VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

Nigeria → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Nigeria
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
6,368
Change since 2018
-49.6%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
0.37%
Inflow 20236,368OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<DENIGERIA<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
NG9<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Migration from Nigeria to Germany

Inflows of nationals of Nigeria recorded by Germany; stock of nationals of Nigeria living there; and acquisitions of Germany's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

6,32113k200020032006200920122015201820212023
6,32113k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20000
20010
20022,236
20032,418
20042,520
20051,905
20061,694
20071,649
20081,796
20092,159
20102,351
20112,611
20122,748
20134,151
20146,516
201512,135
201610,007
20179,651
201812,642
201912,367
20205,123
20215,007
20229,003
20236,368
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—83,765—
20236,36883,4701,270
20229,00377,7851,055
20215,00775,4951,100
20205,12373,515985
201912,36766,0451,065
201812,64256,4201,050
20179,65150,440954
201610,00737,4041,046
201512,13529,0711,099
20146,51624,254913
20134,15121,227872
20122,74819,898787
20112,61118,675813
20102,35117,903718
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Germany's consulates in Nigeria

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Germany's consulates located in Nigeria.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20249,3195,8903,37736.2%
20239,8036,5363,22632.9%
20227,9144,4243,40743.1%
20213,3222,0971,10733.3%
20203,0491,6381,36244.7%
201911,2986,6084,60440.8%
201810,8475,5515,09847.0%
201712,1976,3725,63146.2%
201612,1446,9085,08341.9%
201514,2569,6204,43031.1%
201415,01210,3754,35129.0%
201316,08610,1995,76835.9%
201213,5538,3955,15838.1%
201118,5809,3809,20049.5%
201017,76111,0506,85638.6%
200916,28510,7765,76235.4%

Applications by year

9,29019k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
9,29019k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200916,285
201017,761
201118,580
201213,553
201316,086
201415,012
201514,256
201612,144
201712,197
201810,847
201911,298
20203,049
20213,322
20227,914
20239,803
20249,319
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Germany

First residence permits issued by Germany to citizens of Nigeria (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family3,519
  2. Other reasons2,963
  3. Education800
  4. Work530
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20257,81244100
20246,2055121,7553,717
20237,7046701,2754,038
20227,5766411,0554,215
20216,8704231,1004,350
20205,4742299903,506
20196,3391851,0700
20186,3611211,0500
20174,889699570
20162,517481,0500
20152,257391,1060
20142,267329140
20131,941328730
20121,64967900
20111,09508170
201097807240
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities291
  2. EU Blue Card114
  3. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)75
  4. Researchers50
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
54,650
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
2,357
Changed status into work, 2025
266
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Germany in Nigeria, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyAbujanigeria.diplo.de
Consulate-generalLagosabuja.diplo.de
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of Nigeria living in Germany on 31 December, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

31 DecAllEU free movementPermanent residence titleEmploymentEducation and trainingFamily reasonsInternational law, humanitarian or political reasonsTolerated stay (Duldung)Permission to reside during the asylum procedure
202584,1951,4708,2402,9002,51015,74520,2108,9004,095
202484,5351,4407,7652,9452,45015,74518,4459,8255,490
202383,7551,3907,2852,8752,41515,36016,83011,5906,820

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

42k85k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
42k85k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
201429,071
201537,404
201650,440
201756,420
201866,045
201973,515
202075,495
202177,785
202283,470
202383,765
202484,530
202584,195
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Germany, 2023; Nigeria ranks 42.

Inflows to Germany, 2023
  1. Ukraine283,631
  2. Romania202,039
  3. Syria128,742
  4. Türkiye115,937
  5. Poland97,945
  6. Bulgaria65,871
  7. Afghanistan58,482
  8. India54,123
  9. Italy38,460
  10. Hungary34,003
  11. Russia26,720
  12. Serbia24,155
Other destinations for people from Nigeria, 2023
  1. Canada17,465
  2. United States16,330
  3. Italy6,182
  4. Spain3,326
  5. France1,797
  6. Netherlands1,518
  7. Australia1,394
  8. Türkiye1,100
  9. Finland1,020
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more