Nigeria visa options for United States passport holders

Visa types & longer-stay routes for Nigeria

Rules are written for non-ECOWAS foreign nationals. Citizens of ECOWAS member states and of countries with which Nigeria has a visa-abolition/waiver agreement enter visa-free for short stays and are largely exempt. Since 1 May 2025, visa-on-arrival was abolished and short-visit visas (tourism, business, transit, short work permit) are issued through the NIS e-Visa portal; 177 nationalities are e-Visa eligible while about 25 must use the traditional embassy route. Long-term work, study, investor and residence categories are still embassy/STR-based and regularised into a CERPAC residence permit after arrival.

• Most nomadsTourist

  Tourism Visa (F5A, e-Visa)

  30 days stay; single entry; visa valid 90 days from issuance; non-extendable.

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required by the visa rules (the official F5A page lists no insurance requirement). Note: as of 2025 a yellow fever vaccination certificate (ICVP) is a mandatory entry requirement for all travellers, with exemptions for infants under 9 months and adults over 60. Private travel health insurance is strongly recommended.

  Good for

  Leisure travellers and sightseers from non-ECOWAS, non-waiver countries; employment is prohibited.

  Requirement

  Passport valid 6+ months, passport photo, return ticket, hotel reservation or Nigerian host address, and a bank statement covering ~180 days. Applied for online via the NIS e-Visa portal before travel; visa-on-arrival was abolished on 1 May 2025, and travelling without prior approval can mean denied boarding.

• Most nomadsBusiness

  Business Visa (Single Entry F4A / Multiple Entry F4B, e-Visa)

  Single entry (F4A): 30 days, visa valid 90 days, non-extendable. Multiple entry (F4B): up to ~90 days per stay, issued on a reciprocity basis (validity varies by nationality — verify per applicant).

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required by the visa rules (no insurance requirement on the official F4A/F4B pages). Yellow fever certificate is a mandatory entry requirement (with the usual age exemptions); travel health insurance recommended.

  Good for

  Visitors attending meetings, conferences, seminars, contract negotiations, trade fairs or job interviews — not paid local employment.

  Requirement

  Passport valid 6+ months, official invitation letter from a Nigerian company with its CAC registration certificate, proof of accommodation (hotel or host address) and a return ticket. Applied online via the NIS e-Visa portal.

• Most nomadsWork

  Temporary Work Permit (TWP) Visa — R10 (and 6-month variant R11)

  R10: single-entry permit not exceeding 30 days, valid 30 days from issuance, extendable where applicable. A separate Temporary Work Permit (6 Months) — R11 — covers longer assignments. (Specific online fee figures are not published on the NIS pages — verify with Immigration.)

  Insurance

  RequiredNot stated as a requirement on the official R10/R11 pages. Yellow fever certificate is a mandatory entry requirement; medical/travel insurance recommended.

  Good for

  Experts invited by a Nigerian corporate body for short-term specialised work (equipment installation, commissioning, maintenance, audits, staff training).

  Requirement

  Mandatory pre-approval: the host company must obtain a Visa Authority Letter from the Comptroller-General of Immigration before the expert applies. Plus passport valid 6+ months and a return/onward ticket. Family/group applications are not permitted.

• Most nomadsWork

  Employment (Expatriate) Visa — R2A → CERPAC residence permit

  Subject-to-Regularisation (STR) entry visa valid 90 days from issuance, regularised after arrival into a 2-year renewable CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card). Free-Zone (R3A) and government (R4A) employment variants also exist.

  Insurance

  RequiredNot stated as a visa condition on the official R2A page. Yellow fever certificate is a mandatory entry requirement; health insurance is recommended (and commonly arranged by the employer).

  Good for

  Foreign nationals hired long-term by a Nigerian employer against an approved Expatriate Quota position.

  Requirement

  Employment contract and acceptance letter, approved Expatriate Quota, employer's formal acceptance of Immigration Responsibility, educational certificates and CV. Obtained at a Nigerian embassy, then regularised into the CERPAC residence permit after entry. Holder may work only for the sponsoring employer.

