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.

Related: 7 Foolproof Ways to Build Your Travel History

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

As of January 2025, there are a total of 25 visa free countries for Nigerian citizens. This is not a lot, but it is a fair number, to begin with. Apart from these countries, other countries 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 57 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, Canada, 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. Botswana
3. Burkina Faso
4. Burundi
5. Cameroon
6. Cabo Verde
7. Chad
8. Comoros
9. Côte d’Ivoire
10. Djibouti
11. Ethiopia* See Update below
12. Gabon
13. The Gambia
14. Ghana
15. Guinea
16. Guinea-Bissau
17. Kenya
18. Lesotho
19. Liberia
20. Madagascar
21. Malawi
22. Mali
23. Mauritania
24. Mauritius
25. Mozambique *
26. Niger
27. Rwanda
28. São Tomé and Príncipe
29. Senegal
30. Sierra Leone
31. Somalia
32. South Africa
33. Togo
34. Uganda
35. Zambia
36. Zimbabwe

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

37. Hong Kong
38. Iran
39. Kyrgyzstan
40. Lebanon
41. Malaysia
42. Maldives
43. Timor-Leste
44. Vietnam (with conditions)
45. Special Mention – Saudi Arabia – Transit Visa Up to 96 Hours (with conditions)

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

46. Antigua and Barbuda
47. Barbados
48. Colombia
49. Dominica
50. Haiti
51. Kiribati
52. Saint Kitts and Nevis
53. Suriname

eVisa and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Oceania

54. Fiji
55. Micronesia
56. Tuvalu
57. Vanuatu

More on Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders

Nigerian citizens and holders of the Nigerian Passport can visit a total of 25 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), a valid passport with 6 months validity and 2 free pages for stamps, and proof of funds and accommodation.

Also, in 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

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 for $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 associated 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 before your visit.

I visited Rwanda in August 2022 and did not have to pay for a visa.

Update March 2023: The Ethiopian evisa website states that visa on arrival services is available for tourists from All African Union member states. Visitors can also submit their applications online and pay the visa fee at the airport. As a Nigerian Citizen, I would advise that you obtain your visa before travelling to Ethiopia.

As of April 2023, travellers from Nigeria must obtain an evisa before travelling to Uganda.

As of July 2023, there is a travel ban on Nigerian tourists to Seychelles.

As of July 2024: The travel ban on Nigerian tourists to Seychelles has been lifted.

2025: Cambodia seems to be visa on arrival – with extreme scrutiny

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 to the countries listed below;

eVisa Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders

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 your visa status from the airlines and Immigration Offices of the countries you intend to visit.

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I would like to hear about 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?