The Nigerian government has launched an Online Visa Approval Center to streamline the visa application process, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and curb corruption.
Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the initiative at a stakeholders’ sensitization workshop on the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2025 in Abuja on Wednesday. The new system ensures that visa applicants no longer need to visit a visa office, know anyone in the system, or lobby for approvals.
The Online Visa Approval Center, commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in December, enables applicants worldwide to apply online and receive their e-visa via email after approval. The system, managed in Nigeria, eliminates the need for a physical Visa Approval Center.
“We don’t have a physical Visa Approval Center. If you apply for a Nigerian visa anywhere in the world, you do so online. We process it here in Nigeria, and if approved, you receive your e-visa in your email,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo explained.
To enhance efficiency, the government has implemented a 48-hour deadline for processing visa applications.
“It is unprofessional and unacceptable for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) not to approve or provide feedback within 48 hours,” the minister emphasized.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo stressed that the reform aims to balance national security and ease of migration, ensuring that foreign investors and legitimate visitors can access Nigeria without unnecessary hurdles.
“It breaks my heart that people need to lobby to even get visas to Nigeria. It shouldn’t be so. It shouldn’t be,” he said.
“For anybody that is qualified, for anybody that wants to do legitimate activities in Nigeria, such people should be able to come to Nigeria easily. And this is why we are opening our space. Mr. President is interested in foreign direct investments,” he added.
He further stated that bureaucratic bottlenecks hinder economic growth, and the government is committed to removing these obstacles to enhance national security and economic prosperity.
The Controller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, outlined additional reforms, including the full digitization of the e-visa platform and a reduction in visa classifications from 79 to 44 to improve accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.
“At the core of this policy is the new e-visa platform—a fully digitized, centralized system that revolutionizes how foreign nationals interact with our country’s entry procedures,” Nandap explained.
“These categories have been logically grouped to simplify procedures, reduce complexities, and greatly improve the user experience. Importantly, we have maintained the original purpose and intent of each visa class throughout this reform,” She further added.
