F6A — Visiting Visa – Single Entry (F6A)

The Nigeria Visiting Visa (F6A) serves as a cornerstone of the nation’s immigration framework, designed to facilitate short-term, non-commercial travel for individuals seeking to reconnect with family, friends, or personal acquaintances within the country. Established under the provisions of the Immigration Act of 2015 and the subsequent Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2020, this visa was created to modernize and streamline the entry process for foreign nationals who do not intend to reside or work in Nigeria permanently. By formalizing the entry requirements for social visitors, the Nigerian government sought to bridge the gap between restrictive long-term residency permits and the more complex business-oriented visa categories. This visa effectively fills a critical void in the immigration system by providing a transparent, accessible, and legally defined pathway for diaspora members and international visitors to maintain personal ties, thereby fostering social cohesion and cultural exchange while ensuring that the host nation maintains robust oversight of all foreign nationals entering its borders for private purposes.

The ideal applicant for the F6A visa is a foreign national who possesses a clear, documented invitation from a host residing in Nigeria—whether a citizen or a legal resident—who is willing to assume full immigration responsibility for the duration of the visitor’s stay. While this visa is broadly applicable to anyone visiting for personal reasons, it is most frequently utilized by family members of the Nigerian diaspora, tourists visiting personal contacts, and individuals attending private social functions. Unlike the Subject to Regularization (STR) visa, which is tied to employment and residency, or the Business Visa, which requires proof of commercial engagement, the F6A is distinctive for its focus on social connectivity and its relatively straightforward documentation process, centering on the host’s passport data page and a formal letter of invitation. The primary benefit of this visa is its authorization for a stay of up to 90 days, offering sufficient time for family visits or personal travel; however, it is strictly limited to a single-entry format, meaning that once the holder departs Nigeria, the visa expires regardless of the remaining time on the 90-day allotment. This limitation underscores its purpose as a temporary, non-renewable social permit, ensuring that it remains a tool for short-term visitation rather than a precursor to long-term settlement or unauthorized employment.