Visa Free Countries for the Nigerian Passport Holder

One of the things I look out for while choosing a destination to visit is how easy or difficult it is to obtain a visa. Since there are only a handful of visa free countries for Nigerian Citizens, this factor plays a huge role in deciding which places I get to visit.

This plight isn’t mine alone. Many Nigerian travel enthusiasts, especially first-time travellers are faced with the classic chicken-or-the-egg scenario when it comes to applying for visas. We need visas to travel but several countries wouldn’t grant us one unless we have received a valid visa for a different country. This is where visa free destinations come in to help to bridge that gap by creating opportunities to build a travel history.

As of 2020, there are a total of 23 visa free countries for Nigerian citizens. This is not a lot, but it is a fair number, to begin with. Apart from these countries, there are also other countries that offer a visa on arrival or e-visa program to Nigerian passport holders. This brings up the total number of visa free, visa on arrival and eVisa destinations to 47 countries.

In this article, I will highlight these countries, including their respective consulate or embassy details because it is important to crosscheck the visa status of every country before you travel. Sometimes, these statuses may change and you do not want to be stranded if they do.

In addition to this post about eVisa and visa free countries for Nigerian Citizens, I will also highlight, in the next post, countries that have fairly easy visa application processes as well as the countries we can visit, having a visa from the UK, USA, any Schengen and OECD member countries.

The Summary: eVisa, Visa on Arrival and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens by Continent

eVisa, Visa on Arrival and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Africa

1. Benin
2. Burkina Faso
3. Cameroun
4. Cabo Verde
5. Chad
6. Comoros
7. Côte d’Ivoire
8. Djibouti
9. Ethiopia
10. Gambia
11. Ghana
12. Guinea
13. Guinea-Bissau
14. Kenya
15. Lesotho
16. Liberia
17. Madagascar
18. Mali
19. Mauritania
20. Mauritius
21. Mozambique
22. Niger
23. Rwanda
24. São Tomé and Príncipe
25. Senegal
26. Seychelles
27. Sierra Leone
28. Somalia
29. Togo
30. Uganda
31. Vanuatu
32. Zambia
33. Zimbabwe

eVisa, Visa on Arrival and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Asia

34. Iran
35. Kyrgyzstan
36. Maldives
37. Timor-Leste

eVisa, Visa on Arrival and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in North and South America

38.  Antigua and Barbuda
39.  Barbados
40.  Dominica
41.  Fiji
42.  Haiti
43.  Saint Kitts and Nevis
44.  Suriname

eVisa and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Oceania

45. Fiji
46. Micronesia
47. Tuvalu

More on Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders (2020)

Nigerian citizens and holders of the Nigerian Passport can visit a total of 23 countries without needing to arrange for a visa beforehand or pay for one. All 14 ECOWAS countries (excluding Nigeria) fall under this list. Even though there are no visa requirements to visit these countries, I would advise that you travel with your return flight tickets (if you are travelling by air), valid passport with 6 months validity and 2 free pages for stamps, proof of funds and accommodation.

Also, for the West African Countries, if you travel by land, Immigration officials often force travellers to pay certain amounts of money. Obviously, this is illegal but it is a practice they often get away with. The airports are the only ports of entry that respect the visa free policy to a certain degree. Keeping that in mind, here is a complete list of visa free countries for Nigerian Citizens and passport holders.

Countries	Continent	Duration of Stay (Up to)	More Information	Notes
Barbados	North America	180 Days	Barbados Immigration Website
Benin	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Burkina Faso	Africa	N/A	ECOWAS
Cameroon	Africa	90 Days	N/A
Cabo Verde	Africa	N/A	ECOWAS
Chad	Africa	90 Days	N/A
Côte d’Ivoire	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Dominica	North America	180 Days	Dominica Immigration Website
Fiji	Oceania	120 Days	Fiji Immigration Website
Gambia	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Ghana	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Guinea	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Guinea-Bissau	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Haiti	North America	90 Days	Haiti Immigration Website	Foreign Nationals are required to pay a $10 tourist fee at the airport.
Liberia	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Mali	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Micronesia	Oceania	30 Days	Micronesia Immigration Website	If you are visiting for a period of more than 30 days, you will need to fill an entry permit.
Niger	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Saint Kitts and Nevis	North America	90 Days	Saint Kitts and Nevis Immigration Website
Senegal	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Seychelles	Africa	90 Days	Seychelles Department of Foreign Affairs Website
Sierra Leone	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Togo	Africa	90 Days	ECOWAS
Vanuatu	Africa	30 Days	Vanuatu Immigration Website

Visa on Arrival Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders (2020)

A visa on arrival enables you to obtain a visa at the port of entry of the country offering it. This means that you do not need to make any prior arrangements for visas. You simply pay for one at the border. Some countries who offer a visa on arrival program also offer an eVisa program. And as I hear more stories and become more paranoid about countries refusing Nigerians entry, I think it is better to use this option if you can.

