Before any foreign national or a Nigerian by birth who has renounced Nigerian citizenship can travel to Nigeria for whatever reason, he or she must first obtain a Nigerian Visa that matches their unique needs. The types of Nigerian Visas are Short Visit Visa, Temporary Residence Visa and Permanent Residence Visa, which can be processed and granted at any of the Nigerian Diplomatic Missions and established Visa Application Centres (VAC). In this article, we’ll address the types of visas in Nigeria.
The types of visas in Nigeria are discussed below:
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Short Visit Visa (SVV)
If the duration of a foreign national’s travel to Nigeria is not exceeding three months (90 days), such an individual is to apply for a Short Visit Visa at the appropriate Nigeria Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate closest to the applicant’s country of residence. This type of visa can be with the right of single or multiple entries, depending on the purpose of travel.
Here’s a table containing the various classes of short visits that warrant Short Visit Visas, and their appropriate Visa Codes:
| Purpose of Travel | Visa Code |
| Diplomatic Visa (Non-accredited) | F2A |
| Transit | F3 (F3A, F3B) |
| Business | F4 ( F4A, F4B, F4C) |
| Tourism | F5A |
| Visiting | F6 (F6A, F6B) |
| Journalist | F7A |
| Cleric | F7B |
| Medical Tourism | F7C |
| Religious Tourism | F7D |
| Sports Visa | F7E |
| Artist/Entertainer/Musician Visa | F7F |
| Study Tour | F7G |
| Academic Exchange Programme | F7H |
| International Cultural Exchange Visa | F7I |
| Humanitarian Services Visa | F7J |
| Emergency/Relief Work Visa | F7K |
| Staff of INGO Visa | F7L |
| Staff of NGO Visa | F7M |
| Temporary Work Permit
Returning holders of other national Passports who are Nigerians by Birth |
F8A
F9A |
The F2A visa is a single-entry short visit visa for non-accredited diplomats who are visiting Nigeria for official business. The diplomats that are eligible to use the F2A visa are either visiting foreign officials who are not accredited to Nigeria or foreign government officials on government business in Nigeria. They may include visiting diplomats, visiting government officials, visiting security personnel on government business, and other temporary work diplomats on a short-term duty tour within the embassy such as embassy staff, attaches and security personnel. After the F2A Visa is issued to the aforementioned class of non-accredited diplomats and they make their way to Nigeria, there are some conditions to adhere to. The stipulated 90 days shouldn’t be exceeded, and though temporary work diplomats such as embassy staff can temporarily work within the embassy, it must be within the permitted 90 days, while other non-accredited diplomats cannot be employed in Nigeria with the F2A Visa.
The Transit Visa (F3) is divided into Transit Without Visa (F3A) and Transit Visa (F3B). The F3A is for direct transit passengers and crew members on rotation on sea vessels and international airlines who would not exceed 48 hours in Nigeria. These types of passengers do not require any visa but must possess valid travel documents and onward tickets. They aren’t permitted to leave the seaport or airport within the 48 hours they will be in Nigeria. On the other hand, the F3B, which is the Transit Visa, allows transit passengers and crew members of sea vessels and international airlines to enter Nigeria before they continue their onward journey. This visa, however, doesn’t permit work and has a stipulated duration of 7 days which can’t be exceeded.
The Business Visa, F4, has three distinct categories which include F4A (single-entry business visa), F4B (multiple-entry business visa) and F4C( frequently traveled executive visa). The F4A is issued to foreign nationals who are visiting Nigeria for short business needs such as seminars, business discussions, contract relations, and conferences, among others.
The F4B Visa (multiple entry business visas) is available to citizens of countries that allow Nigerian citizens to have multiple entries for business purposes. So, foreign nationals of such countries who are issued F4B Visas can make regular short business visits to Nigeria within 2 years of the visa being issued. However, 90 days is the permitted duration per business journey to Nigeria. The F4B Visa doesn’t permit foreign nationals to procure employment in Nigeria.
