How to Get a Visa on Arrival for Nigeria

The Nigerian government officially changed the system in 2025 . The old “Visa on Arrival” where you land and fill out paperwork at the counter is mostly gone. What replaced it is an online application process that ends with you picking up the visa when you land.

Think of it like this: you do the work before you fly, but you don’t get the actual stamp in your passport until you arrive at the Lagos or Abuja airport . You get an approval letter via email. You print it. You bring it with you. That letter is your ticket to get the visa stamped on the spot.

This matters because if you show up without that approval, you will be turned around. I watched it happen to someone in the line behind me.

Who Can Get This Visa?

This type of entry is mainly for business travelers . If you are flying in for meetings, conferences, or to explore partnerships, this is your lane. The standard tourist visa requires a different application and usually needs to be done at an embassy before you travel .

You also need to be from a country that Nigeria has diplomatic relations with. Most entrepreneurs reading this—whether you are from the US, UK, Canada, or most of Europe—will qualify .

What You Actually Need Before You Apply

Gather these documents first. Do not start the online form until you have everything saved to your desktop.

A valid passport. This sounds obvious, but check the date. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. It also needs at least two blank pages .

A digital passport photo. The standard white background, recent photo, saved as a JPEG.

An invitation letter from a Nigerian company. This is non-negotiable. The company you are meeting with must write a letter on their official letterhead inviting you for business discussions. It needs their address, their contact information, and a clear statement about the purpose of your visit .

The company registration documents. Your host in Nigeria needs to provide their Certificate of Incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission .

Proof of accommodation. Either a hotel booking confirmation or a letter from your host stating where you will stay .

Return flight ticket. You need proof that you are leaving. A booked round-trip ticket showing your departure date .

Yellow fever vaccination certificate. This is mandatory. You will not be allowed into Nigeria without proof of yellow fever vaccination. Carry the physical card .

Bank statements. You need to show you have enough money for your stay. Most sources suggest at least $100 per day, but having a healthy buffer helps . A bank statement from the last three to six months usually works.

The Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Go to the Official Portal

The only website you should use is the official Nigeria Immigration Service portal. It is portal.immigration.gov.ng . Be careful because there are third-party sites that charge extra fees to “help” you. You do not need them. The process is straightforward if you take your time.

Step 2: Create an Account and Start Your Application

You will need a valid email address. The form asks for personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. Double-check the spelling. One wrong letter and your visa might not match your passport at the airport.

Step 3: Upload Your Documents

This is where people get stuck. The system can be a little slow. If you get an error message saying the server is busy, wait a few hours and try again . Do not refresh repeatedly. That often makes it worse.

Upload each document in the format they ask for. Usually PDF or JPEG. Keep file sizes reasonable. Under 1MB per file is safe .

Step 4: Pay the Fee

The cost depends on your nationality. For US citizens, the total is around $160 to $180 . For UK citizens, it is roughly $144 plus service fees . Australian passport holders report paying around $329 total, which includes consular service fees .

You pay online with a credit or debit card. Visa and Mastercard work. Make sure your bank knows you are making an international transaction so they do not block it .

Step 5: Wait for the Approval Letter

Once you submit and pay, the clock starts. The official processing time is between 48 hours and two weeks . Most people I know got their approval in about three business days.

The approval letter comes to your email. It is not the visa itself. It is a permission slip that says, “This person is approved to receive a visa upon arrival.”

Pay attention to the expiration date. This approval letter is usually only valid for 14 days . That means once you get it, you need to travel within two weeks. Do not apply too early.

Step 6: Print Everything

Print the approval letter. Print your hotel reservation. Print your invitation letter. Print your flight itinerary. Print your yellow fever card (the actual card is separate, but have a copy). Have three copies of everything. Keep one set in your carry-on, one in your checked bag, and one digital copy on your phone.

Step 7: Arrive and Get the Stamp

When you land at Lagos or Abuja airport, look for the Visa on Arrival desk. It is usually before you go through regular immigration .

Hand over your printed approval letter and your passport. The immigration officer will check the system, confirm your approval, and stamp your passport with the visa.

You will usually get 30 days, though some travelers receive up to 90 days depending on their purpose and the officer’s discretion .

What It Costs

Let me give you a rough breakdown so there are no surprises.

• Visa fee: $160 to $250 depending on your country 
• Bank charges: Around $20 to $30 
• Biometric fee: Some nationalities pay extra (around $170 for many countries) 

For a US citizen, expect to pay about $180 total . For an Australian citizen, closer to $329 . For a UK citizen, roughly $144 plus fees .

Common Mistakes That Delay or Ruin Applications

Applying too early. If you apply more than two weeks before travel, your approval letter might expire before you fly. Time it right.

Wrong document format. The system can be picky. If your PDF is too large or your photo is the wrong dimensions, it will reject. Check the requirements on the upload page carefully.

Fake invitation letters. Do not use a template you found online. Have your Nigerian partner write a genuine letter. Immigration officers can spot fakes.

No yellow fever card. I cannot stress this enough. You will be vaccinated at the airport or sent back. Just get the shot and carry the card.

Assuming the approval letter is the visa. It is not. You still need to go to the desk at the airport. Some travelers land and walk straight to the regular immigration line without getting their visa stamped first. That creates problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a tourist visa on arrival?

Generally, no. The Visa on Arrival process is designed for business travelers . For tourism, you should apply for a standard visitor visa at the Nigerian embassy in your country before traveling .

How long can I stay?

Most single-entry visas allow a stay of up to 30 days, though some are granted up to 90 days . Your visa will state the permitted duration.

Can I extend my stay?

Extensions are difficult. The standard visiting visa is not extendable . If you need to stay longer, you must leave and reapply or apply for a different visa category before your current one expires.

What if I am transiting through Nigeria?

If you are staying in the airport and not passing through immigration, you do not need a visa. But if you plan to leave the airport or have a long layover where you want to enter the country, you need to go through this process.

Is the payment system reliable?

It has improved. In 2024, there were issues with the payment portal . As of 2026, most users report smooth transactions. If you hit a snag, wait a few hours and try a different browser.

My Takeaway for You

I am not going to pretend the process is perfect. The website can be clunky. The fees are not cheap. But the system works if you follow the steps.

What matters is that you plan ahead. Do not book a flight for next week and then panic-apply. Give yourself at least three weeks from start to finish. Gather your documents. Get the yellow fever shot. Ask your Nigerian partner for a clean, professional invitation letter.

Nigeria is one of the most dynamic business environments on the continent. The energy in Lagos is unlike anywhere else. If you are serious about building partnerships or expanding your business, being in the room matters. The visa process is just the first test of whether you really want to be there.

Have you traveled to Nigeria for business recently? I would love to hear how your experience compared. Drop a comment and let me know if this guide matched what you found at the airport.