FG introduces e-visa initiative for short stay, to grant approval request within 48 hrs

The Federal Government of Nigeria is automating its visa approval and issuance process. The automation will address prolonged wait times for travellers and phase out the likes of middlemen working with immigration officials.

The initiative was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo during a meeting of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 (NVP 2025). The minister noted that the proposed visa policy aims to enhance the ease of doing business, boost tourism, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries.

“In the proposed policy, we introduce a more streamlined and efficient visa approval process, including the electronic visa (e-Visa) as a separate channel for processing and obtaining Nigerian visas,” the minister noted.

Olubunmi noted that under President Tinubu’s administration, the government firmly believes in striking a balance between promoting economic growth, tourism, and national security.

Also under the proposed plan, travellers can apply online for short-stay visas, with approvals granted within 24 to 48 hours. Once approved, the e-visa will be sent to the applicant’s email, eliminating the need for a physical sticker at the airport. In place of a physical sticker, approved e-visas will be delivered electronically via email, simplifying entry procedures at airports.

Tunji-Ojo revealed the initiative in a meeting with the Director General, of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu when she visited him on Tuesday to get an update on the status of the Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) policy.

The minister expressed that the measure will cut off irregularities and provide seamless documentation for travellers. He added that the initiative would not scrap the Visa-on-Arrival policy but seek to improve the process and build travellers’ confidence in the country while the Federal government maintains control of inbound travellers to Nigeria.

“This upgrade builds upon the existing online approval system, streamlining the process and enabling travellers to receive their approvals ahead of time. This enhanced system aims to cut out inefficiencies, allowing Nigeria to better automate and control the inflow of travellers, with this upgrade, the country takes another step towards improving its business environment and attracting foreign investment,” the statement signed by the Director General of PEBEC said.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu since May 2023, the federal government has sought to improve the visa process for foreigners and ease the passport issuance system for Nigerians, by setting up a contactless passport application system for Nigerians abroad.

Also Read: A step-by-step guide to applying for the contactless Nigerian passport renewal.

Like e-visa, FG is also keen on e-passport application 

Earlier in February, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) introduced a contactless passport renewal system to simplify the application process for Nigerians. The system allows applicants to renew their passports online without visiting NIS offices. 

The Contactless Passport Application System (CONPAS) rollout began on 1 November 2024 in Canada. After it successfully launched the initiative in Canada, the Ministry of Interior rolled out the same for Nigerians in the UK on February 7, 2025, while it plans to do the same in the U.S., Italy, and France.

The Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, said that the initiative will utilize digital technology to accelerate a stress-free passport renewal process for Nigerians in the diaspora. She reiterated that the initiative is strictly for passport renewals and does not apply to fresh applicants or minors.  

The process has been structured for easy passport renewal applications to save the time and costs associated with travelling for passport applications.

She further noted that the federal government through the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has given the NIS a mandate to enhance services for Nigerians in the diaspora. This saw the approval of a passport renewal processing facility for New York to address the backlog and improve the passport renewal experience. 

In addition to the New York centre, Nandap revealed that passport front offices would soon be established in other parts of the United States and other countries to enhance further accessibility for Nigerians abroad.

Also recall that in December, Technext reported on the commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Center (BATTIC) built by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) under the Ministry of Interior.

The building, referred to as the state-of-the-art complex, comprises seven key components, including a Data Centre, Command and Control Centre, Visa Approval Centre, ECOWAS Card Centre, Solar Farm, and Passport Centre. 

The president had asked Nigerians to embrace the flexibility change that comes with technology. “We believe that if we rejig our immigration and air travel, we will benefit tremendously from the opportunity it offers for ease of entry and exit,” he said in December.