Visa Policy 2020

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has implemented the new visa policy announced by the President in February 2020. The new policy expands visa categories from the previous 6 main types to 79 classes divided into two policy groups : Visa-Free group with four (4) classes and Visa-Mandatory group under which there are three (3) main categories and seventy-five (75) visa classes. The new visa regime is aimed at clearly specifying visa classes and simplifying the visa process for tourists, special skilled professionals, business investors and many others. There is also a new Visa Fee structure in accordance with the new policy. 

Visa Free Group 

The Visa Exemption policy applies to holders of travel documents that do not require prior visa application to arrive in Nigeria. There are four classes of travelers in this group: 

F1A - ECOWAS Member States 

The ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol grants that citizens of the 15 signatory countries of the Economic Community of West African States do not require a visa to enter Nigeria. They include: Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. 

F1B - Visa Abolition Agreement Countries 

Visa Abolition Agreement between Nigeria and neighboring countries grants privilege to their citizens to travel to each others countries without obtaining visa in advance. Consequently, passport holders from Cameroon and Chad can travel visa-free to Nigeria under the F1B policy. 

F1C - Visa Waiver for International Organizations 

Holders of Passport/Travel Document from major International Organizations may be granted visa free entry at authorized ports of entry into Nigeria. The recognized organizations include: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and African Development Bank (AfDB). 

F1D - Reciprocity Visa Waiver Agreement Countries 

Travelers with Diplomatic and/or Official Passports from countries with Reciprocity Visa Waiver Agreement with Nigeria, may be eligible for Visa-free entry into Nigeria. As of October 2020, the countries include:

• Brazil, 
• China, 
• Cuba, 
• Kenya (Diplomatic Passport Only), 
• Mauritius, 
• Namibia, 
• Rwanda, 
• Singapore, 
• South Africa, 
• Sudan, 
• Tanzania, 
• Turkey, 
• Venezuela.

All visas issued under the Visa Free Policy are Single Entry for maximum duration of 90 days. Please contact the nearest Nigerian Embassy for proper advice on the New Visa Policy. 

Visa Mandatory Group 

Besides the travelers in the Visa-Free Group described above, other Passports Holders are advised to apply for visa in advance of traveling to Nigeria. The type of visa to be applied for depends on the purpose of visit. The types are grouped into three main categories: 

• Short Visit Visa (SVV)
• Temporary Residence Visa (TRV)
• Permanent Residence Visa (PRV)

In other to ease the visa process for the visa-mandatory group, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has launched eVisa and Visa On Arrival (VoA) Programs. Please call the NIS or contact the nearest Nigerian Embassy for advice.