Emmanuel OchayiTraveling abroad has become more accessible for Nigerian passport holders in 2025. According to the Africa Visa Openness Index, Nigeria has risen to the 6th position in visa openness, reflecting significant progress in facilitating travel for its citizens.
Visa-Free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders
As of 2025, Nigerian passport holders can visit the following countries without obtaining a visa:
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- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Liberia
- Mali
- Niger
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
These destinations offer Nigerian travelers the convenience of visa-free entry, promoting easier movement across borders.
Countries Offering Visa on Arrival
In addition to visa-free countries, 36 nations provide Nigerian passport holders with the option to obtain a visa upon arrival:
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- Algeria
- Angola
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
These visa-on-arrival options further enhance the travel opportunities for Nigerians, allowing for spontaneous and flexible travel plans.
Progress in Visa Openness
The Africa Visa Openness Index highlights that Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles offer visa-free access to all Africans. In 28% of country-to-country travel scenarios within Africa, African citizens do not need a visa to cross borders, a significant improvement from 20% in 2016. Additionally, in 2024, 26 African countries—44% of the continent—offered an e-visa option, up from nine countries (17%) in 2016.
Over the period from 2016 to 2024, 39 countries have improved their scores on the Visa Openness Index. Notably, Nigeria has moved from the 25th position to the 6th, reflecting its commitment to enhancing travel accessibility for its citizens.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite these advancements, traveling within Africa can still be challenging due to complex visa requirements. The lack of functional embassy websites and bureaucratic hurdles often complicate intra-African travel. Efforts like the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol aim to simplify travel procedures, but only a few African countries have ratified agreements to ease travel. Currently, only Benin, Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles guarantee visa-free travel for all Africans.
Simplifying travel is crucial for Africa’s growth and integration. Regional blocs in East, West, and Southern Africa have structures in place to make visa-free travel a reality. The continent must now expand and implement those plans to open up to itself.
In 2025, Nigerian passport holders have an expanded list of countries they can visit without a visa, reflecting the nation’s improved standing in visa openness. As Africa continues to work towards greater integration and ease of movement, Nigerian travelers can look forward to even more opportunities to explore the continent and beyond.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
