LagosMove

By Sylvia Johnson, LagosMove Senior Editor. Researched November 3, 2026, using airline route pages and Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Fares, schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and ICA before you pay.

There are no nonstop flights from Lagos (LOS) to Singapore Changi (SIN). Every itinerary has at least one stop, usually in Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa or a European hub. Expect a total journey of roughly 18 to 25 hours depending on the connection. Nigerian passport holders also need a Singapore visa before they travel, so sort that out before you buy a ticket.

Quick answers

• Nonstop? No. Aggregators and airline pages show only connecting itineraries.
• Journey time: About 18 hours on the fastest options, and 21 hours or more on many itineraries. Emirates’ own route page lists about 21 hours 5 minutes for its Lagos–Dubai–Singapore service.
• Visa: Required for Nigerian passport holders. Apply through ICA’s official process, not a random website.
• Arrival card: Everyone entering Singapore must submit the free SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival. It is not a visa.
• Departure terminal: Check it with your airline. Lagos Terminal 1 is closed for rebuilding, so international departures use Terminal 2 or a temporary hall.

Which airlines fly Lagos to Singapore?

Airlines connect Lagos to Singapore through their own hubs. This table shows the options and what to check. Schedules change by season, so use it as a map and not a timetable.

Booking sites show roughly a dozen connecting departures a day on this route, and common connection points include Doha, Dubai and Frankfurt.

How long does the journey take?

Flight time alone is not the number to plan around. What matters is door-to-door time: the first leg, the layover, the second leg and airport formalities at both ends.

• Fastest: Some itineraries show about 18 hours total.
• Typical: 21 to 25 hours, especially when the layover is long.
• Two stops: Sometimes cheaper, but much longer.

Singapore is ahead of Lagos by seven hours, and Emirates’ schedule shows an evening departure landing the following evening. Plan your first night’s hotel and any airport pickup around the local arrival time, not your departure time.

Visa rules for Nigerians travelling to Singapore

Nigerian passport holders need a visa to enter Singapore. ICA lists Nigeria among the countries whose citizens must get a visa first. Older pages list Nigeria under “Assessment Level I” and newer ones under “Level II”, so check ICA’s current page for your category and document list.

What to know before you apply:

1. Start with ICA. The official ICA visa requirements page is the source that counts. Blogs, including this one, can lag behind.
2. Expect a Singapore-based contact or a letter of introduction. Third-party guides say applicants in the stricter category usually apply through a Singapore-based local contact or authorised agent. Confirm this on ICA’s site.
3. Check passport validity. Guides commonly cite at least six months’ validity. Verify it with ICA.
4. Submit the SG Arrival Card separately. Use only ICA’s official SG Arrival Card portal. It is free, it must be submitted within three days before arrival, and ICA warns against sites that charge for it. Having the card does not replace a visa.
5. A visa does not guarantee entry. Immigration officers make the final decision at the border.

Do this before you buy your ticket. A visa application often asks for flight details, so ask the ICA contact or agent handling your application what they need. A flight booked first could lock you into dates you cannot change.

Transit rules: check your connecting country too

Singapore’s visa is only half the story. Your hub country has its own rules.

• Staying airside (not leaving the transit area) usually has lighter requirements than entering the country, but rules depend on your nationality, airline and airport. Ask your airline in writing.
• Dubai: In July 2025, Nigerian media reported that UAE authorities had stopped accepting transit visa applications from Nigerians. This affects anyone planning to leave the airport during a Dubai layover. UAE rules have changed repeatedly since 2022, so confirm the current position with Emirates or the UAE’s official channels before you book.
• Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa: Check each country’s official guidance for Nigerian passport holders, especially if you plan to leave the airport.

For a wider look at layover visa checks from Lagos, read our guide to transit visa checks for Nigerians flying from Lagos.

What affects the price?

We are not publishing a fixed fare because it would be out of date within days. On carrier route pages we checked, advertised Lagos–Singapore fares varied from about USD 1,000 to nearly USD 2,000 for different dates, depending on the airline and fare type.

