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Nigeria

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
61,381
Top destination, 2023
Canada
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
65,527
UK visas issued, 2025
156,539
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
45.3%
NationalityNGISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<NGNIGERIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
NG9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Nigeria need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Nigeria move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Canada17,465
  2. United States16,330
  3. Germany6,368
  4. Italy6,182
  5. Spain3,326
  6. France1,797
  7. Netherlands1,518
  8. Australia1,394
  9. Türkiye1,100
  10. Finland1,020
  11. Sweden777
  12. Austria701
  13. Belgium585
  14. Japan538
  15. New Zealand330

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

38k75k200020032006200920122015201820212023
38k75k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200017,339
200116,954
200218,987
200322,177
200427,486
200527,619
200629,513
200729,517
200829,619
200932,568
201032,363
201129,646
201242,979
201343,057
201443,365
201552,633
201659,570
201772,309
201875,446
201970,492
202040,720
202159,115
202266,708
202361,381
Share going to the top destination
28.5%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Nigeria who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United States565,053
  2. United Kingdom324,007
  3. Niger199,722
  4. Cameroon188,266
  5. Italy112,792
  6. Canada112,065
  7. Benin92,433
  8. Ghana90,111
  9. Côte d’Ivoire60,926
  10. Sudan35,645
  11. Spain33,772
  12. Togo32,503

Living abroad by year

1.05M2.09M19901995200020052010201520202024
1.05M2.09M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990394,107
1995467,021
2000542,140
2005763,991
2010978,678
20151,359,519
20201,768,444
20242,094,265
Living abroad, 2024
2,094,265
Change since 2000
+286.3%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
27.0%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Nigeria by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B253,893
  2. F13,939
  3. J11,060
  4. K1911
  5. H1B884
  6. F2859
  7. A2741
  8. H4587
  9. G2381
  10. G4308

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

72k144k201720182019202020212022202320242025
72k144k20172019202120232025
Data table
201796,085
2018143,783
201992,317
202032,856
202124,792
202284,670
2023113,982
202487,361
202565,527
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. F42,295
  2. IR12,073
  3. IR22,064
  4. IR51,992
  5. F11,222
  6. F31,108
  7. FX604
  8. E2543
Immigrant visas, FY2025
13,306
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
641
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Nigeria who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Nigeria with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

9,80520k2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
9,80520k201520172019202120232024
Data table
201511,540
201614,380
201713,540
201813,950
201915,890
202012,400
202113,100
202212,390
202315,790
202419,610
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens15,370
  2. Employment-based preferences2,770
  3. Family-sponsored preferences850
  4. Refugees and asylees580
  5. Other classes30
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)2,700
  2. Spouses and children1,470
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)930
  4. Intracompany transferees (L-1)870
  5. Other temporary workers530
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)290
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Nigeria)
19,610
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Nigeria)
12,310
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
142,770
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Nigeria (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Nigeria (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor104,898
  2. Study36,922
  3. Work11,758
  4. Family1,523
  5. Other1,438

Visas issued by year

141k282k201020122014201620182020202220242025
141k282k201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010125,765
2011137,492
2012128,831
2013131,156
2014122,967
2015103,674
201672,690
201771,010
201882,488
2019108,096
202054,961
2021106,598
2022249,332
2023281,658
2024153,916
2025156,539
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
38,010
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Nigeria, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202561018,24027,62016,3605,970
202471017,22527,96520,3956,055
202354013,88539,40517,4655,820
20223054,66017,02522,1352,680
20211303,71010,15015,5903,685
2020452,9956,3156,3604,930
2019752,9957,84512,5955,060
2018252,8056,88510,9154,765
2017102,7006,3155,4453,735
2016352,8306,5854,415750
2015401,5906,6154,095480
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Nigeria, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

1663322005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
1663322005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–0637
2006–0763
2007–0871
2008–0972
2009–1050
2010–1181
2011–1273
2012–1370
2013–1450
2014–1563
2015–1656
2016–1766
2017–1867
2018–1969
2019–2057
2020–2166
2021–2282
2022–23126
2023–24167
2024–25229
2025–26332
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills235
  2. Specialist Skills63
  3. Labour Agreement31
  4. Short-term3
Granted, 2025–26
332
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.5%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Nigeria living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

2,4044,8072012201420162018202220242025
2,4044,8072012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20122,377
20132,453
20142,518
20152,638
20162,797
20172,911
20183,025
20193,201
20223,672
20233,954
20244,318
20254,807
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident1,698
  2. Dependent562
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National512
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services476
  5. Student450
  6. Long-Term Resident263
  7. Designated Activities256
  8. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident224
  9. Instructor223
  10. Professor25
Residents, December 2025
4,807
In work-related statuses
817
Share in work-related statuses
17.0%
Students
450
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Nigeria

