Schengen Visa for Nigerian Citizens: Documents, Fees & Centres

Yes. Nigerian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism, family visits or business trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You apply in Nigeria to the member state that is your main destination, usually through an appointment at a TLScontact or BLS International centre in Abuja or Lagos, or directly at a mission where that country takes applications itself.

Do Nigerians need a Schengen visa?

Nigeria is on the EU list of countries whose nationals must hold a visa to enter the Schengen Area. There is no visa waiver or electronic travel authorisation route for ordinary Nigerian passports, so every trip for leisure, visiting relatives, meetings, conferences or short training requires a uniform Schengen visa issued before you travel.

The same short-stay visa covers tourism, family visits and business; your declared purpose decides the supporting documents. Study, work and stays over 90 days need a national (type D) visa instead.

Which country do you apply to?

The European Commission sets out a simple main-destination rule. You apply to the consulate of the country where you will spend the most time. If your time is split equally, you apply to the country you will enter first. Applying to an easier-looking country when your itinerary points elsewhere is a common reason for refusal, and it can create problems at the border.

As a rule you must also apply in your country of legal residence, so Nigerian residents apply in Nigeria. Not every Schengen state has a visa service here; some are represented by another member state, which then processes the file on its behalf.

Where to apply in Lagos and Abuja

Arrangements differ by country and change from time to time. The set-ups below are based on official embassy, consulate and provider information as of October 2026.

France: the France-Visas site sends applicants in Nigeria to TLScontact centres in Abuja and Lagos, with a compulsory online appointment that includes prepayment of the service fee. Decisions are made by the French Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos.
Belgium: applications go through the Belgian visa application centre run by TLScontact in Abuja, after you complete the online form. Belgium also handles short-stay visas for Luxembourg, Estonia and Lithuania in Nigeria.
Netherlands: the Dutch embassy does not take Schengen applications. Residents of the FCT and 18 northern and central states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara) apply at the Belgian TLScontact centre in Abuja. Residents of all other states apply at the French TLScontact centre in Lagos.
Germany: the German missions state that the Consulate General in Lagos handles visa applications as a rule. The Embassy in Abuja only takes short-stay applications from residents of listed northern states who also fit narrow categories, such as medical emergencies or certain official travellers. Booking an appointment is free. Some 2025 news reports say VFS Global now collects German visa applications in Abuja and Lagos, so check the German missions' website for the current booking route before you apply.
Italy: the Italian Embassy in Abuja says applications are processed by the Consulate General in Lagos and must be lodged through TLScontact, which has offices in both Abuja and Lagos.
Spain: BLS International is the official outsourced partner of the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria and the Consulate General in Lagos. It collects files but does not decide them; check the BLS Nigeria site for current centre addresses.

Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic and Poland also issued visas in Nigeria in 2024, according to Commission statistics. Check their embassy websites for current arrangements.

Fees as of October 2026

The standard Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, as published by the European Commission. In Nigeria it is collected in naira at the exchange rate set by the mission or centre. Germany, for example, takes payment in naira by cash or card at its own rate, and Belgium collects the EUR 90 handling fee in naira at the TLScontact centre.

Where a provider such as TLScontact or BLS handles your application, you also pay a separate service fee. The amount is set by each provider and shown when you book, and Belgium notes that even applicants exempt from the visa fee still pay it. Optional extras such as SMS updates or courier return are not required. The visa fee is not refunded if your application is refused.

The harmonised document list for Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the jurisdictions with an EU harmonised list of supporting documents. It was adopted by Commission Implementing Decision C(2012) 5310 of 6 August 2012 under Article 48 of the Visa Code, following local Schengen cooperation in Abuja and Lagos, and member state missions in Nigeria still publish it. Consulates may waive items for applicants with a reliable travel record, or ask for more in justified cases.

On top of the standard items (signed application form, a passport valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen Area with two blank pages and issued within the last ten years, a recent photo, biometrics and travel medical insurance covering emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation), the Nigeria list asks every applicant for the following.

