On January 4, 2020, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the new Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 (“NVP 2020” or “Policy”). According to the President, the Policy is intended to attract innovation, specialized skills and knowledge to complement and improve the country’s local capacity to support attainment of a globally competitive economy and also to reflect current global best practice.
The NVP 2020 is an upward review of the previous visa policy issued in 2012, the Policy introduced three (3) visa categories with their respective visa codes, expanded the classes of visas from six (6) to seventy-nine (79), and provides for countries that are visa exempt.
The Policy also introduces the electronic visa (“E-visa”) in addition to the previous visa application processes (embassy, visa application centers and visa on arrival). The E-visa is an online based application process that is subject to pre-approval before arrival to Nigeria.