This is according to a visa-cost analysis report obtained by Sunday PUNCH from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which highlights the financial burden of international travel on Nigerians, particularly applicants who pay non-refundable visa fees without any guarantee of approval.
The report noted that visa application charges, high refusal rates, documentation requirements and additional processing expenses have continued to increase the cost of travelling abroad.
According to the analysis, the financial exposure is particularly significant for Nigerians applying to countries such as Canada, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, where visa rejection rates can result in substantial financial losses.
“All major embassies collect fees before approval and it is non-refundable,” the report stated.
Beyond official visa charges, applicants often spend money on visa application centre services, medical insurance, hotel reservations, flight bookings and other supporting documents.
Consequently, the total financial loss from an unsuccessful application could range from ₦350,000 to ₦1.2m, depending on the destination, visa category and services required.
Canada, Schengen countries record high rejection rates
The report identified Canada’s study permit system as particularly challenging for Nigerian applicants, citing an estimated refusal rate of 75 per cent between January and April 2026. This means that only about one in four applications was reportedly approved during the period.
It attributed many of the refusals to concerns about whether applicants would leave Canada after completing their studies, a requirement associated with Section 216(1)(b) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Within the Schengen Area, Belgium reportedly recorded the highest refusal rate for Nigerian applicants at 60.3 per cent, translating to an estimated approval rate of 39.7 per cent.
Spain followed with a refusal rate of 52.7 per cent, while France recorded 47.4 per cent.
The report put Nigeria’s overall Schengen visa refusal rate at 46.9 per cent in 2025, compared with 45.9 per cent in 2024. It estimated that approximately 250,000 applications by Nigerians were unsuccessful during 2025.
The figures suggest that repeated applications without addressing the reasons for previous refusals could expose travellers to further financial losses.
For the United Kingdom, the report cited an overall refusal rate of 33.1 per cent for Nigerian applicants in 2025. The figure reportedly increased to 35.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, while visitor visa refusals stood at an estimated 38.6 per cent.
It also claimed that Nigerians accounted for 44.4 per cent of all African visa refusals by the UK, citing a cumulative figure of 1.34 million refusals over 21 years.
For the United States, the analysis referenced an estimated refusal rate of approximately 64 per cent among African applicants seeking F-1 student visas, compared with a global rate of 35 per cent.
It noted that concerns about applicants’ intentions to return to their home countries are among the factors considered in visa decisions, although individual applications are assessed according to their circumstances and supporting evidence.
Visa fees continue to rise
Japan is among the countries that recently increased its visa fees for Nigerians, with the new charges taking effect on July 1, 2026.
According to the report, a single-entry visa now costs ¥15,000, approximately $93, while a multiple-entry visa costs ¥30,000, equivalent to about $188.
The new charges represent a fivefold increase from the previous fees of ¥3,000 for single-entry visas and ¥6,000 for multiple-entry visas.
At the exchange rates used in the analysis, the new fees translate to approximately ₦126,000 and ₦252,000, respectively.
Despite the increase, Japan reportedly maintains a relatively low refusal rate of between 12 and 15 per cent for Nigerian applicants. The report identified weak bank statements as one possible reason for unsuccessful applications.
The analysis also listed India among the more expensive destinations in its comparison, with a reported visa charge of $588, approximately ₦819,200. However, it noted that India’s electronic visa system provides cheaper options for eligible categories, with fees ranging from $25 to $80.
For the United Kingdom, a 10-year visitor visa was listed at £1,128, equivalent to about ₦2.09m, while a six-month visitor visa costs £127, approximately ₦203,000.
The United States’ B1/B2 visitor visa was listed at $185, about ₦299,700, while Canada’s visitor visa and biometric charges were estimated at a combined CAD185, approximately ₦205,000.
Schengen visa applicants were estimated to pay €90 in visa fees and an additional €35 in application centre charges, bringing the combined cost to approximately ₦144,000.
Alternative destinations for Nigerian travellers
The report also highlighted destinations that may offer relatively cheaper or less complicated entry options for eligible Nigerian travellers.
Indonesia, for instance, requires Nigerian applicants to pay particular attention to its sponsorship procedures. The report stated that Nigerians are not eligible for visa-on-arrival facilities and generally require sponsorship and approval under the relevant immigration category.
Application charges were estimated at between $50 and $110, while applicants may also be required to demonstrate access to $2,000. The report put the refusal rate for Indonesian calling visas involving Nigerian applicants at about 40 per cent.
Malaysia was identified as another option because of its electronic visa system. Its e-visa was estimated at RM126, equivalent to between ₦40,000 and ₦45,000, with processing taking approximately two to three days.
Applicants may be required to provide a valid passport, return flight ticket, hotel reservation and a photograph meeting the prescribed specifications.
The report estimated Malaysia’s visa refusal rate at between 20 and 30 per cent, although it indicated that the figure requires confirmation against official statistics.
Other destinations identified as possible alternatives include countries in West Africa that offer Nigerian passport holders visa-free access under regional arrangements, such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, Senegal, The Gambia, Liberia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.
Outside West Africa, the report listed Rwanda, Barbados, Dominica, Fiji, Mauritius and Vanuatu among destinations that may offer favourable entry arrangements, subject to applicable conditions and permitted durations of stay.
It also highlighted countries offering electronic travel authorisations or other relatively inexpensive entry permits. Seychelles’ electronic travel authorisation was estimated at $12, Kenya’s at $32, Zambia’s electronic visa at $25, while South Africa’s visa fee was listed at $37.
The report, however, cautioned that visa-free access, visa-on-arrival eligibility and electronic entry requirements differ from one destination to another.
It advised prospective travellers to verify current immigration requirements through official government channels before making travel bookings or paying application fees.
The analysis underscores the growing financial implications of international travel for Nigerians and the importance of understanding visa requirements, documentation standards and the risks associated with unsuccessful applications before committing substantial sums of money.