F4C is the business visa for business persons of international repute who have direct investments of USD250,000 and above in Nigeria. The duration that F4C permits are 90 days, of which multiple entries to Nigeria are allowed within that period.
Tourism Visa (F5A) is a single entry visa issued to citizens of other countries who are visiting Nigeria for tourism. F5A permits a foreign national to stay 30 days but should not be used to find work while in Nigeria.
Visiting Visa (F6) is divided into two categories: Single-entry Visiting Visa (F6A) and Multiple-entry Visiting Visa (F6B). The former is available for citizens of foreign countries who wish to make social visits to friends and family members in Nigeria. The F6A is a single entry visa and the permitted duration to stay in Nigeria is 90 days. On the other hand, the F6B which is the multiple-entry Visiting Visa is available to foreign nationals to visit friends or family in Nigeria. Only citizens of countries that also allow Nigerians to make multiple-entry visits to family members and friends are eligible to be issued the F6B.
The Journalist Visa (F7A) is a single-entry short visit visa issued to foreign citizens who are visiting Nigeria for media and journalism purposes. This permitted duration to stay in Nigeria is 30 days only.
Cleric Visa (F7B) is only issued to foreign clerics who are seeking to visit Nigeria to carry out religious services such as preaching and religious conferences. It is a single-entry visa and the permitted duration to stay in Nigeria is 90 days.
The Medical Tourism Visa (F7C) is a single-entry short visit visa for foreign nationals who are visiting Nigeria for medical attention and those accompanying medical patient(s). This visa permits visiting foreign nationals to stay in Nigeria for 90 days only.
When religious faithful, followers or adherents wish to visit Nigeria to attend religious events, programmes or activities, it is the Religious Tourism Visa (F7D) that’s issued to them to do so. The F7D is a single-entry visa and allows foreign citizens to stay for 90 days only. During this time, such individuals cannot seek employment in Nigeria.
Sports Visa, FZE, is a single-entry short visit visa issued to foreign nationals who are visiting Nigeria for sporting activities. Eligible candidates for the FZE are sportsmen and women, sports officials and organized sports supporters clubs. Sports Visa permits visiting foreign nationals to stay in Nigeria for only 90.
The Artiste/Entertainer/Musician Visa (F7F) is issued to foreign musicians, actors, comedians, dancers, disc jockeys, models, video vixens and entertainers who are visiting Nigeria to perform as artists, entertainers or musicians. This is a single-entry visa.
The Nigerian Study Tour Visa (F7G) is available to students, scholars, and course participants from other countries who are seeking to go on a study tour in Nigeria. It is a single-entry and permits the holder to stay in Nigeria for 90 days, however, this visa doesn’t permit employment or schooling while in the country.
Another type of Short Visit Visa is the Academic Exchange Programme Visa (F7H) which is issued to foreign nationals who are visiting Nigeria for academic exchange programmes. This is a single-entry visa and has a permitted duration of 90 days.
International Cultural Exchange Visa (F7I) is a type of short visit visa that’s usually issued to foreign nationals who are visiting Nigeria for cultural exchange activities. As with other types of Short Visit Visa, the permitted duration of the F7I is 90 days.
Humanitarian Services Visa (F7J) is available for foreign humanitarian workers who are seeking to visit Nigeria for humanitarian services. This is a single-entry visa.
Emergency/Relief Visa (F7K) is a single-entry visa that’s available to Emergency and Relief workers visiting Nigeria for relief or emergency work.
Staff of International
Non-Governmental Organizations Visa (F7L) is a category of SVV issued to staff of INGOs who want to visit Nigeria to provide INGO services.
The staff of Non-Governmental Organization Visa (F7M) is a single-entry visa issued to staff of NGOs who want to visit Nigeria to carry out NGO services.
A Temporary Work Permit Visa (F8A) is a single entry visa issued to experts from another country who have been invited by corporate bodies to provide specialized skill services in Nigeria for a short period.
