Last updated on August 14th, 2021 at 07:29 am
Are you planning to visit Nigeria for tourist or conference? You need to check requirements for Nigerian visa, then decide whether you want to visit or not.
There are several reason you may want to visit Nigeria: for tourism, business, conferences, work etc. Whatever the purpose of your visit you need to obtain passport of your own and obtain Nigerian visa related to your visit.
What is Nigerian visa?
A Nigerian visa is a conditional authorization granted by the Nigerian government through her immigration office to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave Nigeria.
Nigerian visa is one of the valid traveling documents that grants you access into Nigerian soil. In addition to passport, visitors are required to have a visa. To begin your process of entry into Nigerian, you will need to obtain visa from a Nigerian embassy, commission or consulate in advance from the country you’re coming from.
Unlike The Gambia which grants free visa entry to Nigerians and some other African countries, the situation is different for Nigeria. You need a visa to visit Nigeria except visa waiver granted to citizens of ECOWA members state, which is not absolutely free.
Nigerian Visa Requirements
Below are the entry requirements for foreign nationals who want to visit Nigeria
- Invitation letter from Nigeria addressed to the Mission
- Copy of passport from the host
- Copy of driver’s licence from the host
- Affidavit
- Copy of certificate of incorporation from host if it’s a business or church trip
- Hotel reservation
- Flight itinerary
- One coloured passport size photo with white background
- Valid passport (6 months before expiry) and copy of data page
- Copy of resident permit or exemption certificate
- Certified copy of Identity card
- Recent bank statement (minimum depends on your country’s currency) which should be stamped
- Letter of request for visa by the applicant
- Yellow fever certificate and copy
- Then you’ll be required to fill the form online at www.immigration.gov.ng and print
- Pay online and print the receipt
Having known the requirements to visit Nigeria, it is very important to know they types of visa you apply for before your visit to Nigeria.
Types of Nigerian Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Tourist Visa
- Temporary Work Permit
- Transit Visa
- Business Visa
- Subject to Regularization Visa
Nigerian Visa validity period
| Nigerian Visa (types) |
Validity |
| Diplomatic Visa | 90 days |
| Tourist Visa | 90 days |
| Temporary Work Permit | 90 days |
| Transit Visa | 7 days |
| Business Visa | 90 days |
| Subject to Regularization Visa | 90 days |
Diplomatic Visa
Diplomatic Visa is specifically reserved for Heads of States and their families, top officials of Government like ministers and their families, accredited Diplomats like Ambassadors, High Commissioners and their families, and Holders of United Nations / International Agencies Diplomatic Passport and Laisser Passez.
Nigerian Tourist Visa
This kind of visa is designed for for citizens of all countries except ECOWAS Nationals who do not require the visa to visit Nigeria.
Nationals of another country (except ECOWAS ) who are visiting Nigeria to visit some beautiful places in Nigeria will have to apply for Nigerian tourist visa.
Temporary Work Permit (TWP)
Temporary Work Permit is designed for expatriates invited by Corporate Bodies to provide services, such as after-sales Installation /Commissioning/ Upgrading/Maintenance/Repairs of equipment and machinery, Training /capacity building for Nigerian staff, Audit of machinery/ equipment and financial records.
Most of the foreign site engineers working with RCC, Julius Berger and other foreign-linked companies in Nigeria apply for TWP visa.
Transit Visa
The Nigerian Transit Visa is available to foreign travelers entering Nigeria for an onward destination outside the country.
Nigerian Business Visa
Business Visa is available to foreign Travelers who wish to visit Nigeria for the purpose of Meeting, Emergency/Relief work, Conference, Trade Fairs, Seminar, Contract Negotiation, Marketing, Sales, Purchase distribution of Nigerian Goods, , Job Interviews, Training of Nigerians (Humanitarian Services) etc whose visit is linked to a specific business.
Subject to Regularization (STR) Visa
Nigerian Subject to Regularization visa is available to expat employees of Companies and their dependents, missionaries / Clerics and their dependents, foreign Students, research Fellows, and expatriate Technical officials of Missions.
How much is Nigeria visa fee?
Nigerian visa fess is largely dependents on the country you’re applying from. However, you may have to pay, depending on your visa class, pay either $160, $190 or $265 at GT Bank in Nigeria.
Do UK citizens need visa for Nigeria?
YES citizens of United Kingdom need a valid visa to visit Nigeria. In situation whereby you have a valid Nigerian residence permit (CERPAC or Green Card) you don’t need a visa to enter Nigeria.
We’ve listed the requirements above, to be sure of any changes please visit Nigeria High Commission in London.
Wrapping up:
Nigerian visa entry requirements listed in this post are applicable to nationals of countries outside ECOWAS member states, and other countries which Nigeria doesn’t have visa abolition agreements with.
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