee depends on the type of visa that the applicant is applying for. However, many visa applicants will pay an amount of $160, $190, or $265, depending on the visa type they are applying for.
For further information regarding the visa fee amount, the applicant must contact the embassy or the consulate of Nigeria.
Nigeria Visa Types
There are five main types of visas in Nigeria:
- Tourist and transit visas.
- Business, study, and religious visa.
- Temporary work permit (TWP).
- Subject to regularization (STR).
- Official/diplomatic visa.
All of the mentioned visa types are available. So applicants from around the world can apply for any of the visa types that they need.
Tourist and Transit Visas
A tourist visa is issued to foreigners who want to enter the country for visiting and sightseeing purposes. A tourist visa is valid for a maximum period of 90 days.
A transit visa is issued to foreigners who must transit through Nigeria to their final destination.
Business, Study, and Religious Visa
A business visa is issued to foreigners who want to enter Nigeria for business purposes. The business visa is valid for 90 days to five years. The business visa is divided into two categories:
- Short stay visa (SVVs).
- Permanent residence visas (PRVs).
Temporary Work Permit (TWP)
A temporary work permit is issued to foreigners with high skills in installations, maintenance, repair of equipment, or other temporary work-related activities. Applicants who want to apply for a temporary work permit must have proof that they have a job waiting in Nigeria. They are required to provide documents such as:
- A work contract.
- A letter of acceptance from the employer in Nigeria.
- A formal R11 application issued by the employer indicating acceptance of Immigration Responsibilities.
Note: The Nigerian Mission or Visa Application Center may request other information/documents to support your application.
Subject to Regularization (STR)
A subject to regularization is issued to foreigners who take full employment in Nigeria. A subject to regularization visa is recommended for the following categories:
- Expatriates and their dependents.
- Technical officials of Diplomatic Missions in Nigeria.
- International students.
- Free Zone Expatriates and their dependents.
- Researchers.
- Clerics and their dependents.
- Other highly skilled foreign workers or students who wish to stay in Nigeria for the long term.
Official/Diplomatic Visa
A official/diplomatic visa is only available for:
- Visiting the statesman/stateswomen and their family members.
- Top government officials and their family members.
- Accredited diplomats and their family members.
An official/diplomatic visa is obtained through Nigerian Consular Missions.
Why Should You Visit Nigeria?
Here are a few reasons why you should visit Nigeria:
- Nigeria is known for having one of the largest diversity of butterflies in the world. It has very beautiful and rare species of butterflies.
- One of the biggest street parties in Africa is in Nigeria. Many tourists worldwide gather to see and experience the festival up close. The long festival includes concerts, parades, fashion shows, and other attractive activities.
- The movie industry in Nigeria, called ‘Nollywood,’’ produces more movies than Hollywood. The production of movies in Nigeria produces around 1,000 films each year.
- You can find different fruits and vegetables like nowhere else. Some of these fruits and vegetables are very hard to find outside Africa.
- Nigeria is home to more than 521 languages. This is why Nigeria is considered one of the most multilingual countries in the world.
- You can do many activities throughout the day and night. You can go hiking, visit water parks, street markets, museums, etc.
- Nigeria has extremely beautiful landscapes of all types, including mountains, beaches, parks, forests, cities, etc.
- The second longest bridge in Africa is located in Nigeria.