You need a Nigeria visa before you fly, and US citizens cannot collect one at the airport. Apply online through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) e-Visa portal, or send a paper application through a Nigerian mission in the United States. Both routes need a passport, a ticket out of Nigeria, and payment before the file moves.
What follows comes from NIS pages, a Nigerian consulate in the US, and US and UK travel health authorities. Fees and arrival rules change. Confirm your visa class and the final amount on the official portal before you pay, not after.
Key takeaways
- A visa is required for US passport holders before travel. A holiday trip is not visa free.
- The NIS fee schedule lists US$160 for a single-entry visa and US$160 for a one-year or two-year multiple-entry visa for US citizens.
- Pay by card on the official portal at the end of the application, then keep the receipt.
- A yellow fever certificate is required for entry, with narrow age exemptions.
- The Landing and Exit Card has been mandatory since 1 May 2025. It is not a visa.
Do US citizens need a visa for Nigeria?
Yes. Nigeria lists a visa among its entry requirements, and the US State Department’s country page for Nigeria says the same. There is no short-stay visa-free arrangement for American passports.
The US mission in Nigeria cannot fix this for you. It handles American citizen services, not Nigerian visas. Your visa comes from Nigeria, through the NIS e-Visa portal or a Nigerian mission in the US.
Confirm these entry conditions before you book anything:
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Passport | Validity beyond your planned stay, and blank pages for a visa |
| Visa | Approved before departure, printed or stamped in the passport |
| Ticket out | A return or onward booking your airline will accept |
| Yellow fever | A valid certificate, unless you fall under an exemption |
| Landing Card | Completed online before you reach immigration |
| Accommodation | Hotel booking, or your host’s address and phone number |
Which visa class matches your trip
Pick the class before you open the form. The class decides your documents, your fee line, and how long you may stay.
| Class | Use it for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist | Holidays, family visits, events | Dates must match your return ticket |
| Business | Meetings, conferences, supplier visits | Invitation letter from the Nigerian host |
| Transit | Changing planes, or changing airports in Nigeria | Ask the airline and the mission about airside transit |
| Work permit or STR | Paid work and short assignments | Usually filed by the Nigerian employer, not by you |
Our guide to Nigeria visa requirements covers the wider classes and their paperwork. Use it for background, then confirm your class on the NIS visa page, because portal labels and fee lines change.
Two ways to apply, and how they differ
The routes are not interchangeable. The e-Visa route keeps your passport in your hand. The mission route puts the visa inside your passport before you travel.
| Route | What happens | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| e-Visa portal | Online form, card payment, approval to print and show on arrival | Your class is listed and your dates are settled |
| Nigerian mission in the US | Paper form, passport submission, visa issued in the passport | You want the visa in the passport, or your class is not online |
Nigeria’s Consulate General in Atlanta, for example, publishes a direct submission process and a separate tourist visa page. Which mission covers you depends on your state. Ask before you post a passport anywhere.
How to apply, step by step
- Decide your visa class, and check the exact NIS label for it.
- Book a fare you can change. Do not lock in a non-refundable ticket before approval.
- Create an account on the official e-Visa portal and complete the form.
- Type your name exactly as printed on your passport bio page, middle names included.
- Upload your documents: bio page, photo, itinerary, accommodation, and any invitation letter.
- Pay by card at the end of the application, then save the receipt and reference number.
- Download and print the approval. Print two copies, and keep a third on your phone.
- Complete the Landing Card online, and pack your yellow fever certificate where you can reach it.
If a screen shows a different class name or fee from what you expected, stop and ask NIS or the mission before paying. Fixing an error afterwards costs more than a question now.
Documents to prepare
| Document | Who needs it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Passport bio page | Everyone | Spelling must match your ticket and form |
| Recent passport photo | Everyone | Plain background, current likeness |
| Return or onward ticket | Everyone | Proof you will leave Nigeria |
| Hotel booking or host address | Everyone | Accommodation proof at the desk |
| Invitation letter | Business travellers | Names the host company and your purpose |
| Bank statement | Some classes | Shows you can fund the stay |
| Yellow fever certificate | Most travellers | Health check on arrival |
Keep digital copies of every document in one folder on your phone. Officers can ask for the same paper twice, and a queue is a bad place to start searching.
Photo by DฮVฮ GฮRCIฮ
What the visa costs
The NIS 2026 Service Level Agreement fee schedule gives these US rates:
| Visa | Listed fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | US$160 | Use within six months |
| Multiple entry | US$160 | One year or two years |
The schedule lists the same US$160 for single entry and for one-year or two-year multiple entry. It lists no five-year multiple-entry option for US citizens. That is what the published table says, and it is a general fee schedule, not a quote for every e-Visa category.
Check the amount at checkout for the class you picked. The portal takes card payment at the end of the application, and NIS says the application is not processed until payment is made. A card that fails quietly stalls the whole file.
Pay on the official portal or through the mission’s stated process, and nowhere else. Anyone asking for a transfer to a personal account, or offering to guarantee approval, is not part of the official route.
