All foreigners or visitors planning to visit Nigeria are required to obtain a Nigerian visa unless they come from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries that are exempted from obtaining visa to enter Nigeria

The application for a Nigerian visa may be carried out at the Nigerian embassies or online through the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) website. For the entry visa, the application is made on the home page of the online portal of the NIS and following steps stipulated below;

  • The applicant is to click on the appropriate entry visa/free zone application form to start the process.
  • After completing the application form, submit the same to view the applicant's data page.
  • Proceed to make an online payment for the visa application.
  • For payments outside of Nigeria, the applicant is to select the processing country and the payment will automatically be in US Dollars.
  • Upon payment, the applicant is required to take the visa payment receipts, international passport, and other documentation to the Nigerian Embassy in the country of residence on the date slated for an interview for the Nigerian Visa.
  • Business Visa

For the Nigerian Business Visa Application, the requirements are as follows;

  • The applicant is required to provide a business cover letter from the inviting company in Nigeria accepting immigration responsibility and where the businessman is self-sponsored, he may not require a letter of invitation but will be required to show evidence of sufficient funds.
  • The applicant must produce an actual signed passport, inclusive of one copy of the personal information page of the passport.
  • The international passport must be valid for the next six (6) months.
  • The passport must have at least two (2) blank facing visa pages, excluding the endorsement and amendments pages.
  • The passport is required to be in a good condition, it must not be torn or altered in any way.
  • The applicant is to provide two coloured passport photographs taken within the last three months and printed on a high-quality photo paper.
  • Tourist/Visitor Visa

For Tourist/Visitor visa application, the following will be required by the NIS.

  • International passport with at least six (6) months validity period.
  • A completed visa application form.
  • Two recent passport size photographs.
  • The applicant is required to provide a letter of invitation from the inviting company or host in Nigeria accepting immigration responsibility.
  • Visitors or tourist applicants are required to show evidence of sufficient funds. The financial details must include a copy of the most recent bank statement with a display of the applicant's full name.
  • The Nigerian Immigration Service Visa payment receipt and Visa Acknowledgment Receipt.
  • Temporary Work Permit (TWP) Visa

TWP is issued to foreign workers seeking to carry out a temporary work not exceeding a period of 90 days in Nigeria. For an application for a Temporary Work Permit (TWP) Visa, the following will be required by the NIS.

  • International passport with at least six (6) months validity.
  • The applicant is to provide a printed copy of the completed application form for a visitor's pass.
  • Two recent passport size photographs.
  • Invitation from a Nigerian company inviting the expatriate to Nigeria to carry out specialized and temporary work
  • Confirmation of online payment.
  • Copy of letter of approval from the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
  • Subject to Regularization (STR) Visa

The STR Visas are issued to expatriates coming to reside and work in Nigeria. Before the applicant can apply for this visa, a company registered in Nigeria must have secured an expatriate quota on behalf of the applicant. For application for Subject to Regularization (STR) Visa, the following will be required by the NIS:

  • International passport with at least six (6) months validity.
  • Completed visa application form with four recent passport photographs.
  • Four copies of confirmation of online payment receipts.
  • Four copies of the letter of expatriate quota approval from the Ministry of Interior.
  • Four copies of the credentials, certificates, and curriculum vitae (CV), all vetted by a relevant official of the Nigerian High Commission/Embassy where applicable.
  • Four copies of the offer letter of employment.
  • Four copies of the letter of acceptance of employment signed by the expatriate.
  • The Nigerian Immigration Service Visa payment receipt and Visa Acknowledgment Receipt.

Finally, on the payment for the Nigerian visa application, it is important to note that cash payments for visa applications have been prohibited by the NIS. Travelers are required to present proof of payment through a printed payment receipt and acknowledgment slip which is issued online at the point of making online payments.

Conclusion

Application for the Nigerian visa can be completed online from anywhere in the world on the online portal of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The guideline and requirements for the Nigeria visa application have been highlighted above.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.