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.
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 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.
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?
Amarchi you are very good with all the information thx so much please help me with the way out i mean getting Visa for Barbados where do I go to
Hi Sandra, you can visit the Barbados immigration website listed in this post (i.e. https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Visa_Requirements.aspx), scroll to the end and check for requirements for your country of Nationality (Nigeria). As of today, Barbados is visa free for Nigerian tourists for up to 6 months.
Is Georgia a visa on arrival country for Nigerians?
It is visa on arrival only if you have visas from certain countries (including the US, UK, Schengen and OECD countries). See the Georgia Consulate website for more information.
Please my dear where and how can I get visa for north America Barbados
Thanks for this info Amarachi, please what’s the best country to give birth or to cross to USA..*redacted*. That’s my email thanks
Hi Bola, unfortunately, I have no knowledge or experience about giving birth outside the country.
Hi….do i need a vise to travel to Ghana from US with my Ecowas(nigeria) passport ?
No, you don’t.
Can i travel to Ivory coast without A Nigerian Passport
You need a Nigerian or ECOWAS passport to travel
Nigeria nawa oooo no better country there God will help us
Please how can I apply for a free visa to North America countries… Please
You can start by clicking on the link to their various immigration website and following the instructions there.
Are there close countries to the United States where I can travel without a visa?? or have to process a visa that wouldn’t take me a lifetime???
Depends on how you define close but apart from a few Caribbean countries you can visit visa free/visa on arrival, I doubt there are other countries that meet your criteria.
Wow this post is really helpful.
I never knew Nigerians can access some North America without visa.
It’s a mind blowing to me
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Hello Amarachi
I enjoyed reading through your article. It was really informative. Please can you give details on Egypt? Do I need a Visa?
Hi Hateem, thanks for your comment. Yes, Nigerians need to apply for a visa to Egypt. You can do so in Abuja.
Does a Tanzania need visa on arrival to Nigeria?
Hi Mike, not sure I get your question. If you’re asking whether Nigerians can obtain a visa on arrival in Tanzania, the answer, as of today is ‘No’. If you’re asking about the reverse, then ‘Yes, with Conditions’. See the Nigerian Immigration Service website for more information.
Thanks for sharing
Pls hw can I apply for Visa free to doha,quata
If you are travelling with a Nigerian passport, you can’t
Why please 🙏
Nigerians can’t visit Doha visa-free. You have to apply for a visa or an evisa. Please check the Qatar Immigration website for more information.
Hello Amara do I need to quarantine in Seychelles for 14 days on arrival
Hi Arinze, as at this morning, Nigeria is excluded from the list countries permitted to enter Seychelles. If you are travelling from a country that is permitted to enter, you would need to show a negative Covid PCR test certificate and meet the conditions specified by immigration.
If you do want to travel from Nigeria, you would need to stay at least 14 days in a country that is permitted to enter. See the document for more info: http://tourism.gov.sc/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Seychelles-Visitor-Travel-Advisory-19-October-2020.pdf
I want to travel to Uganda, pls is there a good job opportunity for me? I’m a chef thanks
Hi Enang, unfortunately, I don’t have the right answer to your question.
hello Brother. I have been to Uganda many times. it is a good country but l doubt if you can get chef work to do there.
What other jobs can we get pls, and Is the pay good