Key points
- Nigeria requires two separate documents for entry: the eVisa (entry permission) and the Landing Card (immigration data form).
- The eVisa launched on May 1, 2025, replacing the Visa on Arrival program, and must be obtained before you travel.
- The Landing Card is a mandatory digital form completed within 96 hours before arrival; it is not a visa.
- A separate Exit Card is required within 96 hours before leaving Nigeria.
- Arrival includes biometric screening (fingerprint and facial scan), adding roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
Planning a trip to Nigeria? You’ll need two important documents: the Nigeria eVisa and the Landing Card. These forms serve different purposes, but both are mandatory for entry.
In this guide, we’ll explain the difference, who needs what, and how to apply, with everything updated for the 2025 Nigeria entry requirements.
Quick Overview: Differences Between the eVisa and Landing Card
| Document | eVisa | Landing Card |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Entry permission | Immigration form for data collection |
| Application | Online | Online |
| When to Apply | Before traveling to Nigeria | Within 96 hours before arrival |
| Validity | 30 days (single-entry) | Single use per entry |
| Required For | Eligible foreign nationals | All non-Nigerian travelers |
| Processing Time | 24–48 hours | Almost immediate upon submission |
| Cost | Government visa fee (varies by visa type and nationality) plus the iVisa service fee | The iVisa service fee |
What Is the Nigeria eVisa?
The Nigeria eVisa is an electronic visa that lets travelers apply online for entry into Nigeria. Introduced on May 1, 2025, the eVisa system replaced the previous Visa on Arrival program.
Essential things to know about the Nigeria eVisa:
- Application process: Entirely online, via the Nigerian government website or the iVisa website or app.
- Processing time: Typically within 24 to 48 hours.
- Validity: Single-entry tourism visa valid for 30 days.
- Eligibility: For citizens from over 170 countries, except ECOWAS countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, and Togo).
- Requirements: A valid passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, a travel itinerary, and payment of the fees. Note that the government charges its own visa fee, and iVisa charges a separate service fee on top of it.
The eVisa must be obtained before you travel to Nigeria. These are official government requirements, so check the relevant Nigerian authorities for the latest details before you apply.
One point worth flagging: the visa-on-arrival program was set to be phased out after May 30, 2025. Travelers who already held pre-approval could still use it to enter Nigeria until that date; after that, an eVisa is required.
What Is the Nigeria Landing Card?
The Landing Card is a mandatory digital customs form that all non-Nigerian travelers must complete before entering Nigeria. As of May 1, 2025, the process was digitized to streamline border control.
Essential things to know about the Nigeria Landing Card:
- Application process: Completed online, via the government website or the iVisa website or app, within 96 hours before arrival.
- Purpose: Collects traveler information for immigration control and border management.
- Requirements: Passport details, eVisa reference, flight information, and personal data.
The Landing Card is not a visa and does not grant entry permission. It’s an additional requirement for immigration processing, and it replaces the paper form that used to be handed out on flights and on arrival.
What You Need for Your Trip to Nigeria
To help your entry into Nigeria go smoothly, follow these steps:
- Find out whether you’re eligible and need to apply for an eVisa.
- After getting your visa, complete the Landing Card online within 96 hours before arrival.
Handle both requirements and you’ll be well-prepared for your journey to Nigeria.
Beware: Nigeria Exit Card Needed for Leaving the Country
Leaving Nigeria? Don’t forget to complete the Nigeria Exit Card, a mandatory digital form required before departure from the country. You fill it out online via the official portal within 96 hours before your departure.
This form helps immigration authorities track outbound travelers, and it is separate from your visa or Landing Card.
What to Expect When You Land in Nigeria
Even though the eVisa is completely digital (no physical sticker or stamp), there are a couple of quick steps to complete on arrival:
- Biometric screening: You’ll go through a short fingerprint and facial recognition scan at immigration.
- Extra time: This process usually adds 15 to 20 minutes to your arrival procedure, so factor that into your plans.
One traveler described the arrival process as smooth: their fingerprints were scanned and a photo was taken, and that was it.
If you want to avoid the busiest hours at Lagos Airport, arriving between 11 AM and 3 PM on a Tuesday or Wednesday tends to line up with the quietest windows for entry.
Why Apply with iVisa?
Applying directly on the Nigerian government website can be frustrating, especially with payment glitches and limited customer support.
| iVisa advantages | Do it yourself |
|---|---|
| 24/7 customer support (chat, WhatsApp, phone) | No customer service |
| Apply in 14+ languages | English only |
| Flexible payments (PayPal, Apple Pay) | Foreign cards often rejected |
| Expert review of documents | Errors can cause delays |
| Save and resume anytime | Must complete in one session |
| Easy to apply as a group | Every traveler must start a new session |
As one traveler put it, they chose iVisa because their UK cards kept failing on the government site, and the support team answered their questions within minutes so they could pay for the application without issues.
Final Nigeria Checklist for Travelers
- Apply online at least one week before travel.
- Prepare your documents (passport, flights, accommodation).
- Check your email for your eVisa approval.
- Print copies of your eVisa and bring them with you.
- Arrive during quieter hours if possible.
Ready to Apply?
If you have any questions, reach out via WhatsApp or iVisa chat.
