South Africa visa for Nigerian citizens
e-Visa (apply online)
🇳🇬 Nigerian passport → 🇿🇦 South Africa: yes — an e-visa, applied for online before travel.
How it works
Apply online before you travel: passport scan, photo, fee. Approval typically takes a few days — apply at least a week ahead, print or save the approval, and carry it.
Heads-up: South Africa commonly asks for proof of onward travel (airline check-in and on arrival).
Before the airport: run the "Will I board?" checklist for this route →
Beyond South Africa: the Nigeria passport
The 🇳🇬 Nigeria passport ranks #181 of 199 worldwide, entering 43 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (see the world ranking).
Also visa-free on the Nigeria passport: 🇧🇯 Benin (90 days), 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast (90 days), 🇨🇲 Cameroon (90 days) — all 43 open destinations.
Going the other way? South African citizens visiting Nigeria need a visa on arrival, issued at the border.
Never get caught out
Visa rules change with little notice. Get one email when South Africa changes its entry rules for Nigerian passports.
Capital Pretoria · Currency South African rand (R) · Dialling +27
Before you travel
Sorting your South Africa trip on the Nigeria passport:
See the whole picture
Every destination for the Nigeria passport, and everyone who can enter South Africa.
Nigerian passport: all destinations Who can enter South Africa Plan the trip