In a significant boost for Nigerian travelers, a new report reveals that holders of the green passport can now enter 45 different countries without needing to secure a visa in advance. This development, coming amidst recent travel restrictions from nations like the United States, highlights a positive shift in global mobility for Nigerian citizens.
Visa-Free and Visa-On-Arrival Access Expanded
The latest data from Visaindex, published in January 2026, shows a notable expansion in travel access. Out of the 45 destinations, 27 countries grant full visa-free entry to Nigerian passport holders. The remaining nations offer streamlined entry through visa-on-arrival systems or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) processes, depending on their specific immigration rules.
Travel analysts emphasize that while this marks a considerable improvement, Nigerian travelers must still verify the exact entry requirements for their chosen destination before departure, as conditions can vary.
African Nations Lead with Open-Border Policies
A key driver of this increased access has been the strengthening of open-border policies across the African continent, making regional travel more seamless for Nigerians.
The Gambia has allowed visa-free entry for African travelers since 2019, a policy that also extends to visitors from the Commonwealth and the European Union.
Benin Republic similarly abolished visa requirements for African nationals in 2019, aiming to become a key travel and commerce hub in West Africa.
In a major move, Kenya's President William Ruto announced in October 2023 that the country would remove visa requirements for all African travelers.
Rwanda followed suit, introducing a visa-free regime for Africans in November 2023.
More recently, Ghana joined this growing list, eliminating visa requirements to promote tourism and investment.
Full List of Countries with Flexible Entry for Nigerians
Beyond the African nations mentioned, the list of countries where Nigerians can travel without a pre-arranged visa includes diverse destinations worldwide. The comprehensive list features:
- Barbados
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- Cook Islands
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Kiribati
- Liberia
- Mali
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Niger
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Vanuatu
Contrast with US Travel Restrictions
This expansion in visa-free access stands in stark contrast to recent actions by the United States. In December 2025, then-President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that further restricted entry into the US for nationals from several countries, including Nigeria.
The US government cited concerns over "persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing" as the reason for including Nigeria among the 15 additional countries facing new partial restrictions. This move was framed as necessary for US public safety and national security.
The growing list of visa-free destinations is expected to significantly reduce travel barriers for Nigerians, simplifying documentation and opening new doors for international tourism, business, and personal travel. It represents a gradual but positive improvement in the global passport power and mobility of Nigerian citizens.