Returning Holders of other National Passports who are Nigerians by Birth Visa (F9A) is a category of SVV issued to ‘Nigerians by Birth’ who hold National Passports of other countries but are visiting Nigeria with the other National Passport for social and business reasons. Depending on the country the ‘Nigerian by Birth’ is residing in, this F9A may permit single or multiple entries into the country.
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Temporary Residence Visa (TRV)
Here’s a table containing a list of types of Temporary Residence Visa:
| Purpose of Travel | Course Code |
| Temporary Work (6 months) | R11 |
| Accredited Diplomat, Accompanying spouse and Dependants | R1 (R1A, R1B, R1C, R1D, R1E) |
| Employment (Expatriate), Accompanying spouse and Dependants | R2 (R2A, R2B, R2C, R2D, R2E) |
| Employment (Expatriate – Free Zone), Accompanying spouse and Dependants | R3 (R3A, R3B, R3C, R3D, R3E) |
| Employment – Expatriate ( Government Official), Accompanying spouse and Dependants | R4 (R4A, R4B, R4C, R4D, R4E) |
| Employment (INGO), Accompanying spouse and Dependants | R5 (R5A, R5B, R5C, R5D, R5E) |
| Employment (Cleric), Accompanying spouse and Dependants | R6 (R6A, R6B, R6C, R6D, R6E) |
| Student and Accompanying Spouse | R7 (R7A, R7B) |
| Academic Exchange Programme and Accompanying Spouse | R8 (R8A, R8B) |
| Interns | R9A |
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Permanent Residence Visa (PRV)
Here’s a table containing a list of the types of Permanent Resident Visa:
| Purpose of Travel | Visa Code |
| Spouse of Nigerian Citizens | N1A |
| Nigerian by Birth who Renounced Nigerian Citizenship | N2A |
| Spouse of ‘Nigerians by Birth’ who Renounced Nigerian Citizenship | N2B |
| Investors | N3 (N3A, N3B, N3C, N3D, N3E) |
| Highly Skilled Immigrant | N4A |
| Retirement Visa | N5 (N5A, N5B) |
| Accompanying Spouse and Dependants of Permanent Resident | N6 (N6A, N6B, N6C, N6D) |
N1A Visa, which is the Spouse of Nigerian Citizen Visa is usually issued to a legally wedded spouse of a Nigerian citizen. This is a multiple entry visa and the duration of the stay is permanent. The N1A is not permitted for employment.
The N2A Visa is a category of PRV issued to Nigerians who had renounced their Nigerian citizenship but wish to reside in Nigeria permanently. However, the residence permit is subject to Passport validity.
The N2B Visa is a category of PRV issued to foreign nationals who are legally married to ‘Nigerians by Birth’ who renounced their Nigerian citizenship. It’s a multiple entry visa and the duration of stay is permanent as long as the Passport of the spouse remains valid. The N2B is not permitted for employment in Nigeria.
Investors Visa (N3A, N3B, N3C, N3D, N3E) is a unique category of visa issued to investors who have had direct investments in Nigeria for a minimum of five years. These investors may have direct investments in small-scale enterprises, medium-scale enterprises, large corporations, ultra-large corporations and the oil/gas and power sector.
The N4A which is the Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa is issued to foreign nationals with highly skilled knowledge, abilities and skills in areas of the Nigerian economy where there is a gap. This type of visa allows holders to work and reside in Nigeria permanently as long as their Passport is valid.
The N5 Visa (Retirement Visa) is a class of PRV issued to foreign nationals who wish to retire in Nigeria after active service. The N5A is issued to foreign nationals aged 65 years and above who have worked in Nigeria for 20 years and wish to remain in Nigeria after retirement. The N5A Visa permits the issuance of a renewable 2 years residence permit. The N5B on the other hand is issued to foreign national retirees aged 65 years and above who wish to reside in Nigeria after their active service abroad.
The N6(A-D) Visa which is the Accompanying Spouse and Dependants of Permanent Resident is issued to spouses and dependants of holders of Investors, Highly Skilled Immigrant and Retiree Visas, who wish to reside in Nigeria.