Visamundi

Nigeria

Tourism, business and family visits

6 documents
Available
≈ 3 days
Processing time
5
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Electronic visaArrival card

Available travel documents

6 options for Nigeria

Choose the visa that fits your trip. Fully online process, real-time tracking.

Since 1 May 2025, Nigeria has entered the digital age by launching a fully online e-Visa system: no more consular appointments, no more sending your passport by post. Whether you are travelling to explore Lagos, build business relationships or visit family, the entire application is completed online, from the comfort of your home. This guide covers everything you need to know about Nigeria's genuine electronic visa — eligibility requirements, required documents, processing times, and the step-by-step procedure — so you can travel with complete peace of mind.

01 · The essentials

Nigeria goes digital: the e-Visa explained

100% online

Since 1 May 2025, all Nigeria e-Visa applications are completed entirely remotely, with no consular visit or passport mailing required.

6-month passport

Regardless of the visa category chosen, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your intended return date from Nigeria.

Yellow fever mandatory

The yellow fever vaccine is a legal requirement to enter Nigeria: your international vaccination booklet is checked at the airport for every traveller.

Official Nigeria Immigration Service portal for the e-Visa
The official Nigeria Immigration Service portal, where the e-Visa application is submitted online.

The Nigerian e-Visa is a genuine electronic visa — not a simple travel authorisation or an ETA. Once approved by the Nigerian authorities, it is sent to you as a PDF by email. You must print it in colour and present it upon arrival, together with your passport.

The system covers several travel purposes: tourism, business, transit and family visits. Designed to simplify access to Nigeria for short stays, it allows consular officers to focus on complex cases while offering travellers significant time savings.

Biometric data is collected only at the port of entry, at the airport. The entire process is therefore remote until your arrival on Nigerian territory.

Document type
e-Visa (genuine electronic visa — non-renewable, non-extendable)
Travel purposes covered
Tourism, business (single or multiple entries), transit, family visit
Processing time
5 business days — allow at least 15 days before departure
Visa validity
90 days from the date of approval
Authorised length of stay
Up to 30 consecutive days
Entry type
Single entry (tourism, transit, visit) — single or multiple (business)
Format received
PDF by email, must be printed in colour
Passport required
Valid for at least 6 months after the return date
LeCard (arrival card)
To be completed separately on lecard.immigration.gov.ng or via simplified form — free of charge
Good to know

Nigeria has also introduced a digital arrival and departure card: the LeCard. Available free of charge on the official platform lecard.immigration.gov.ng, it is required in addition to the e-Visa and applies to all categories of travellers. Be sure to complete it before your arrival to speed up border control procedures.

02 · Eligibility

Who can apply for the e-Visa? Nigeria's entry rules

Map of visa-exempt countries for Nigeria
Countries whose nationals may travel to Nigeria without a visa.

The Nigerian e-Visa is accessible to the vast majority of nationalities. If you are a citizen of the European Union (France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland…), Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom or the great majority of countries in the world, you are eligible and can submit your application online.

Citizens of ECOWAS member countries (Economic Community of West African States) and certain countries with bilateral agreements benefit from a visa exemption to travel to Nigeria. These nationals may enter freely, without any prior formalities. They may nonetheless submit an e-Visa application if they wish.

Following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS in January 2025, the organisation has 12 members. The 11 exempt member countries (excluding Nigeria) are: Benin, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. Under separate bilateral agreements, Cameroon and Chad (non-ECOWAS members), as well as Saint Kitts and Nevis (90 days) and Seychelles (90 days), also benefit from a visa exemption for Nigeria.

EU, Canadian, US nationals…

Eligible for the Nigeria e-Visa. The application is completed entirely online before departure.

Visa-exempt countries

Visa exemption: free entry with no prior formalities for nationals of current ECOWAS members and certain bilateral agreement countries. The e-Visa application remains optional.

Family and group applications

Nigeria allows group applications for all e-Visa categories. Government fees are charged per applicant.

Reciprocity rule

Consular fees vary according to the traveller's nationality. Nigeria applies a strict reciprocity rule, resulting in differentiated rates depending on the diplomatic agreements in force.

Mandatory regulatory delay of 3 days

Under the Nigeria Immigration Service regulations, there must be a minimum delay of 3 days between the date of e-Visa application submission and the intended arrival date on Nigerian territory. In other words, you cannot depart less than 3 days after submitting your application — even if processing is fast. Plan accordingly.

03 · The procedure

Obtaining your Nigeria e-Visa: the step-by-step process

The Nigeria e-Visa procedure takes place entirely online. Unlike the previous consular system, you no longer need to travel or send your passport by post. Here is how the steps unfold, from preparing your file to receiving your official document.

