How to Get a Visa for Nigeria as a US Citizen

If you’re a US citizen heading to Nigeria, here’s the first thing to know: everything starts online, not at a counter. The application goes through the Nigerian Immigration Service portal, the consulate fee gets paid by credit card the moment you submit, and from there it’s really a matter of which visa type fits your trip. Here’s the full picture, based on how it works through the Los Angeles office.

Which Visa Type Do You Actually Need?

There are five categories, and most travelers only need to think about two of them.

Tourist visa. For personal travel. You’ll need an invitation letter from a host in Nigeria that includes the exact phrase “accepting full immigration responsibility,” plus a copy of that host’s ID. Missing that phrase is a common reason applications get sent back.

Business visa. For work-related travel, not employment. This needs a letter from your US employer on company letterhead, and the consulate wants your salary listed, reflecting a real professional income. A vague letter without that detail tends to get rejected.

STR business visa. For people whose Nigerian employer has already secured an Expatriate Quota. It lets you enter Nigeria and finish your work permit process once you’re already in the country.

TWP business visa. A shorter-term work category, requiring pre-approved authorization from the Nigerian government before the visa can be issued.

eVisa. The simplest option if you qualify. No passport ever leaves your hands, it’s approved and emailed directly, typically in 2 to 5 business days.

What You’ll Need, Across the Board

A few things show up no matter which visa you’re applying for:

• Your passport has to be undamaged, have at least one blank visa page, be signed, and stay valid for six months past your departure date.
• A confirmed round-trip flight itinerary showing your entry and exit dates.
• A 2×2 visa photo with a plain white background, taken within the last month.
• The online application and a supplemental form, both completed, printed, and signed.

Beyond that baseline, tourist and business visas each need their own invitation or business letter, and STR/TWP need employer-side approvals that have to already be in place before you apply.

What This Actually Costs

Your total comes from three separate pieces.

Consulate fee, paid online by credit card at submission: $420 for the 30-day single entry, $465 for the 5-year multiple entry (subject to availability, worth calling to confirm), and a variable amount for the eVisa depending on category.

Service fee, based on speed: Rush at 5 to 7 days is $249, Regular at 10 to 14 days is $199, and eVisa at 2 to 5 days is $145.

FedEx return, only relevant if you’re getting a physical sticker visa back, since the eVisa is simply emailed: Priority overnight is $38, First overnight (by 8:30 AM) is $98, Saturday delivery is $68. Bring your own prepaid label and that cost disappears, or provide a FedEx account number and it’s a flat $5 to generate the air bill.

How Long Does It Actually Take

Regular processing runs 10 to 14 business days. Rush cuts that down to 5 to 7. The eVisa moves fastest at 2 to 5 business days, since there’s no physical document to ship back and forth. All of these timelines start once a complete, accepted application is submitted, which is why having everything reviewed and correct the first time matters as much as which speed tier you pick.

What If Your Passport Isn’t Ready

A sticker visa gets placed directly into the passport you currently hold. If yours expires within six months of your travel date, or doesn’t have a blank visa page left, it needs to be renewed first, and the visa filed against the new book afterward. That’s something that can be handled in the same process rather than as two separate trips.

Real Questions People Actually Ask

Do I have to apply online myself, or does someone help with that?

A: The application is submitted through the Nigerian Immigration Service portal, and the online application plus the supplemental form get completed together with you before anything goes in.

What’s actually different between the STR and TWP visas?
A: STR lets you enter and finish your work permit process once you’re in Nigeria, and requires your employer to already have an Expatriate Quota. TWP is for shorter assignments and needs government pre-approval before the visa is issued at all.

Does Nigeria really offer an eVisa, or is that just for some countries?

A: Yes, Nigeria has an eVisa for tourism and short business trips. No passport submission needed, it’s emailed to you, usually within 2 to 5 business days.

What happens if my invitation letter is missing something?

A: Letters get reviewed before submission specifically to catch that. A tourist invitation letter needs the phrase “accepting full immigration responsibility” plus a copy of the host’s ID; without both, it’s a common rejection reason.

Before You Apply

Whichever category fits your trip, the same starting point applies: call with your actual travel date, and you’ll know within minutes which visa type, which documents, and which speed tier make sense, so nothing gets submitted with a gap that sends it back.

This article reflects Nigeria visa requirements and pricing as handled by Sameday Passport & Visa’s Los Angeles office as of 2026. Requirements can change. Call to confirm current details before you apply.