A flight reservation or ticket that includes the return journey.
Verifiable proof of funds for the trip, such as salary slips or personal bank statements covering the last three months, or proof of regular income from property.
Proof of accommodation for the whole stay, such as hotel bookings, a holiday rental or a private invitation.
For minors travelling alone or with one parent, a consent letter, the child's birth certificate and identity documents for both parents or guardians.
For non-Nigerians living in Nigeria, a copy of the Nigerian residence permit.

Extra documents for tourism

If you are employed, a leave approval letter from your employer.
If you run a business, a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), the Certificate of Incorporation and evidence of trading activity in Nigeria and abroad, such as bills of lading or receipt books.
If you are a student, a letter from your school or university.
Evidence of ties to Nigeria, such as a marriage certificate or property documents.

Extra documents for family or friend visits

Proof of the relationship, such as birth or marriage certificates, correspondence or photographs.
A signed invitation or sponsorship letter from your host. Many states, including Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Portugal, require the host to complete an official form validated by local authorities in that country.

Extra documents for business

An invitation from the company in the destination country stating your details, the purpose and the length of the visit.
Your company's TCC and Certificate of Incorporation.
Proof of commercial activity in Nigeria and of an existing relationship with the inviting company, such as contracts, invoices or correspondence.

Bank statements are scrutinised closely. Large unexplained deposits before applying, balances that do not match your stated income, or a sponsor letter without the sponsor's own financial evidence all weaken a file. Always check your destination's own checklist on the provider site.

Appointments and processing time

You can apply no earlier than six months before travel and no later than 15 days before. The Visa Code sets a standard decision time of 15 calendar days, which can be extended to 45 days where further checks are needed. Germany and Belgium both state the 15-day standard on their Nigeria pages.

Appointment availability is the real constraint. Belgium has warned of waits of two to three months for tourist appointments in Abuja, and Belgium advises applying at least a month before travel. Book as soon as your plans are firm, and always through the official provider website.

Refusal risks for Nigerian applicants

Refusal rates for Nigeria are among the highest of any country. According to the European Commission's Schengen visa statistics for 2024, consulates in Nigeria received 111,201 applications for uniform visas, issued 58,808 and did not issue 50,376, a not-issued rate of about 45.9 per cent. Rates varied widely by consulate and member state.

Common grounds include doubts about the purpose of the trip, unverifiable funds and weak evidence that you will return. Strong files show steady income in bank statements, a clear leave letter or business records, genuine bookings and an itinerary matching the country you applied to.

If you are refused, the letter will state the reasons and how to challenge the decision. Procedures differ by country. Germany, for example, stopped handling remonstrations at its missions from 1 July 2025; you can either reapply or appeal to the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month.

Beware of fake agents and forged documents

Visa fraud is a serious problem in Nigeria. German missions warn that forged documents or false statements lead to automatic refusal, an entry in a warning database and a Schengen-wide entry ban. Germany says it does not work with agencies that charge for appointment bookings, and Luxembourg warns of scam websites and so-called agents offering work visas.

Book appointments only on the official provider site linked from the embassy page.
Never pay anyone who promises guaranteed approval or a faster decision.
Do not use bought bank statements, fake invitations or hotel bookings you cancel straight after applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Schengen visa from Nigeria in 2026?

The visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, paid in naira at the mission's rate, plus the provider's service fee where TLScontact or BLS handles your file.

Can I apply for a Dutch visa at the Netherlands embassy in Abuja?

No. Residents of the FCT and listed northern states apply at the Belgian TLScontact centre in Abuja, and everyone else applies at the French TLScontact centre in Lagos.

How many months of bank statements do Nigerians need?

The harmonised list for Nigeria refers to personal bank statements or salary slips for the last three months, but individual consulates can ask for more, so follow your destination's checklist.

Do self-employed Nigerians need a tax clearance certificate?

Yes. Business owners are asked for a Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation, plus evidence of ongoing trading activity.

Which Schengen country is easiest for Nigerians?

You cannot choose freely. You must apply to your main destination, and choosing a country only because it seems easier is a frequent reason for refusal.

Rules, fees, providers and appointment systems change regularly. Before you book or pay, verify every detail on your destination country's embassy website in Nigeria, the official provider page it links to, and the European Commission's visa pages.