Nigeria visas
Nigeria's visas are issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service. Most short visits fall under Nigeria's Short Visit Visas, which the Service describes as covering stays of up to 90 days for purposes such as tourism, business meetings, conferences and trade fairs. Many applicants apply online through the official Nigeria e-Visa portal at evisa.immigration.gov.ng. This hub explains the main visa routes in plain language and links to the official sources so you can confirm exactly what applies to you before you travel or apply.
Important information
Nigerian visa categories
Explore visa categories by the purpose of your trip.
- Visitor & short-stay visasShort stays in Nigeria — tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips and transit, plus any visa-free or electronic-authorisation options.5 visas
- Work visasComing to Nigeria to work — the employment and skilled-worker routes and the permits they require.3 visas
- Study visasStudying in Nigeria — student visas and permits for accepted students, and what they let you do.1 visa
- Family visasJoining or sponsoring a family member in Nigeria — spouse, partner, child and other relative routes.2 visas
- Business & investor visasInvesting, doing business or coming to Nigeria as a highly skilled or exceptional individual.1 visa
- Residence & citizenshipLiving in Nigeria long term — permanent residence and, where available, the path to citizenship.1 visa
Nigerian visa application at a glance
From start to finish in five simple steps.
- 01Choose the right visa
- 02Check eligibility & documents
- 03Apply online
- 04Provide biometrics
- 05Wait for a decision
Who needs a visa to Nigeria
Visitors to Nigeria need a visa unless they are from one of the countries that are free from visa requirements. All visitors are required to have a passport that is valid for at least six months.
Entry into Nigeria
Citizens contemplating international travel should consider the ongoing danger of testing positive for COVID-19 while abroad and should purchase travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage. Nigeria continues to report positive COVID-19 cases. In some circumstances, public health measures such as protocols for overseas arrivals and the usage of face masks are still in effect. Due to insufficient testing, the true extent of COVID-19 infections in Nigeria is unknown; travellers should take precautions even though the number of confirmed cases is low. Travel Guidelines for Passengers landing in Nigeria:
- Passengers who are fully immunised against COVID-19 are not needed to undergo COVID-19 testing prior to boarding aircraft heading for Nigeria or upon arrival. This also applies to children under the age of 18; Inbound passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated must take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours prior to departure and undergo PCR tests on Days 2 and 7 post-arrival at their own expense.
- All inbound passengers must register via the Nigeria International Travel Portal.
Criteria to apply for a Nigeria Visa
You will need the following:
- Passport valid for a minimum of six months.
- Form for visa applications duly filled out.
- Two passport images taken recently.
- Introduction Letter (from applicant).
- Evidence of online visa fee payment.
- CAC certificate of the host organisation or Permission for NGOs.
- Flight Plan Itinerary.
Who Can Visit Nigeria Without a Visa?
The following 17 countries do not require a visa to enter Nigeria:
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Liberia
- Mali
- Niger
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
What To Do If Your Nigeria Visa is Refused
You have the right to contest this verdict. The embassy of the Member State that opted to deny the visa distributes a standard form to notify the applicant of the decision to deny a Schengen visa and the reasons for the denial.
Nigeria — key facts
- Entry document
- Visa required
- Short Visit Visas cover stays of up to 90 days (per NIS)
- Authority
- Nigeria Immigration Service
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Apply
- evisa.immigration.gov.ng
- Online through the official Nigeria e-Visa portal
- Common routes
- Tourism (F5A) & Business (F4A)
- Plus executive, e-Visa and Visa on Arrival routes
Nigerian visas — people also ask
Most visitors need a visa. Short visits usually fall under Nigeria's Short Visit Visas, which the Nigeria Immigration Service describes as covering stays of up to 90 days. The Service states that some visas, such as the Tourism Visa (F5A), are available to nationals of all countries except ECOWAS members and visa-waiver countries. Confirm your situation on the official website.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-09. Information only — not legal advice.