Visa-Free African Countries for Nigerian Passport 2026

Nigerian passport holders can visit over 30 African countries without arranging a visa in advance

Summary: Nigerian citizens can access approximately 33 African countries either visa-free (mainly ECOWAS), with visa on arrival, or via e-visa. This is largely due to the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol and the growing adoption of the African Union visa liberalisation agenda.

Visa-Free: ECOWAS Member States (14 Countries)

Under the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons Protocol, Nigerian citizens enjoy unrestricted visa-free entry to all 14 other ECOWAS member states for up to 90 days. You only need a valid Nigerian passport or ECOWAS travel certificate.

CountryStay AllowedRequirements
Benin90 daysValid passport
Burkina Faso90 daysValid passport
Cabo Verde90 daysValid passport
Gambia90 daysValid passport
Ghana90 daysValid passport
Guinea90 daysValid passport
Guinea-Bissau90 daysValid passport
Ivory Coast90 daysValid passport
Liberia90 daysValid passport
Mali90 daysValid passport
Niger90 daysValid passport
Senegal90 daysValid passport
Sierra Leone90 daysValid passport
Togo90 daysValid passport

Visa-Free: Other African Countries

CountryStay AllowedNotes
Chad90 daysFree entry for Nigerians
Central African Republic14 daysLimited but visa-free

Visa on Arrival (African Countries)

These African countries issue visas to Nigerian citizens upon arrival at the airport or border:

CountryStayCost (approx.)Notes
Comoros45 days$50At Moroni airport
Madagascar90 days$35Tourist visa on arrival
Mauritania30 days$55At Nouakchott airport
Mauritius60 daysFreeFree visa on arrival for tourism
Mozambique30 days$50At major airports
Rwanda30 days$30At Kigali airport
Seychelles30 daysFreeVisitor permit on arrival
Somalia30 days$60At Mogadishu airport
Tanzania90 days$50At major airports/borders
Togo7 days$10-20Also ECOWAS visa-free 90 days
Uganda90 days$50Tourist visa on arrival

E-Visa Available (African Countries)

These African countries offer electronic visa applications for Nigerian passport holders:

CountryStayCost (approx.)Processing
Benin (also visa-free)30 daysFree e-visa48 hours
Cameroon90 days$933-5 days
Congo (Brazzaville)30 days$805-7 days
Djibouti31 days$233-5 days
Ethiopia30-90 days$52-723-5 days
Gabon30 days$703-5 days
Kenya90 days$502-3 days (ETA system)
Lesotho30 days$505-7 days
Malawi30 days$503-5 days
South Africa30 days$405-10 days
Zambia30 days$503-5 days
Zimbabwe30 days$30-553-5 days

Visa Required (Must Apply in Advance)

These African countries require Nigerian citizens to obtain a visa from the embassy or consulate before travel:

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • DR Congo
  • Egypt
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Eswatini (Swaziland)
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Namibia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Tunisia

For visa application details, visit the relevant embassy page or our visa requirements guide.

African Union Visa Liberalisation

The African Union's Agenda 2063 includes a goal for visa-free travel across the entire continent through the African Passport initiative. Some progress has been made:

  • Rwanda, Kenya, and Benin have moved toward visa-free access for all African nationals
  • The AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) is driving harmonisation of visa policies
  • Several countries have introduced e-visa systems to simplify travel

As more African countries adopt liberal visa policies, Nigerian passport holders can expect increasing access across the continent.

FAQ

No, Nigerian citizens require a visa to visit South Africa. However, South Africa has introduced an e-visa system that simplifies the application process. Processing typically takes 5-10 working days. Apply online through the South African Department of Home Affairs portal.

Kenya has transitioned to an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. Nigerian citizens can apply online for the Kenya ETA, which costs $50 and allows stays up to 90 days. Processing takes 2-3 working days. Apply at etakenya.go.ke.

The ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons Protocol allows citizens of all 15 ECOWAS member states (including Nigeria) to enter, reside, and establish businesses in any other member state without a visa. For entry, you need a valid passport or ECOWAS national ID card. The initial visa-free stay is 90 days, extendable.

Africa Summary

  • Visa-Free: 16 countries
  • Visa on Arrival: 11 countries
  • E-Visa: 12 countries
  • Visa Required: ~15 countries