Nigeria e-Visa for citizens of South Africa: online application, fees and processing time 2026
Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of South Africa apply online before departure.
Data updated on
Mandatory arrival form: Nigeria e-Landing / Exit Card. Before boarding. Also required before leaving the country. Free: beware of websites that charge for it.
Fill it in on the official website (lecard.immigration.gov.ng)
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Our guide to the Nigeria visa from South Africa
Yes, an e-Visa is required from South African citizens to enter Nigeria. The application is submitted online, before travelling, and only on the official portal of the Nigerian authorities.
Whether the trip starts in Johannesburg, Cape Town or elsewhere, travellers from South Africa must obtain their electronic authorization before checking in for Nigeria. The fee and processing time are not in our verified data: consult the official portal or Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in South Africa.
Do you need a visa?
Yes. Holders of a South African passport must obtain an e-Visa before leaving for Nigeria. This electronic authorization is granted by the Nigerian authorities after an online application; you must have it with you at flight check-in and at immigration control.
How much does an e-visa for Nigeria cost from South Africa?
The official fee for an e-visa for Nigeria is not published in a source we can verify. Check the amount on the official portal before paying anything, third-party sites often add service fees on top.
What does a visa for Nigeria really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for an e-visa for Nigeria?
Documents required for an e-visa for Nigeria:
- Passport valid 6 months beyond stay
- Online application (no paper form)
- One passport-size photo
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate
- Visa fee payment
Documents and fees
The documents usually requested are the data page of the South African passport, a recent photo and travel evidence such as an itinerary, an accommodation booking or an invitation. No amount is given here, as there is no verified fee: the official portal and Nigeria’s diplomatic mission are the only reliable sources for the fees.
How to apply for an e-visa for Nigeria from South Africa
- 1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
- 2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
- 3Pay the fee online by card.
- 4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
- 5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.
How to apply
Go to the official Nigerian portal, preferably by typing its address yourself rather than clicking on an advertisement. Fill in the application form, attach the requested files in the stated format, pay the fee online and wait for the email confirmation. The decision can then be downloaded from your personal account or from the link you receive.
Where do you apply for a visa for Nigeria from South Africa?
An e-visa for Nigeria is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.
- The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
- Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
- The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.
You live in South Africa on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in South Africa but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does an e-visa for Nigeria take?
No verified processing time is published for this route. Apply as early as your travel dates allow, and never book non-refundable travel before the e-visa is granted.
Processing time and tips
The processing time is not specified in our verified data, so apply early and follow the status on the portal. Also check that your passport is valid for the entire stay, and keep a copy of the e-Visa on paper and on your phone in case there is no connection at the airport.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
A costly mistake is paying an unofficial assistance website that copies the look of the Nigerian portal and adds its own fees. Next come typing errors in the name or passport number, photos rejected as non-compliant and firm bookings made before the e-Visa has been obtained.
Plan your trip
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Other visa types for Nigeria
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
Guide generated automatically on October 17, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Official websiteTo confirm
Transit visa
Transit visa
Duration
7 days
Processing time
5 business days
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Family visa
Family reunification
Duration
1 year
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Business visa
Consular visa
Duration
90 days
Processing time
5 business days
Official websiteVerified
CERPAC work residence
Work visa
Duration
1-2 years
Price
2,000 USD
Processing time
60 business days
Official websiteVerified
Investor visa
Investor visa
Duration
5 years
Processing time
60 business days
Official websiteVerified
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Nigeria from South Africa?▾
Yes, an e-visa (electronic visa) is required. It is applied for online before departure.
What documents are required for a visa to Nigeria?▾
For the tourist visa application, you will need: Passport valid 6 months beyond stay, Online application (no paper form), One passport-size photo, Return or onward ticket, Proof of accommodation, Proof of sufficient funds, Yellow fever vaccination certificate, Visa fee payment.
How do you apply for a visa for Nigeria from South Africa?▾
The application is fully online and made before departure: form on the official portal, documents uploaded, card payment, then the authorisation arrives by email. In most cases no consular visit is needed.
What other visa types exist for Nigeria?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, Nigeria offers among others: Business visa, CERPAC work residence, Student visa, Family visa, Investor visa, Transit visa.
Data verified on 25/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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