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Visa requirements · updated Jul 2026

Do Nigeria citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?

Visa required

Nigeria citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSJul 2026
Visa required
Nigeria → United Kingdom
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Everything for your trip to United Kingdom

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Nigeria vs United Kingdom: passport comparison

Nigeria

26

visa-free countries

Global rank: #181 · mobility 70.5

United Kingdom

118

visa-free countries

Global rank: #31 · mobility 167.6
13

countries both Nigeria and United Kingdom can enter visa-free together

Nigeria + United Kingdom: passport compatibility

25%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Nigeria and United Kingdom travel together — by entry type:

13 both visa-free
12 both visa on arrival
13 both e-visa / eTA
12 both need a visa
147 access differs

Where Nigeria and United Kingdom can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (13)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Country Max stay Passport rank
Barbados 180 days #48
Cape Verde 30 days #136
Dominica 180 days #70
Fiji 120 days #103
Gambia 90 days #132
Haiti 90 days #175
Kiribati 90 days #84
Micronesia 30 days #89
Rwanda 30 days #143
Saint Kitts and Nevis 90 days #54
Senegal 90 days #141
Seychelles 90 days #58
Vanuatu 120 days #105

UK visa refusals for Nigeria citizens

The Home Office publishes the outcome of every visa application — issued and refused — broken down by nationality. These are visitor visas: tourism, family visits and business trips.

38.6%
of visitor-visa applications from Nigeria citizens were refused in 2025
+10.9 pp above the all-country median (27.7%)
-1.5 pp year-over-year: 2024 was 40.1%, now 38.6%
171,182decisions in the year
66,143of them refusals
#34strictest of 119 countries
89countries saw UK refusals rise year-over-year

Home Office data for 2025, visitor visas (applications made from outside the UK). Only countries with at least 200 decisions in the year are ranked — below that the percentage swings on small numbers. The median, rank and year-over-year change are our own calculations on top of the official figures. Source: UK Home Office  ·  All countries →

How the entry rule changed: Nigeria → United Kingdom

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Nigeria → United Kingdom rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

0passports gained easier entry to United Kingdom
1passports saw United Kingdom tighten its rules
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

United Kingdom: good to know

London

Capital

British Pound (GBP)

Currency

Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)

Time zone

+44

Calling code

G

Power plug

230V / 50Hz

Voltage

Left-hand

Driving side

Where else Nigeria goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for United Kingdom

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Nigeria citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?
Nigeria citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Nigeria or United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom passport is stronger: 118 visa-free countries versus 26. Global rank: Nigeria #181, United Kingdom #31.
Where can Nigeria and United Kingdom citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 13 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for United Kingdom?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Nigeria and United Kingdom?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Jul 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Nigeria passport ranking

Where else the Nigeria passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport