As a tourist or visitor- or an intending one would you not love to have background knowledge of your desired tourism destination? Of course, you should know about Nigeria and the Nigeria visa. Your quest for this knowledge has found you here!
Nigeria is a country known officially as the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Geographical location
Nigeria is located in Africa, specifically West Africa, where other black nations are. The Niger Republic borders her to the north, the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Benin Republic borders her to the west, and the Chad Republic to the east. She covers a land area of 923,768-kilometer square.
Population
Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, the most populous black country on earth, and the seventh most populous country globally, with a dense population of about 206 million people (Statistics of 2020 population census). Owing to her large population and economy, she has been recognized as a regional power in Africa’s continent, therefore earning her Giant of Africa’s name.
Nigeria has six geopolitical zones; North Central (also called the Middle Belt), North East, North West, South East, South-South (also called the Niger Delta Region), South West. She has thirty-six (36) states, seven hundred and seventy-four (774) local government areas.
Language
It is of utmost importance for you to know the language spoken in the country you intend to visit. Nigeria has thousands of indigenous languages spoken with so many ethnic groups. However, three ethnic groups over time have been identified to be the major ethnic groups in the country. They are; Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.
To bridge the communication gap between Nigerian and foreigners from diverse nations around the world, the English language has been a long-standing lingua franca. Hence, as a tourist, it is very much comfortable for you to be in Nigeria.
Climate
You sure would want to look stunning when you are away from your place of residence, but at the same time, you don’t want to be caught freezing during your stay nor suffocating because your outfits do not match the weather condition in your chosen travel destination. Having a fair knowledge of the country’s climate you intend to visit is advised to have an experience free of hitches.
Its alteration in seasons characterizes Nigeria. The southern part is often rainy and hot, while the northern part of the country experiences a prolonged drought.
Why You Need a Nigerian Visa
Nigeria is known worldwide for strength in her entertainment, historical artefacts, beautiful landscapes, an abundance of tourist attractions and destinations, magnificent culture, and of all, the hospitality of her people. You don’t want to get Nigerian visa applications completed for a sit-at-home trip, do you? Below are some tourist sites you should explore on your visit to Nigeria.
- Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State
- Port Harcourt Tourist Beach in Rivers State
- Ogbunike Caves in Anambra State
- Coconut Beach in Lagos State
- Nana Living History Museum in Delta State
- Ancient Nok Settlement in Kaduna State
- Abuja Arts and Crafts Village in Abuja
- Awhum Waterfall in Enugu State
- Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin in Edo State
Now, you have background knowledge of Nigeria, what could stop you from accessing the country? Nothing at all but a visa application. Have every detail on how to apply for a Nigeria Visa on the tips of your fingers by getting down on this now!
Eligibility for a Nigerian Visa
It is very normal for a tourist to be lost on how to acquire a visa. Here is a simple guide that will aid your visa application.
Types of Nigerian Visa
First of all, know what kind of Nigeria visa you are applying for to make any risky moves. Nigeria Visa are of four types, they are;
- I. The Visitors, Tourists, and Transit Visas
- II. The Business/ Education/ Religious Visas
- III. Temporary Work Permit – TWP
- IV. Subject to Regularization – STR
The visitors, tourists, and transit visas
Requirements include;
- Letter of Invitation
- Copies of onward visas and tickets
- Birth Certificates (for children with their parents’ names)
- Information page passports of parents
- Letters of consent from both parents if the traveler is a child
- Hotel reservation statement for resident foreigners who are inviting friends
- Letters of acceptance of responsibility for spouses whose partners are visiting
- Proof of financial support
Business/ Education/ Religious Visas
Requirements for the above Nigeria visa (s);
- It is required by the visitor to submit invitation letters from companies or business organizations if the visit is for business.
- It is required by the visitor to submit approval from the ministry of internal affairs, Abuja if the visit is for religious purpose
- It is required by the visitor to submit an invitation letter from the host university of school stating its purpose if the visit is for educational purpose
- The visitor is required to submit a copy of an identification card with a letter from his or her institution if the visitor is a student.
Temporary Work Permit – TWP
A visitor who is coming to Nigeria under the umbrella of the above should get approval from Nigeria for a temporary work permit.
Subject to Regularization – STR.
The requirements for the STR include;
- A valid passport that is at least six months to expiration.
- Application forms that have been completed in four copies.
- Four copies of expatriate quota approval from Nigeria have been certified for Subject to Regularization.
- Four passport photographs with a white background that are recent and show the full face of the applicant.
- Four copies of letters of employment are required.
- Four copies of letters of acceptance are required.
- Four copies of certificates, resume, and credentials that have been certified.
NOTE: ALL THE ITEMS ABOVE MUST BE SUBMITTED IN QUADRUPLICATE
How to Apply for a Nigerian Visa
Application processes of the Nigerian Visa differ with the types of visa. To carry out an effective application process, you are urged to follow the guidelines below carefully:
For Entry Visa
- If you are applying for an entry visa, kindly visit the Nigeria Immigration Portal start page.
- Find the right application form and click on it.
- Carefully fill in all the required information on the form.
- Submit the filled application form to proceed to the page of application details.
- Move on to the online payment section and click on it.
- Go over the options, check the currency you may wish to pay in, click on it and continue the transaction.
- If You Want To Make Payment For The Visa Outside Nigeria
- Click on a country you wish to process from outside Nigeria, you will be redirected to a payment platform approved to complete your application process and make payments in US dollars.
- Locate a Nigerian embassy in your country of residence, submit all required documents and get a scheduled date for the visa interview.
- There! Applying for a Nigerian Visa is not difficult at all, so make your move already!
Click here to apply for a Nigerian visa
Frequently Asked Questions on the Nigeria Visa Application
Can I reschedule my Nigerian visa interview date?
Yes, you can reschedule your Nigerian visa interview date to the next date that is open or available. You can do this by sending your application ID, reference number, and your newly scheduled date to a trusted support mail address.
How long will it take to process my Nigerian visa?
The processing and approval of a Nigerian Visa take a minimum of two days. It may take more days depending on the embassy it is to be delivered to.
What if my Nigerian visa application is rejected?
If your Nigeria visa is rejected, it could be due to forged certificates, criminal records, lack of financial proof, invalid letters of employment, invitation or consent, invalid passport, and so on. You have to go over your documents and details carefully to avoid denying or rejecting a visa.
Does Nigeria make provision for visa-free countries?
Yes, Nigeria has made provisions for visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries. Such countries include Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Gambia, Kenya, Barbados, Iran, Burundi, Dominica, Bangladesh. It should be noted that just as these countries differ, their duration of stay also differs. Some may be 15 days, 30 days, up to 90 days, or even six months, depending on the country.
How much would it cost me to process a Nigerian visa?
All Nigeria visa types do not go with one fee. Although, the fees range between $160, $190, and $265.
Covid-19 Restrictions for Nigerian Visa Travel
Nigeria presently undergoes the second wave of the Covid-19 virus with the most increased number of cases in the Lagos, Kaduna, and Federal Capital Territory regions. Preventive measures are still ongoing;
- The regular washing of hands, hand sanitizers, use of face shields, and nose masks are mandatory and should be strictly adhered to.
- Clustered gatherings should be avoided as any gathering of more than 50 people is prohibited.
- Religious activities are restricted to 50% of the facility’s capacity.
- A negative covid-19 PCR test result within 96 hours, required by the Nigerian Government
- Children below ten years of age are not required to provide the PCR test result
- Where curfews are placed, visitors should be law-abiding
- Do not make any travels if you, a tourist or visitor is ill or having any signs and symptoms of the virus