Nigeria entry requirements changed in May 2025, yet many travellers still rely on outdated advice. The FCDO entry requirements page confirms that you must hold a visa before you travel and that visa on arrival no longer exists. That detail can leave you with a missed flight, a wasted booking or a stressful arrival.
Passport validity, visa category, vaccination proof, landing cards and customs rules can all affect your journey. Your nationality, travel purpose and health status change the list, so a friend's checklist may not fit your case. Missing one item can cost you time and money.
This guide explains Nigeria entry requirements for visitors, returning Nigerians, and residents, plus what to prepare before you fly. At Global Plug Services, we help clients understand requirements, prepare documents, and apply for Nigerian visas and passports with practical support.
Your passport must carry an expiry date at least six months after your arrival in Nigeria. Officers deny entry to anyone with an invalid travel document or a passport reported lost or stolen. Nigerian passport holders face a time-sensitive opportunity. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the High Commission run a Special Passport Intervention Exercise in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Aberdeen from 6 to 30 October 2026. Reissues, renewals and data changes require your old passport booklet, an appointment slip and a payment receipt.
If you lose your passport before you fly, the High Commission issues an Emergency Travel Certificate, which stays valid for travel within 30 days of issue.
The Federal Ministry of Interior and the NIS launched the e-Visa system on 1 May 2025, and it now anchors Nigeria entry requirements for visitors. Short Visit Visas cover stays not exceeding 90 days, according to the NIS visa classes page. The system now offers 13 short visit categories, and you apply on the NIS visa portal.
Visa
Suits
Key rules
Tourism
Sightseeing
Single entry, 30 days
Visiting
Family and friends
30-day social visit
Business, single entry
Meetings and conferences
Non-extendable, no direct employment
Business, multiple entry
Repeat visits
Employment follows the sponsoring arrangement and local law
Frequently travelled business executive
Investors
Needs at least USD 250,000 invested in Nigeria
Most applications need a passport bio page, proof of accommodation or funds, and an invitation letter for visiting or business trips. Business visitors also supply a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate from the host company. Children need a birth certificate and a parental consent letter.
Your approved visa and QR code arrive by email, so print a copy before you fly. Visas from the e-Visa channel cannot extend, so choose the right duration at the start.
Health proof forms part of Nigeria entry requirements. You need a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Nigeria. Infants aged 8 months or younger and adults aged 61 or older qualify for an exemption. TravelHealthPro lists other recommended vaccinations.
Nigeria's immigration authorities introduced landing and departure cards for foreigners, and officers may ask for them at the airport. Complete yours on the NIS landing card portal before you travel, and save a screenshot of the confirmation in case airport Wi-Fi fails. The exit card links to the visa system and applies penalties automatically for violations, BusinessDay reports.
Customs rules also deserve attention. The Nigeria Customs Service expects you to declare goods that carry duty or restrictions. GOV.UK lists items that you cannot import, including beer, mineral water, soft drinks, sparkling wine, fruit, vegetables, cereals, eggs, textile fabrics, jewellery and precious metals. Exporting African art or antiques needs written authorisation from the Department of Antiquities.
The FCDO advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, to parts of Nigeria. Review the regional risks guidance for your destination, then match your insurance and itinerary to it. Check the page again close to departure, because advice can change.
Overstay Penalties and the Law
Nigeria's Immigration Act 2015 replaced the 1963 law and created immigration courts at ports of entry, according to the KPMG summary. The Immigration Regulations 2017 supply the operating rules.
Overstaying breaks Nigeria entry requirements and can cost you money and future access. Leave before your visa expires, and keep your exit card details accurate.
Nigeria entry requirements involve several documents, and a single error can delay your trip. Global Plug Services provides independent concierge support from our Wimbledon office. We help you:
Choose the right visa category and prepare your documents
Renew or replace your Nigerian passport
Arrange an Emergency Travel Certificate for urgent travel
Most visitors do. ECOWAS citizens and holders of a valid Nigerian residence permit do not. Check your passport nationality against the current Nigeria entry requirements before you book.
How long must my passport stay valid?
Your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after your arrival date.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Yes. Infants aged 8 months or younger and adults aged 61 or older qualify for an exemption. Everyone else must carry the certificate.
Do I need to complete a landing card?
Officers may ask for one at the airport, so complete it online before you travel.
What should I do if I lose my passport before my trip?
Contact the Nigeria High Commission about an Emergency Travel Certificate, which stays valid for travel within 30 days of issue. Global Plug Services can guide you through the application.
