A visa is required for travel to Nigeria. The documents needed for a Nigerian visa can vary based on the type of visa being applied for. The Nigerian government has the ability to request additional documents at any time based on your reason for travel. Here's a detailed guide to help you navigate the Nigeria visa application process, covering requirements for both tourist and business visas.
Passport Health has partnered with industry leaders in travel document services, RushMyPassport and G3 Travel Services. Nigerian visa fees start at $165, but can be over $250 depending on type of travel and needs of the traveler.
Sample of a Nigerian Visa
Visa Types and Requirements
Depending on the purpose of your visit, the requirements may vary. Here are the general guidelines for tourist and business visas.
Tourist Visa
For a Nigeria Tourist Visa, you must provide:
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- Passport: Your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page. The passport should have at least six months of validity and two blank facing visa pages, excluding endorsements and amendments pages.
- Photographs: Alternatively, you may provide two color, passport-type photographs that meet strict criteria:
- Taken within the last three months against an all-white background.
- Printed on high-quality photo paper.
- Identical in appearance.
- Two inches by two inches in size.
- Provide a full frontal view of your head with your face centered and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression.
- Eyeglasses or headwear are not allowed except for religious purposes.
- Proof of Travel Arrangements: Provide proof of travel arrangements for the duration of your trip, showing the traveler's full name as printed in your passport.
- Hotel Confirmation: You must provide a confirmation of your hotel accommodations, displaying your full name.
- Letter of Invitation: Letter of Invitation from host accepting full immigration responsibility.
- Copy of Bank Statement: Copy of the recent Bank Statement.
- Itinerary: Itinerary.
Business Visa
For a Nigeria Business Visa, you must provide:
- Passport: Original, signed U. S. Passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond stay in Nigeria, with adequate unused visa pages to allow for entry and exit stamps upon arrival and departure from Nigeria.
- Business Letter: A business letter from the sending company in the US. The letter should be printed on the company letterhead stationery, addressed to “The Consulate of Nigeria, Visa Section”, and signed by a senior manager, Vice-President or above. State the nature of the business to be conducted (ie.
- Business Invitation: A business invitation letter from the sponsoring company in Nigeria. The letter should be printed on company letterhead stationery, addressed to “Consulate General of Nigeria, Visa Section”, and signed by a senior manager, Vice-President or above. State the nature of the business to be conducted (ie.
- Itinerary: Itinerary.
Temporary Work Permit (TWP)
To apply for a Temporary Work Permit, you will need:
- Passport: Original, signed U. S. Passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond stay in Nigeria, with adequate unused visa pages to allow for entry and exit stamps upon arrival and departure from Nigeria.
- TWP Cable Nigeria
- Business Letter: A business letter from the sending company in the US. The letter should be printed on the company letterhead stationery, addressed to “The Consulate of Nigeria, Visa Section”, and signed by a senior manager, Vice-President or above. State the nature of the business to be conducted.
Additional Documents for Specific Cases
There are also specific requirements for other types of visas and situations:
- Applicants Under the Age of 18: Applicants under the age of 18 must provide a notarized copy of their birth certificate. Minors traveling with only one parent/guardian must provide a signed and notarized letter of consent from the non-traveling parent/guardian. Minors traveling without parents or guardians must provide a signed and notarized letter of consent from both parents/guardians.
- Temporary work permits: Letter from host company in Nigeria, requesting worker to work temporary and signed by an officer of the host company.
- Employment Offer:
- 4 Copies of Employment Offer Letter.
- Quota.
- 4 Copies of Nigerian Immigration Approval Quota.
- 4 Copies of Resume, Diploma, Degrees, Certificates Earned.
- 4 copies of Company Memorandum & Article of Association.
- CAC Forms 2 & 7.
- 4 Copies of Business Permit.
Important Considerations
"Visa on Arrival"
Nigeria's "Visa on Arrival" requires pre-approval. You must receive a Visa on Arrival approval document from a Nigerian embassy or consulate prior to travel to Nigeria. A Visa on Arrival is only available for the purpose of business travel, as defined by the Nigerian government. No Visa on Arrival is available for tourism. If you attempt to travel to Nigeria without a visa issued into your passport or a Visa on Arrival approval document from a Nigerian embassy or consulate, you will be refused entry.
Health Requirements
A World Health Organization (WHO) yellow card is required for entry into the country. The Nigerian authorities require a Yellow Fever vaccination within the past ten years and that adults have a Polio booster after the original childhood vaccine series. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes a country-specific list of recommended vaccines to receive prior to arrival.
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Safety and Security
Here are some important safety tips to consider:
- Registration: citizens visiting Nigeria should register with the STEP program before their trip. This State Department program provides extra information and support in case of emergency.
- Crime: Muggings, assaults, burglaries, car-jackings, rape, kidnappings, and extortion occur regularly.
- Terrorism: Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack -including knives, firearms, and vehicles - to target crowds more effectively.
- Road Safety: Roads are generally in poor condition, causing damage to vehicles and contributing to hazardous traffic conditions.
- Maritime Security: Piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea continue to trend upwards.
Other Important Information
- You cannot legally depart Nigeria unless you can prove, by presenting your visa and entry stamp, that you entered Nigeria legally.
- In addition, if you exceed your authorized period of stay (as determined by the duration of stay given by the entry officer), you will be required to pay a fine before being allowed to depart.
- Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of Nigeria.
- Consensual, same-sex sexual relations are illegal in Nigeria.
This information is subject to change. Always check with the nearest Nigerian embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date requirements.
See Passport Health’s Nigeria destination advice page with information on safety, climate and more. should be done with extreme caution.
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