Nigeria Visa On Arrival is today’s topic of discussion. In this article, we’re going to talk about Nigeria visa on Arrival and how you can get one once you land in Nigeria either for business or tourism.
Nigeria currently holds the distinction of being the most populated and prosperous nation in Africa. Nigeria features a variety of environments, including coastal mangrove swamps, tropical rainforests, and excellent animals. Nigeria also offers a stunning coastline with a variety of undiscovered, magnificent seashores.
The Nigerian government offers tourists another visa choice the Visa On Arrival (VOA) option. But while applying for a Visa On Arrival, there are a lot of things you need to know.
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.jpg "Nigeria Visa On Arrival (How to go about it)")
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Obtaining several papers and a ton of documentation may be necessary when applying for visas. Therefore, the Nigerian government replaced the conventional method of applying for an entrance visa, such as an e-visa or tourist visa, with a Visa On Arrival (VoA).
Visa On Arrival (VoA) can be the best choice if you need to travel quickly or urgently. The process of applying for or receiving a visa is quick. Applying for a VoA comes with a plethora of advantages. In the first place, you may travel more quickly and affordably by skipping the embassy visit and interview.
The Visa-on-Arrival channel was established by the Nigerian government to allow the Comptroller General of Immigration to issue Short Visit Visas at predetermined ports of entry into Nigeria. If you have a short-term visa, you may apply for visas at the port of entry, including business, tourist, and transit visas.
Short-term visit visas may be requested for a single entrance or numerous entries, however, their validity is limited to three months. It’s also vital to remember that you cannot live or work in the nation with these visas.
Who May Submit a Visa On Arrival Application?
Each nation has a separate set of requirements for obtaining a visa upon arrival. VOA is available to travelers whose home country does not have a Nigerian Embassy, Consulate, or Mission. A person may also apply for VoA if they have an urgent business trip. To determine if they are eligible for VoA, a candidate can visit the Nigeria Immigration Service website or NIS.
The following people are eligible to apply for a VoA:
- Internationally renowned business people who often travel
- high-net-worth individuals
- Members of the government delegation
- executives of companies
- United Nations Laissez-Passer holders
- African Union Laissez-Passer holders
- Members of NGOs
- Residents of all African nations
- Visitors or tourists
NOTE Only the VoA category is available for US citizens applying for a business visa.
What Are the Conditions for a Nigeria visa on arrival?
You must get familiar with the prerequisites for obtaining a visa on arrival as well as the travel papers required for the application. The following papers are required for you to bring into Nigeria. These papers must be shown at the port in order to get your arrival-only visa. I’ll include the necessary paperwork for business visas as it makes up the majority of visas issued upon arrival. You won’t be permitted access to the nation if you don’t have these papers. For a Nigeria visa application, the following travel papers are required:
Business arrival visa:
- a current passport (for a minimum of 6 months)
- a visa application form for Nigeria
- the backdrop of the two passport images is white.
- a letter approving a visa
- evidence of visa fee payment made online
- a letter of invitation from the host organization in Nigeria
- A self-sponsored businessperson does not need an invitation letter but must provide evidence of adequate cash.
- The applicant must specify the objective of the visit in a letter of introduction.
- The host company’s CAC certificate, provided by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission, or a letter of authorization from an NGO
- Your arrival time, flight itinerary, and return ticket
- Reservation for a hotel or other evidence of lodging
- negative covid-19 RT-PCR test results or complete proof of immunization
NOTICE A non-African applicant under the age of 18 is not eligible to apply for a business visa or a visa on arrival.
Tourist Arrival Visa:
- a passport that is at least six months old.
- a visa application form for Nigeria.
- the backdrop of the two passport images is white.
- a letter approving a visa
- a letter of introduction
The host company’s CAC certificate, provided by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission, or a letter of authorization from an NGO (not mandatory)
To get an entrance visa at the port of entry, you must provide a document that has been authorized by the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, known as a visa approval letter. The permission letter is crucial since, without it, you won’t be able to travel by plane or enter the nation.
You submit your online Visa On Arrival application using the website of the Nigerian Immigration Services. Your email including the visa acceptance letter will arrive in two days. You must go to Nigeria with this letter and the other necessary documentation. In order to get your visa at the port, you must subsequently produce these papers to the appropriate official.
How long does it take to get a Nigeria visa on arrival?
We will explore the online nature of the visa application and acceptance letter processes in more detail. The visa acceptance letter typically takes 48 hours, or two days, to complete.
How to get an approval letter for a Nigeria visa on arrival?
