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
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As of July 2023, there are a total of 24 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 51 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.
What's Covered in this Post
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
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroun
- Cabo Verde
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia* See Update below
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique *
- Niger
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
eVisa, Visa on Arrival and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Asia and the Middle East
- Iran
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
- 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
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Colombia
- Dominica
- Haiti
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Suriname
eVisa and Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Citizens in Oceania
- Fiji
- Micronesia
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
More on Visa Free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders
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), 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.
| 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 | |
| The 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 out an entry permit. |
| Niger | Africa | 90 Days | ECOWAS | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | North America | 90 Days | Saint Kitts and Nevis Immigration Website | |
| Rwanda | Africa | 30 Days | ||
| Senegal | Africa | 90 Days | ECOWAS | |
| Sierra Leone | Africa | 90 Days | ECOWAS | |
| Togo | Africa | 90 Days | ECOWAS | |
| Vanuatu | Oceania | 30 Days | Vanuatu Immigration Website |
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.
| Countries | Continent | Duration of Stay (Up to) | More Information | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comoros | Africa | 45 Days | N/A | The visa on arrival costs about $33 |
| Iran | Asia | 30 Days | Iran Visa Application Website | You may also apply for an eVisa. The visa on arrival and eVisa cost €55 |
| 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 a 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 Immigration 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 |
| Mauritania | 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 *edit: June 2021 – I’ve read that this country no longer offers a visa on arrival to Nigerians. I can’t find any official confirmation of this but it is something to be aware of. |
| 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) |
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 an existing travel ban on Nigerian tourists to Seychelles.
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
| 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 |
| Botswana | Africa | Botswana evisa Website | ||
| Colombia | South America | Colombia eVisa Website | ||
| Djibouti | Africa | 60 Days | Djibouti eVisa Website | The eVisa fees start from $90 |
| Ethiopia* | Africa | 90 Days | Ethiopian eVisa Website | The eVisa fees start from $82 *See note above |
| 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 |
| Malaysia | Asia | Determined by IO | Malaysia eVisa Website | See this post for how to apply. Visa fees start from $30 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Africa | 30 Days | eVisa site | The eVisa fees start from $47. (If you have a US or Schengen visa, it is free for stays up to 15 days) |
| South Africa | Africa | Determined by IO | South Africa eVisa Website | |
| 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. |
| Vietnam | Asia | 30-90 Days | Vietnam eVisa Website | *Please confirm the website. From my research, this seems to be right one. |
| 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 your visa status from the airlines and Immigration Offices of the countries you intend to visit.
Found this post helpful?
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?
this is really helpful.
Hello Amara,
Is Colombia no longer issuing E-visa for Nigerians? As I urgently need to visit Colombia for an important event. Thanks
Hello Micheal, I found this website and it seems that they still are. If you do apply, please let us know how it goes!
Hello Amarachi, Thanks for your response: I decided to postpone as the cost of flight right now is on a whole new level. So when the cost of flight hits the slope which should be around February, March I’ll sure inform y’all.
Hi Ms. Amarachi
You are doing a wonderful Job here, be blessed the more
Car i travel to Dominica Republic or Lithuania from UAE as a Nigerian Citizen
Please let me know if i need to apply for Evisa or Visa on arrival
Thanks
Hi Jude, you need to apply for a visa beforehand to visit both countries as a Nigerian passport holder. If you have a valid US, Canada, UK or Schengen visa, you can visit DR without a visa. A Schengen visa is needed for Lithuania.
Hi Amara,
Pls kindly give me an info on Mauritius on arrival tourist visa.
On my passport I have 3 resident visa 2, and 5 years in UAE govt visa expired in 2022, what can I do to get to Mauritius.
Thanks
Hello Kazeem, at this time, you only need your passport (>6months validity), return ticket, eligibility to enter country of origin or residence, hotel accommodation and proof of sufficient funds. I have edited the post to include a working link to the Mauritius Immigration website. Be sure to check the site for updated travel requirements before your trip.
Hi amara, I am planning on visiting one of the northern America counties but have this worries of how to get a transit visa as all the counties seems not to have direct flight from Nigeria
You’re correct. Most do not have direct flights to Nigeria. It seems like the easiest transit visas to get are the ones from Europe/European airlines. You can also check if any of the MEA airlines have flights to these countries, without stopping in the US or EU first.