  1. 1
    Prepare your documents

    Gather all required documents (passport, identity photo, flight tickets, proof of accommodation, bank statement). Check that each document is legible, complete and meets the requirements — an incomplete file is the main cause of delays or refusals.

  2. 2
    Complete the online form

    Access the application form (via the official portal or our simplified form in English). Enter your personal details, travel information, purpose of stay and arrival and return dates. It takes less than 5 minutes.

  3. 3
    Upload your supporting documents

    Upload legible scans or photos of your documents to the secure platform. Each document is checked for compliance before submission to the Nigerian authorities. A non-compliant document may result in refusal and loss of fees.

  4. 4
    Wait for processing

    The average processing time by the Nigerian authorities is 5 business days. During this period, your file is reviewed by the Nigeria Immigration Service. If additional documents are required, you will be notified by email.

  5. 5
    Receive your e-Visa by email

    If approved, you will receive your official approval document in PDF format by email. You must print it in colour: it will be required at the airport, together with your passport.

  6. 6
    Arrival in Nigeria

    Present your colour-printed e-Visa, your passport and your international vaccination booklet (yellow booklet with the yellow fever vaccine) to immigration officers upon arrival. Biometric data is collected at this stage.

Example of a Nigerian e-Visa with barcode
The Nigerian e-Visa features a unique barcode, which must be printed in colour.

The Nigerian e-Visa is visually distinguished by a unique barcode that allows immigration officers to quickly verify the authenticity of the document. This barcode is generated upon approval and contains all the information from your file.

Colour printing is mandatory: officers are trained to detect black-and-white printouts, which are not accepted. Plan to print several copies in case of loss or damage to the document during your trip.

From your personal account on the platform, you have access to the form, document uploads, file tracking, messaging to contact us, as well as downloading your e-Visa and invoice.

Tip

The slightest error in the official form can lead to refusal and loss of consular fees. Carefully re-read each field, particularly the travel dates, passport number and accommodation address. These three elements are the most frequent sources of error.

04 · Required documents

Your complete file: the documents to prepare without fail

Nigeria has chosen the path of digitalisation: no more sending your passport by post. You simply need to provide us with legible photos or scans of your documents. Here is a full list of the documents to gather to constitute a complete and compliant file.

Required documents for all e-Visa categories
  • Valid passportValid for at least 6 months after your return date. The personal data page must be legible and intact.
  • Recent identity photoRecent, clear, on a white background. Ensure the face is clearly visible, without glasses or headwear.
  • Proof of flightYour round-trip flight tickets confirming the entry and exit dates from Nigerian territory.
  • Proof of accommodationHotel booking confirmation or invitation letter from your host, with full address.
  • Proof of financial resourcesRecent bank statement (covering the last 180 days) demonstrating that you can cover your expenses during the stay. This document is strictly required.
Yellow fever vaccine: absolute requirement

The yellow fever vaccine is a strict requirement to enter Nigeria, without exception. Your international vaccination booklet — the "yellow booklet" — will be requested by immigration officers at the airport, along with your e-Visa and passport. Absence of this document may result in denial of entry. If you are not up to date, make an appointment with your doctor or an international vaccination centre well before your departure.

Simple but demanding online process

The Nigeria e-Visa system is broadly accessible, but the bank statement covering 180 days and the proof of accommodation are strictly required. Any incomplete or inconsistent file (dates not matching the ticket, missing accommodation address…) will be rejected, resulting in loss of fees. Prepare each document carefully before starting your application.

For business e-Visa applicants, additional documents may be required depending on the profile and nature of the professional assignment. It is advisable to anticipate and prepare any documents related to the host company or entity in advance of the application.

The e-Visa categories available through our platform cover: tourism (F5A, single entry), transit (F3B, single entry), business with single entry (F4A) or multiple entries (F4B), and family or acquaintance visit (F6A, single entry). Other categories exist (academic exchange, humanitarian, journalist, medical, religious…) but require processing at the embassy.

05 · Validity & fees

Length of stay, visa validity and the tariff reciprocity rule

The validity structure of the Nigerian e-Visa is based on distinct concepts that should not be confused. The e-Visa is valid for 90 days from its date of approval: this means you must enter Nigerian territory within that period. Once entered, you are authorised to stay for a maximum of 30 consecutive days.

The tourism, transit and family visit e-Visas are issued as single-entry: only one border crossing is permitted. The business e-Visa exists in two versions: single entry (F4A) or multiple entries (F4B), allowing you to leave and re-enter Nigeria during the validity period.

Non-renewable

Nigerian e-Visas cannot be extended. If you need to stay beyond 30 days, you must leave the country and submit a new application. No extension is possible on the territory.

