Visas for Nigeria

Obtaining a Visa before departure is mandatory to travel to Nigeria.

If you are a national of one of the ECOWAS member states you do not need a visa, you just need to be in possession of a valid travel document (passport, identity card, permit). ECOWAS Member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.

Since 2019, biometric data (fingerprint photo and fingerprints) must be submitted by the applicant and will remain valid for 5 years.

There are several types of Visas including Business (includes Conference -participant only-, business discussions, business meetings, meetings with representatives of government, academic/educational/Institutions, NGOs – if invited by or participating in meetings- , meetings with business partners, business-related issues, …), Tourism, Journalism, Visitor, …

Please note that no visa is issued upon arrival in the country. Therefore, the traveler must make their Visa request to the Nigerian embassy in Paris.

To be able to enter Nigeria, the traveler must have their passport with Visa as well as a return flight ticket.

Entry into Nigeria is subject to the presentation of a Health Declaration Form, available on the Ministry of Health website https://healthapp.ncdc.gov.ng/

This form will also be available in paper form upon arrival at Abuja and Lagos airports, for travelers who were unable to complete it before departure.

Passengers may also be subject to a temperature check upon arrival in Nigeria.

As the regulations are subject to change without notice by the Nigerian authorities, given the evolution of the disease in the country, it is advisable to check with the Nigerian authorities and the airlines at the time of departure.

It should be noted that, even if the traveler is in possession of all the documents required to validate his entry into Nigeria, the nigerian authorities reserve the right to refuse access to their territory without having to justify it.

The validity and entry number of the Visa will be selected when registering the visa application on the Consulate website.

FINGERPRINTS MANDATORY

1. If you are submitting your Visa application for the first time, then you will be asked to submit your fingerprints (and take a digital photo). You will therefore have to come to the OIS Center with your complete file and by appointment. By sending us the deposit receipt, VTI can then collect your passport with Visa and return it to you.

2. If you have already filed your fingerprints (for less than 5 years) then VTI can compile your file and submit it for you. VTI can then collect your passport with Visa and return it to you.

Creation of your file

• Complete (and pay online) a Visa application form at: https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/visa/freshVisa

NB: payment to be made with the applicant’s credit card and once completed: form to print, in portrait, signed and dated by the applicant

• Payment and acknowledgment slips, available once online payment is made – Printed from http://www.innovate1services.com PLEASE IGNORE THE INTERVIEW DATE ON THE PAYMENT SLIP AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT YOU OIS.

• If you are in Situation 1. (see above): make an appointment at the OIS center (9 Rue Paul Valery 75116 Paris, France) for each applicant (please do not book more than 30 days before the date of your trip) on https://apt.oisservices.com/

• Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and with two blank facing pages.

• Yellow fever vaccination record

• Two recent passport-sized photographs, taken no later than 2 weeks before submission, with the applicant’s full name written on the back.

• A formal typed letter specifying the purpose of the visit and the full itinerary, signed and dated, addressed to the Nigerian Ambassador, to the attention of the Immigration Office of the Nigerian Embassy in Paris, with full address. Please note that if you are visiting people in Nigeria, you will need to follow the Visitor Checklist.

• A copy of the applicant’s most recent bank statement evidencing sufficient funds.

• Scan of the return flight ticket

• Proof of accommodation in Nigeria, copies of confirmed hotel, guesthouse or motel reservation with travelers name.

• For non-French travelers and EU nationals: a recent utility bill (electricity bills or signed rental/mortgage contract, etc. please bring the original and a copy)

• For non-French travelers and non-EU nationals: the French residence permit (or visa on passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of submission). Bring the original and a copy. 

NB:

1. Documents NOT in English must be submitted with a certified translated copy.
2. All letters must be formal typed letters, printed in portrait, addressed to the Nigerian Ambassador, to the attention of the Immigration Office of the Nigerian Embassy in Paris, signed and dated.
3. If you are self-employed, you must provide a typed letter stating the purpose of travel to Nigeria. You must also provide a copy of your most recent bank statement showing sufficient funds; minimum credit balance of €500.