Visa Free Countries for the Nigerian Passport Holder

Last updated on June 22nd, 2021; Published on July 6th, 2020

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 January 2021, 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. Zambia
32. Zimbabwe

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

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

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

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

eVisa and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Oceania

44. Fiji
45. Micronesia
46. Tuvalu
47. Vanuatu

More on Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders (2021)

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.

Visa on Arrival Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders (2021)

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 that 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 the evisa 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 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.

As of January 2021, Kenya no longer offers a Visa on Arrival. You must obtain an eVisa prior to your visit.

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 (2021)

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?