Apply for a Nigeria Visa from the UK (2026): Tourist, Business & Family

Applying for a Nigeria visa from the UK (2026)

If you hold a British passport — or any non-Nigerian passport — and you are travelling to Nigeria from the UK, you will need a Nigeria visa before you fly. Since 1 May 2025, Nigeria runs a fully online e-Visa system: there is no more visa-on-arrival, and almost everything is done over the internet before travel. This guide explains how to apply for a Nigeria visa from the UK, which visa type fits your trip, and the documents you need to get approved the first time.

First, the honest bit. RenewPapers is not the Nigeria Immigration Service and we do not issue visas. The official e-Visa portal is evisa.immigration.gov.ng. What we do is help London- and UK-based travellers choose the right visa type, get the documents right, and submit cleanly so the application is not delayed or rejected.

Do you actually need a Nigeria visa from the UK?

It depends on the passport you are travelling on, not where you live:

British and other non-Nigerian passport holders — yes, you need a Nigeria e-Visa (unless you hold a passport from an ECOWAS member state, who travel visa-free).
Nigerian citizens, including dual citizens — no. Nigeria requires its citizens to enter and leave on a Nigerian passport, so you do not apply for a visa — you travel on (or renew) your Nigerian passport instead. See Nigeria visa for dual citizens and renewing a Nigerian passport in the UK.

Which Nigeria visa do you need?

Nigeria’s e-Visa covers 13 short-visit categories. From the UK, the three most common are:

Tourist / visit visa — for holidays, sightseeing or visiting family and friends. See Nigeria tourist visa.
Business visa — for meetings, conferences, negotiations or short assignments (not paid employment). You will usually need an invitation letter from the Nigerian company. See Nigeria business visa.
Family / visitor visa — where you are being hosted by a relative or friend in Nigeria who provides an invitation and address.

Not sure which one fits? Use the checker below.

Nigeria visa from the UK — find your route

Answer two quick questions and we will tell you the likely visa type and what to prepare.

What are you travelling to Nigeria for? Which passport will you travel on?

How to apply for a Nigeria e-Visa from the UK

The process is entirely online — you do not need to post your passport anywhere or visit the embassy for a sticker:

Create an account on the official portal, evisa.immigration.gov.ng.
Choose your visa type and fill in the application.
Upload your documents (passport bio page, photo, and any invitation or hosting details).
Pay the official fee on the portal.
Your approval and QR-code visa are emailed to you — usually within about 48 hours.
Before you fly, complete the online landing card at lecard.immigration.gov.ng; you will complete an exit card when you leave.

Plan ahead. Apply at least a week or two before travel, keep your dates realistic (e-Visas can’t be extended), and make sure the name and passport number on the application exactly match your passport. Small mismatches are the most common reason applications get queried.

Cost, processing time and avoiding rejection

Fees are set by the Nigeria Immigration Service and vary by visa type and nationality, so always check the current amount on the official portal rather than a third-party quote. Approvals typically come within about 48 hours, but leave a buffer during busy travel seasons. The things that slow applications down are almost always avoidable: blurry document scans, a photo that doesn’t meet spec, an invitation letter missing an address or dates, or a passport too close to expiry.

One more honest note: since September 2025 Nigeria charges overstay penalties (a daily fee, with longer overstays risking entry bans), so it matters that your visa dates and travel plans line up. We will not quote you official fees we cannot guarantee — we help you get the application itself right.

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