For example, in 2018, Tanzania changed its visa on arrival policy almost overnight. This country used to offer a visa on arrival to Nigerian travellers at a cost of $50 and I was able to use this option to visit the country a year prior. But overnight, they revoked this option. This change was so sudden that even airlines were unaware of it. Hence, they conveyed several Nigerian passengers to Tanzania, only for them to be deported as they didn’t have a visa beforehand.

So, I will advise that if you can arrange for a visa before you travel – if the process isn’t stressful as most eVisa applications aren’t, just go for it. Here is a complete list of countries that offer a visa on arrival to Nigerian passport holders and the associating costs of the visa.

PS: Read Travel Blogger, Dee of Well Worn Heels, talk about her experiences with applying for various eVisas in the comment section of this post.

Countries	Continent	Duration of Stay (Up to)	More Information	Notes
Comoros	Africa	45 Days	N/A	The visa on arrival costs about $33
Ethiopia	Africa	90 Days	Ethiopian Online Visa Website	You may also apply for an eVisa. The visa fees start from $99
Iran	Asia	30 Days	Iran Visa Application Website	You may also apply for an eVisa. The visa on arrival and eVisa costs €55
Kenya	Africa	90 Days	Kenyan eVisa Website	The visa on arrival and eVisa costs $50. You may also apply for an eVisa.
Lebanon	Asia	30 Days	Beirut International Airport Website	Nigerian Citizens must have a non-refundable return ticket, a copy of a reservation in a 3 to 5 star hotel or private residential address with telephone number in the Republic of Lebanon, and at least $2,000 in cash
Madagascar	Africa	90 Days	Madagascar Visa Application Website	The visa on arrival and eVisa fees start from €29.90
Maldives	Asia	30 Days	Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website	The visa on arrival is free. However, you must have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay. See the Foreign Affairs Website for more information
Maurtitania	Africa	30 Days	Mauritania Nouakchott Airport Information on Visas on arrival	The visa on arrival costs €55
Mauritius	Africa	14 Days	Mauritius Immigration Website	Visa on arrival is Free
Mozambique	Africa	30 Days	N/A	The visa on arrival costs $50
Rwanda	Africa	30 Days	Rwanda Immigration Website	The visa on arrival costs $50. You may also apply for an eVisa.
Somalia	Africa	90 Days	Somalia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website	The visa on arrival costs $50.
Timor-Leste	Asia	90 Days	Timor-Leste Immigration Website	Visitors must apply for a Visa Authorization Application at a Timor-Leste Embassy or Consulate. The visa on arrival costs $30.
Tuvalu	Oceania	30 Days	Tuvalu Immigration Regulations	The visa on arrival costs $100 (AUS)
Uganda	Africa	30 Days	Uganda Immigration Website	The visa on arrival starts from $50. You may also apply for an eVisa.

It is also important to keep in mind that these visas are conditional and you would often need to present your return flight tickets, valid passport with 6 months validity and 2 free pages for stamps, proof of funds and accommodation.

This also applies for the countries listed below;

eVisa Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders (2020)

Countries	Continent	Duration of Stay (Up To…)	More Information	Notes
Antigua and Barbuda	North America	30 Days	Antigua and Barbuda eVisa Application Website	The eVisa costs $100
Cambodia	Asia	30 Days	Cambodia eVisa Application Website	The eVisa fees start from $69
Djibouti	Africa	60 Days	Djibouti eVisa Website	The eVisa fees start from $90
Ethiopia	Africa	90 Days	Ethiopian Online Visa Website	The eVisa fees start from $99
Gabon	Africa	90 Days	Gabon Immigration Website	The eVisa fees start from €70
Kenya	Africa	90 Days	Kenyan eVisa Website	The eVisa costs $50.
Kyrgyzstan	Asia	60 Days	Kyrgyzstan eVisa Website	The eVisa fees start from $41
Lesotho	Africa	90 Days	Lesotho eVisa Website	The eVisa fees start from $150
Madagascar	Africa	90 Days	Madagascar eVisa Website	The eVisa fees start from €29.90
Rwanda	Africa	30 Days	Rwanda Immigration Website	The eVisa costs $50.
São Tomé and Príncipe	Africa	30 Days	N/A	The eVisa fees start from $47. (If you have a US or Schengen visa, it is free for stays up to 15 days)
Suriname	South America	60 Days	Suriname eVisa Application Website	The eVisa fees start from $45
Uganda	Africa	30 Days	Uganda Immigration Website	The eVisa costs $50.
Zambia	Africa	N/A	Zambia Immigration Website	The eVisa fees start from $50
Zimbabwe	Africa	N/A	Zimbabwe Immigration Website	The eVisa fees start from $30

Note: Some of these countries have visa processing fees and visa fees may change as exchange rates do. It is important to keep this in mind as you make your plans.

I will update this article as often as I can but please be aware that visa policies may change at any time. Before you pack your bags, be sure to get an update on visa status from the Immigration Offices of the countries you intend to visit.

I would like to hear your experience of travelling with a Nigerian Passport, particularly to countries offering a Visa on Arrival? Has it all been smooth sailing or did you encounter any issues?