I once checked the requirements for a Thailand visa as a Nigerian citizen and passport holder living in Lagos, Nigeria. The details I found pushed the country further down my list of places to visit.
This isn’t to say that getting a Thai visa from Nigeria is impossible; it just required several hoops that I was not prepared to jump through at the time.
Fast forward to a few years later, Mark and I moved to Nairobi, and there, I checked again for the visa requirements to apply from Kenya. Although I can’t find the reference for this information now, I could have sworn that the embassy’s website stated (at the time) that Nigerians in Kenya needed to travel back to Nigeria to apply.
After reading this, I decided I would save Thailand for such a time when the visa application process became more favourable.
That time came in February 2024, when I reviewed the embassy’s website again, and it stated that they would receive and review applications from Nigerians on a case-by-case basis.
Armed with this information, I emailed the embassy and was glad to receive a quick response, stating that I could submit my documents in Kenya. And so, my journey to Thailand with Mark began!
If you’re like me, living outside Nigeria and looking to visit Thailand, then continue reading to see how I successfully applied for my tourist (TR) visa in Kenya. I have also included additional information for applicants in Nigeria.
PS: As of January 2025, Nigerians can now apply for a Thai eVisa via https://www.thaievisa.go.th/. You no longer need to travel down to Abuja to do so. In addition, the embassy (in Nigeria and Kenya) will no longer accept applications. You must apply via the evisa channel. I am leaving the rest of this post as-is for my records 🙂
How To Apply for a Thailand Visa
The first thing you should do when applying for a Thailand visa is to check the official Royal Thai Embassy website in your country of residence. For Nigeria, this is the website address; for Kenya, this is it. You will find up-to-date information about the Thai visa requirements and application procedures there.
Next, compile your documents and submit them in person at the Royal Thai Embassy. If you apply in other countries, like Kenya, there might be an option to have a third party submit on your behalf.
Trip Planning Resources
Book your accommodation: Find accommodation options for any budget on Booking.com
Purchase Travel Insurance: I use SafetyWing for both my travel and visa application needs
Activities: Find fun activities and tours in your destination via Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook Travel
eSIM: Get your travel eSIM here
The requirements for the visa will also vary per country, especially for Nigerians. Generally, these are the requirements for a tourist visa to Thailand for Nigerians applying for this visa from Nigeria.
Thailand Visa Requirements for Nigerian Citizens
- Original current and previous passports
- Application forms, including the document checklist form filled and signed by the applicant
- A copy of the passport data page and a copy of every previous Thai visa and immigration stamp on the current and immediate previous passport
- An original certificate of police clearance*
- A copy of a drug clearance certificate (aka NDLEA certificate)*
- A copy of your resident permit – for non-citizens
- Proof of profession
- Introduction letter from your employer
- Proof of financial status
- 6-month bank statement
- Proof of accommodation/residence in Thailand
- Reservation of return air tickets
- Documents relating to the purpose of visit/category of visa
You can see and download the full checklist of documents required here. Note that if you apply for this visa outside Nigeria, you might not need the two asterisked documents, i.e. Police Clearance and NDLEA certificate. Nevertheless, you should email the embassy to confirm before going there to submit.
In my case, the embassy asked for 2 sets of my visa application documents, excluding the Police Clearance and NDLEA certificate.
Thailand Visa Application Fee
I submitted my documents in person at the embassy and paid 5,000 Ksh (~$36) for a single-entry tourist (TR) visa. The embassy accepts MPESA and cash payments in Nairobi, but only cash payments are accepted in Abuja.
Thailand Visa Application Processing Times
The processing time for the Thailand Visa will vary based on the location you apply from. In Kenya, it takes 2 working days to get your visa, while in Nigeria, it is 5 working days. This is one of the fastest (sticker) visa processing times I’ve seen, and the application process in Kenya was seamless and efficient.
Royal Thai Embassy Addresses in Nigeria and Kenya and Opening Times
The Royal Thai Embassy in Nairobi is located at Rose Avenue, off Denis Pritt Rd, Nairobi. They are open every working day, except public holidays, from 9 am to 12:30 pm for application submissions and 9 am to 11 am for collections.
In Nigeria, the embassy is located in Abuja at 34 Rhine Street, Maitama and is open from 9 am to 11 am for submission and 2 pm to 3 pm for collection.
That’s it for the process of applying for a Thailand visa as a Nigerian passport holder living in or outside the country.
I would like to hear about your experience. Have you applied for this visa before? If you are applying from Nigeria, are you willing to go through the process of applying for this visa? Share with me in the comment section below!
Hi,
I’m actually a US resident and I was a little discouraged about going to Thailand because of that requirement but reading your blog has encouraged me to go ahead and email them. Thank you. I will come back to let you know about it.
A friend told me she needed a FBI clearance certificate in place of the NDLEA cert when applying from the US! I was shocked! I don’t know what the requirements look like now – especially with the evisa website in place but you can check it out and see if it’s more streamlined. I wish you good luck. Thailand is amazing! Hope you get to visit!
hello! I am applying from Nigeria but like you know, the NDLEA certificate is a crazy crazy process. I’m traveling for a conference. Do you think the Thai embassy in Nigeria will waive the requirement for the certificate? Perhaps I should send them an email stating my predicament and ask it be waived because the timeframe is too short? I’d like to hear what you think, please. Thank you so much!
Hello Zai, I believe it’s worth taking a chance and emailing them, even though it’s unlikely they’ll waive it. To strengthen your case, you might consider asking the conference organizer to write a letter of support on your behalf.
You never talked or mentioned the stress of getting the ndlea certificate
That’s because I didn’t need one when applying from Kenya. But I hinted about it in the opening line of this article. The NDLEA cert and police clearance were part of the reasons why I never applied for this visa in Nigeria.