Tariff reciprocity

Nigeria applies a strict reciprocity rule: consular fees vary according to your nationality. They also fluctuate based on exchange rates, as they are set in US dollars (USD).

Minimum 3-day delay

There must be a minimum delay of 3 days between the date of submission of your application and your intended arrival date in Nigeria.

Extended stays

To stay more than 30 days or reside long-term, consider a work permit, student visa or investor visa — these categories require embassy processing (approximately 10 business days).

Important — Fees

The fees displayed by our agency include both the basic consular fees imposed by the Nigerian authorities and the service fee (verification, submission, file tracking). The consular fees alone amount to 225 € for the nationalities concerned. If you are unsure about the fee applicable to your nationality, do not hesitate to contact us before starting your application.

06 · Before you go

Nigeria: preparing your trip and avoiding common mistakes

Nigeria is a destination that leaves no one indifferent. The cultural and economic heart of West Africa, it offers a unique blend of ancestral traditions and vibrant modernity. Lagos, the world capital of Afrobeats, boasts a thriving arts scene, the Nollywood film industry and the beaches of Victoria Island. Inland, the Yankari Game Reserve is home to hundreds of elephants, while Zuma Rock and the canopy of the Lekki Conservation Centre delight nature lovers.

But to ensure your trip goes smoothly, a few points of vigilance are essential. Here are the most common mistakes and tips for avoiding them.

Security in Nigeria — Heightened vigilance

Nigeria is subject to travel warnings from several governments. The US State Department rates Nigeria at Level 3 – Reconsider Travel (updated 12 June 2026), citing criminal violence and terrorist activity, particularly in north-eastern states (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa). The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs classifies several Nigerian regions as areas to avoid except for compelling reasons. An attack in Maiduguri on 16 March 2026 caused civilian casualties. Check your government's travel advisories before departure and stay informed of the evolving security situation.

Mistakes to avoid at all costs
  1. Leaving it too late. The processing time is 5 business days on average, plus the mandatory 3-day delay between the submission date and the arrival date. Not counting any Nigerian administrative delays. Submit your application at least 15 days before departure.
  2. Forgetting the yellow fever vaccine. This is not a recommendation — it is a legal requirement. The yellow booklet is physically checked at the airport. Without this document, entry may be denied.
  3. Printing in black and white. The e-Visa must be printed in colour. A black-and-white document will not be accepted by Nigerian immigration officers.
  4. Omitting the bank statement. Proof of financial resources (statement covering the last 180 days) is strictly required. Its absence results in systematic rejection of the file.
  5. Confusing the e-Visa and the visa exemption. If you are not a national of a visa-exempt country (current ECOWAS members or bilateral agreement countries), you need an e-Visa to enter Nigeria, regardless of your purpose of travel.
  6. Travelling with a passport close to expiry. The 6-month residual validity rule is strictly enforced. Check your passport's expiry date even before starting your application.
Pre-departure preparation checklist
  • Check passport validityAt least 6 months after the intended return date from Nigeria.
  • Check eligibility statusVerify that your nationality is not among the visa-exempt countries (current ECOWAS members or bilateral agreement countries), then submit your e-Visa application.
  • Yellow fever vaccine up to dateBook an appointment at an international vaccination centre if not yet done. Keep the yellow booklet to present on arrival.
  • Prepare a bank statement covering the last 180 daysStrictly required document to prove sufficient financial resources.
  • Obtain proof of accommodationHotel booking confirmation or invitation letter from your host with full address.
  • Book round-trip flight ticketsDates must correspond exactly to the information declared in the e-Visa application form.
  • Submit the e-Visa application at least 15 days before departureTo allow enough time in case of a request for additional documents or extended administrative delays.
  • Print the e-Visa in colourUpon receipt of the PDF by email. Print several copies in case of loss or damage. Check the barcode is legible.
  • Complete the LeCard (digital arrival card)Available free of charge on lecard.immigration.gov.ng or via our simplified form. To be done before arrival.
Key takeaways on the Nigeria e-Visa

Launched on 1 May 2025, the Nigerian e-Visa marks a clear break from the previous consular system. The procedure is now entirely online, fast and accessible to the vast majority of nationalities worldwide — except for nationals of visa-exempt countries (current ECOWAS members and bilateral agreement countries) who do not need one. The visa is valid for 90 days and authorises a maximum stay of 30 consecutive days; it is non-renewable and non-extendable. Two absolute imperatives never to overlook: the yellow fever vaccine (a legal requirement, checked at the airport) and printing the PDF document in colour. By submitting your application at least 15 days in advance and putting together a complete and consistent file, entry to Nigeria is perfectly accessible to all travellers worldwide.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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