Victoria Mbangwa
In a major step toward enhancing national security and easing travel procedures, Nigeria will roll out a fully automated e-visa system and digital landing/exit cards starting May 1, 2025, the Federal Government has announced.
The initiative, unveiled during a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, reflects a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, described the move as a testament to the government’s drive for seamless inter-ministerial collaboration and technological advancement. “This specifically concerns the introduction of the e-visa system,” Keyamo said.
The new system allows foreign nationals to apply for Nigerian visas online, upload required documentation digitally, and receive approvals without the need to visit embassies. In addition, traditional paper landing and exit cards will be replaced by a digital format, requiring travellers to pre-fill their information before departure.
According to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the new e-visa application will be free of charge, a move aimed at eliminating barriers to entry while ensuring thorough background checks through integrated global criminal databases.
“Our goal is to open Nigeria’s borders without compromising security.” Tunji-Ojo said. “Both Interior and Aviation ministries have critical roles in this,”
He added that a central visa approval centre has already been established at immigration headquarters, staffed with trained officers and linked to international criminal databases to streamline the process.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will oversee the management of digital landing and exit cards, ensuring airlines comply by having travellers complete the forms online before boarding flights to Nigeria.
Both ministers reaffirmed that agencies such as Immigration, NCAA, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are aligned and ready to support the rollout.