• Most nomadsStudy

  Student Visa — R7A

  Temporary Residence Visa valid 90 days from issuance, regularised after entry into a 2-year renewable residence permit (CERPAC).

  Insurance

  RequiredThe official R7A page lists no medical-insurance requirement (an earlier 'where applicable' note is not reflected on the current page). A yellow fever certificate is a mandatory entry requirement; health insurance is recommended and some institutions require it.

  Good for

  Full-time international students admitted to an accredited Nigerian educational institution.

  Requirement

  Admission letter from an accredited institution, the institution's letter accepting immigration responsibility, proof of tuition payment, and evidence of funds to sustain the applicant/family (6-month bank statement) or proof of sponsorship.

• Residence

  Investor / Business-Owner Visa (N3A–N3D; executive F4C)

  Tiered multiple-entry residence (e.g. N3A small-scale allows a 3-year stay, multiple entry, visa valid 90 days from issuance), tied to ongoing business compliance. A multiple-entry executive Business visa (F4C, 1-year validity, 30 days per entry) requires documented investment of at least USD 250,000.

  Insurance

  RequiredNot specified as a requirement on the investor/F4C pages. Yellow fever certificate is a mandatory entry requirement; private health insurance recommended.

  Good for

  Foreign investors establishing or running a business in Nigeria, tiered by investment scale from small enterprise (N3A) up to large/ultra-large corporations (N3C/N3D).

  Requirement

  Proof of the capital threshold for the relevant tier (N3A: ~USD 250,000–500,000 imported and retained as investor capital), CAC company registration, a business plan, prior F4B/F4C business-travel history, security clearance and NIPC/investment verification.

• Most nomadsResidence

  Retirement Visa (N5B Retiree from Abroad / N5A Retired in Nigeria)

  N5B: 2-year multiple-entry residence permit (visa valid 90 days from issuance; not extendable; employment prohibited). N5A: indefinite residence permit.

  Insurance

  Required. The official NIS pages for BOTH the N5B (Retiree from Abroad) and N5A retirement visas explicitly list 'Evidence of Medical Insurance Certificate' as a mandatory supporting document — so valid medical insurance is a hard requirement, not merely recommended. A yellow fever certificate is also a mandatory entry requirement.

  Good for

  Foreign retirees aged 65+ relocating to Nigeria (N5B, retired abroad) or those who retired in Nigeria after long service (N5A).

  Requirement

  Letter of retirement, proof of retirement income (pension), proof of fund importation (bank statement), a verifiable Nigerian residence address, a security clearance certificate from the country of residence — and an Evidence of Medical Insurance Certificate.

• Transit

  Transit Visa (F3B) / Transit Without Visa (F3A)

  F3B transit visa: 1–7 days, valid 1–7 days from issuance, single transit, non-extendable. F3A transit-without-visa: up to 48 hours airside only (no entry).

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required by the visa rules. Yellow fever certificate is a mandatory entry requirement; travel insurance optional but recommended.

  Good for

  Travellers passing through Nigeria en route to a third country. Airside transit without a visa (F3A) is allowed up to 48 hours without leaving the airport transit zone.

  Requirement

  Valid passport (6+ months), confirmed onward ticket to a destination where entry is guaranteed, a 30-day bank statement showing sufficient funds, a valid visa for the final destination if required, and hotel/host address if staying overnight.

Visa rules change frequently and individual eligibility varies by nationality, purpose and current bilateral agreements. This is general guidance, not legal advice — always confirm with the Nigeria Immigration Service (immigration.gov.ng) or a Nigerian embassy before travelling. Yellow fever vaccination (ICVP) is a mandatory entry requirement for Nigeria. Last checked: 2026-06

Last verified June 2026

United States → Nigeria: frequently asked

Do United States passport holders need a visa to visit Nigeria?

e-Visa. Apply for a visa online before travelling. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

Can a United States passport holder live or work long-term in Nigeria?

Yes, via a long-stay visa. Nigeria has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.

Do I need travel insurance for Nigeria?

Entry to Nigeria never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Nigeria visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.