How long the visa takes
The NIS material reviewed here does not publish a firm turnaround for the e-Visa. Third-party guides put it at 24 to 48 hours, and others at 3 to 5 business days. Treat both as estimates, not commitments.
Plan for a week, and keep your flight changeable. A name mismatch, a blurred upload, or a payment that needs a second attempt can each add days.
Yellow fever and health checks
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry, and airlines can refuse boarding without one. Nigeria’s national authority restated the rule in August 2025, with exemptions for infants under nine months and adults over 60. Read the NaTHNaC country page for Nigeria and the US State Department page before you book a clinic.
Under the International Health Regulations a certificate stays valid for life. It cannot be rejected just because it is more than ten years old, and a booster cannot be demanded on that basis alone. The WHO yellow fever fact sheet and the CDC Yellow Book chapter set out the detail.
Malaria is a separate risk in Lagos, and there is no certificate for it. Book a travel clinic four to six weeks ahead to discuss tablets, and use repellent at night. Add insurance that covers medical evacuation before you fly.
The Landing and Exit Card
Nigeria made the Landing and Exit Card mandatory for passengers entering and leaving the country from 1 May 2025. It is an immigration declaration, not a visa, and it does not replace one.
Apply on the Landing and Exit Card portal and keep the reference. Some airlines ask for it at check in, so finish it at home rather than in the immigration hall.
Arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Keep your passport, visa approval, return ticket, and accommodation details in one folder you can open quickly. Officers may ask why you came, how long you are staying, and where you will sleep. Short answers that match your application are fastest.
Our breakdown of Lagos airport immigration questions lists what officers actually ask, and how to answer without creating a follow-up problem.
After immigration you collect your bags and pass through customs. Declare what you are required to declare. If you carry goods above the allowance or a large amount of cash, declare it. The Nigeria Customs Service publishes the current rules.
Then read our guide to what to do after landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport before you walk out of arrivals. It covers terminals, baggage, and booking transport you can trust.
Getting from the airport into Lagos
Ignore the crowd offering taxis and luggage help until you have a plan. Agree the fare before you sit in any car, or book a ride through an app or a hotel transfer. Our notes on airport ride-hailing rules explain where pickups are allowed.
Traffic is heavy, so leave room between landing and your first meeting. If you land late, a room near the airport beats a long drive. Compare the Ibis Lagos Airport hotel with other hotels in Ikeja before you pick one.
For a longer connection, check airport lounge access. If you are moving to a domestic flight, read which Lagos domestic terminal you need, and remember that Lagos has more than one airport.
Keep your first day simple. Our Lagos airport safety tips cover the small things that matter, and use the guide to Lagos airport lost property if a bag goes missing. Once you are settled, our list of beaches in Lagos is a good place to start a free afternoon.
Mistakes that cost US travellers money
- Flying without an approved visa. There is no desk at Lagos airport that sells one to you.
- Booking a non-refundable ticket before approval.
- Letting your name differ between passport, form, and ticket.
- Paying an agent off the official platform.
- Leaving the Landing Card until you reach the immigration hall.
- Travelling without a yellow fever certificate.
- Relying on visa on arrival. The material reviewed here does not establish it for US citizens, so do not build a trip on it.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Nigeria?
Yes. Nigeria requires a visa before travel, and there is no visa-free short stay for US passports. Apply through the NIS e-Visa portal or a Nigerian mission in the US.
How much is a Nigeria visa for US citizens?
The NIS 2026 fee schedule lists US$160 for a single-entry visa and US$160 for a one-year or two-year multiple-entry visa. Confirm the amount for your class at portal checkout, because the schedule is general.
Can I get a Nigeria visa on arrival as a US citizen?
Do not rely on it. US citizens are told to get a visa before travel, and the material reviewed here does not establish on-arrival eligibility. Ask NIS in writing before you book.
How long does the Nigeria e-Visa take?
No firm official turnaround was published in the material reviewed. Guides give 24 to 48 hours or 3 to 5 business days. Plan a week and keep your fare flexible.
Is the Landing Card the same as the visa?
No. The Landing Card is an immigration declaration, mandatory since 1 May 2025 for arrivals and departures. The visa is a separate permission to enter.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Yes, unless you fall under the narrow exemptions for infants under nine months and adults over 60. A certificate issued years ago still counts under the International Health Regulations.
Can I extend my visa after I arrive?
Extensions depend on your visa class and are not automatic. Ask NIS before you travel if there is any chance you will stay longer than your visa allows.
What if my passport is lost in Lagos?
Report it to the police, then contact the US mission through ng.usembassy.gov for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your bio page and visa on your phone as backup.
What to do next
Open the e-Visa application page and check whether your class is listed. If it is not, contact the Nigerian mission that covers your state before you do anything else. If you would rather have the airport side handled while you focus on the visa, a reputable Lagos travel agency can arrange transfers and hotels.
Then work backwards from your flight date: clinic first, application next, ticket last. That order keeps the expensive parts of the trip refundable until your visa is real.