All that’s left to do is wait once you’ve completed your online application and sent all the necessary paperwork. Your letter of acceptance for your visa should arrive by email after two business days or 48 hours. You must include a working email address while applying in order to get the acceptance letter in your mailbox.
What Is The Letter Of Visa Approval Validity?
It is recommended that you request your visa approval letter two weeks before your intended departure date. The letter of approval for a visa is only valid for 14 days after it is issued. You will need to apply for a fresh authorization letter to go to Nigeria beyond its expiration date.
What are the steps for applying for a Nigeria visa on arrival?
If you have the finances and all the necessary documentation, you are prepared to apply. The application procedure shouldn’t be difficult or take too long to complete with all the required documentation.
I’ll walk you step-by-step through the full application procedure.
Step 1:
You must go to the Nigerian Immigration Services website’s section on visas upon arrival. Your “Present Nationality” and “Visa Type” will be chosen. Some nations can apply for both tourist and business visas on arrival, while others can only do so for the latter. Only citizens of the United States of America are eligible to apply for a business visa.
To start your application process, click the start application link at the bottom of the page.
Step 2:
Following your selection of those two alternatives, click “start application” at the website’s bottom. You will then be sent to the innovate1 website.
Here, you must choose one of the options for Google, Yahoo, or Open ID, to create your account.
Step 3:
After creating your account, you must click “Next” after selecting the blue “VOAP Guidelines” button.
The first steps to setting up your account are. Once your account has been set up, you only need to enter your information and submit the appropriate files. What this means is:
Step 4:
The real application for your visa on arrival begins here. The process for applying for a visa on arrival is the same as for any other online visa. Depending on the visa you’re looking for, the top will include all the prerequisites for either the business visa or the tourist visa
You will be required to provide your personal information, including name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, picture, and application type, on the first page of your application. Additionally, you must choose the sort of company.
You must click “I Agree” at the bottom of the page after entering the information, then click “Next.”
Step 5:
On the second page, you will provide additional details about yourself, such as your height, eye color, and hair color. You will also need to supply information about your workplace or your permanent address. Depending on the Visa, a different set of data is required. This indicates that a somewhat different page will be shown to someone requesting a tourist visa.
When finished, choose “Next.”
Step 6:
You will enter the information for your passport on the next page. The data of the Nigerian Local Company must be filled out by the applicant for a company VoA. However, such features are optional for a tourist VoA.
Step 7:
You must choose an item from the drop-down box to enter your travel and health history. Both corporate and tourist VoAs follow the same process here.
Step 8:
Before submitting your application, you must complete the following last step:
There is just one thing left to do after uploading all necessary documents: submit the application.
Keep in mind that the submitted papers are the same ones you must bring with you to Nigeria to pick up the VoA.
Step 9:
Making the payment for your VoA is the only action remaining to do after submitting the application. The payment receipt or proof of payment must be downloaded and carried along. Before coming to Nigeria, you must also download and print this completed visa application.
Your visa application will be processed in roughly 48 hours, or two business days. You will get an email with the visa acceptance letter after it has been granted.
What Is the Price of a Visa on Arrival?
The cost of a visa varies significantly depending on which country passport you possess. For instance, the cost to process a visa for an American citizen is USD 160, while the cost for an Indian citizen is USD 253. The costs are far greater than what an American person would have to pay. Visa costs are listed in full on the website of the Nigerian Immigration Services or check this article we wrote on Nigeria visa application.
The visa cost cannot be paid in cash. Online purchases may only be made with a debit card or a credit card. When you arrive in Nigeria, you must also have printed documentation of your payment.
When applying online, the sole fee is for the visa. Therefore, while picking up your VoA at the port in Nigeria, there are no fees to be paid. The VoA charge cannot be returned.
How can I get a Nigeria visa on arrival?
You are prepared to fly to Nigeria once you get your visa approval letter. When you arrive at one of Nigeria’s international airports, such as Abuja or Lagos, you should head to the official Visa on Arrival Desk to get instructions. The immigration officer will first ask for your passport, permission letter, payment receipt, and other necessary papers. The required application verification, biometric enrolment (included in the visa application cost), and finally the issue of an entry visa will follow.
What Is My Visa’s Validity?
An applicant who wants to enter the nation briefly gets given a visa on arrival. This visa has a 30-day initial validity period. However, for an additional fee, you may extend it afterward for a further 3-6 months.
Conclusion/Final Verdict
After reading this article, you shouldn’t have any difficulties getting your visa. You are now prepared to apply for your Nigerian visa on arrival as you have all the necessary information. I hope your application procedure goes well. Travel safely!
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