What moves the price:

• Season and date: Peak holidays cost more. Flying midweek can help.
• Fare type: Light fares often exclude checked bags, seats and changes.
• Routing: Cheaper tickets often mean longer layovers or two stops.
• Payment method: Check card fees, and compare naira and dollar totals at checkout.
• Booking channel: Compare the airline’s checkout total with agency offers, including bags.

To see current Lagos fares, use our weekly real-fares page and our Lagos travel planning tools. For comparison, see our guides to cheap flights from Lagos to London in naira and flights from Lagos to Dallas.

One ticket or two? This matters on this route

• One ticket (a single booking for the whole trip): if your first flight is late and you miss the connection, the airline is generally responsible for rebooking you. Terms vary by fare.
• Two separate tickets: If you miss the second flight, you may have to buy a new ticket yourself. This risk grows on long itineraries through busy hubs.

On a journey this long, a slightly higher single-ticket fare can be cheaper than a missed connection.

If a delay or cancellation does disrupt your trip, our guide on what to do when your Lagos flight is cancelled explains refund and rebooking steps. Travellers who need help at the airport can also read how to request mobility assistance for flights from Lagos.

Baggage across connecting flights

• Confirm the allowance for every leg and whether bags are checked through to Singapore.
• Pack medication, documents, chargers and a change of clothes in your cabin bag.
• Check airline power-bank rules for the airlines you fly.
• Price extra bags online ahead of time. Airport counter rates are usually higher.

Long layovers, hotels and lounges

A layover of 1.5 to 3 hours is fast but risky if your Lagos flight leaves late. A long or overnight layover can be restful but needs planning.

• Decide in advance whether you will stay airside or leave the airport (and whether your passport allows it).
• Price a transit hotel or airport lounge access before you commit to a very cheap long-layover fare.
• Looking for somewhere to rest in Lagos before an early flight? See our guide to sleeping at MMIA overnight.

Departing Lagos: terminals and timing

Murtala Muhammed International Airport is not one building. FAAN has said Terminal 1 is closed for rebuilding, and international departures use Terminal 2 or a temporary hall beside it, depending on the airline. Always confirm your terminal with your airline 24 hours before you fly and again before you leave home.

For a long-haul international flight, we recommend arriving about four hours before departure, then adding road time for Lagos traffic. Read our Lagos Airport guide and our Lagos airport departure guide for rides, check-in timing and safety checks. For wider options, see our flights from Lagos overview.

Before you pay: a short checklist

1. Visa path confirmed with ICA, and dates aligned with your application.
2. One ticket or two? Know which you are buying.
3. Total price including bags, seats and payment fees.
4. Transit rules checked for each connecting country.
5. Layover length that survives a delay out of Lagos.
6. Travel insurance priced. Medical cover, trip delay and baggage cover are worth comparing for a trip this long.
7. Money and phone plan sorted for arrival: Singapore dollars, a card that works abroad and a data plan.
8. Airline contact details saved offline.

FAQs

Is there a direct flight from Lagos to Singapore?

No. Every itinerary has at least one stop.

How long is the flight from Lagos to Singapore?

Roughly 18 to 25 hours in total, including connections. Emirates’ own page listed about 21 hours for its Dubai routing.

Which airline is best for Lagos to Singapore?

It depends on your dates, total time, fare rules and transit-visa position. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines all appear on this route, and the cheapest option is not always the easiest.

Do Nigerians need a visa for Singapore?

Yes. Apply through ICA’s official process and also submit the free SG Arrival Card before arrival.

Do I need a visa to transit in Dubai or Doha?

It depends on whether you stay airside and on current rules. UAE transit visa applications for Nigerians were reported as suspended in July 2025, so verify the current position before you book.

When should I book?

Compare dates and fare types a few weeks to months ahead, and avoid non-refundable fares until your visa is approved.

Related Lagos travel guides

• Lagos Airport Guide: Terminals, Transfers, Flights and Hotels
• Lagos Airport Departure Guide
• Flights From Lagos: Essential Domestic and International Guide
• Flight from Lagos to Ireland: Airports, Visas and Booking Guide
• Lagos Travel Planning Tools

How we researched this: airline route pages (Emirates, Turkish Airlines), fare and route aggregators, ICA entry information and Nigerian press reports on UAE transit rules. LagosMove is an independent information site, not an airline or visa agent.