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Nigeria, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France55,83330,85124,30143.5%
Italy13,7038,4825,17437.8%
Spain12,9684,7227,67359.2%
Germany9,3195,8903,37736.2%
Belgium5,6901,9793,54662.3%
Switzerland2,8162,11058020.6%
Portugal2,3168901,34758.2%
Austria1,9421,12679641.0%
Denmark1,53453494661.7%
Finland1,35559173254.0%
Bulgaria85529839446.1%
Poland70431638454.5%
Czechia67434831646.9%
Hungary64426238259.3%
Greece43516126961.8%

Applications by year

56k111k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
56k111k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200968,388
201073,790
201176,967
201279,882
201384,929
201497,595
201588,228
201688,714
201783,647
201888,587
2019102,322
202021,497
202132,345
202286,815
2023105,926
2024111,201
Refusal rate, 2024
45.3%
Refusal rate, 2019
48.5%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Nigeria in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family13,339
  2. Other reasons8,803
  3. Education6,538
  4. Work4,145
First permits by country
  1. Germany7,812
  2. Italy7,205
  3. France2,299
  4. Spain2,129
  5. Ireland1,739
  6. Portugal1,394
  7. Malta1,245
  8. Netherlands1,189
  9. Finland1,158
  10. Sweden1,051
  11. Hungary998
  12. Poland819
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card230
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)427
  3. Researchers173
  4. Other paid activities3,315
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
647
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
11,608
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
16,428
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
675
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
300,532
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
11,168
Changed status into work, 2025
6,235
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
22
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
199
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Nigeria in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025208797541211
Sweden20256522721829012105
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202593271861
Austria2025886350536
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark79
  2. Sweden27
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Germany

Citizens of Nigeria living in Germany on 31 December 2025, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

By residence status, 31 Dec 2025
  1. International law, humanitarian or political reasons20,210
  2. Family reasons15,745
  3. Application for a residence title pending13,005
  4. Tolerated stay (Duldung)8,900
  5. Permanent residence title8,240
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted4,835
  7. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure4,095
  8. Employment2,900
  9. Education and training2,510
  10. Special residence rights and national visas2,275
  11. EU free movement1,470

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
Residents in Germany, 31 Dec 2025
84,195
With a residence title for employment
2,900
Permanent residence title
8,240
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Italy

New residence permits issued in Italy to citizens of Nigeria, by year and reason, and permits valid on 1 January 2026 (Istat).

New permits by year

13k27k2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
13k27k201620182020202220242025
Data table
201620,740
201726,843
201815,532
20195,211
20203,911
20217,799
20229,062
20238,278
20247,288
20259,291
New permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family4,175
  2. Asylum and protection4,145
  3. Other reasons507
  4. Work299
  5. Study165
New permits, 2025
9,291
Valid permits, 1 Jan 2026
119,872
EU long-term residents, 1 Jan 2026
35,475
Source: Istat, residence permits of non-EU citizens: permits issued in the year and valid permits on 1 January (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Nigeria

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Nigeria, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Angola1——
Argentina1——
Austria1——
Belarus1——
Belgium1——
Brazil1——
Bulgaria1——
Burkina Faso1——
Burundi1——
Chad1——
China11—
Czechia1——
Côte d’Ivoire1——
Finland1——
France11—
Germany11—
Greece1——
Guinea1——
Hungary1——
Indonesia1——
Ireland1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Mexico1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
Norway1——
Palestine1——
Poland1——
Portugal1——
Qatar1——
Romania1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Serbia1——
Slovakia1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Sweden1——
Switzerland1——
Syria1——
Tanzania1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1—1
United Kingdom——1
United States—1—
Vietnam1——
Countries
51
Missions
55
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Nigeria, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

12k24k2000200320062009201220152018202120242025
12k24k200020052010201520202025
Data table
20001,392
20011,167
20021,209
20031,063
20042,273
200514,640
200616,932
200718,014
200819,200
200918,371
201019,745
201120,617
201220,543
201320,797
201420,999
201520,626
201619,698
201722,037
201824,311
201923,809
202017,208
202119,483
202220,128
202319,550
202422,127
202522,789
Remittances received, 2025
US$22,789 million
Share of GDP, 2025
7.8%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Nigeria, 2023
4.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Nigeria

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Nigeria → Canada
  • Nigeria → United States
  • Nigeria → France
  • Nigeria → Germany
  • Nigeria → Italy
  • Nigeria → Spain
  • Nigeria → Netherlands
  • Nigeria → Australia
  • Nigeria → Belgium
  • Nigeria → Türkiye
  • Nigeria → Finland
  • Nigeria → Sweden
  • Nigeria → Austria
  • Nigeria → Portugal
  • Nigeria → Hungary
  • Nigeria → Poland
  • Nigeria → United Kingdom
  • Nigeria → Malta
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