morganable politics/Governance
According to the report, the financial consequences are particularly severe for applicants seeking visas to countries such as Canada, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, where high refusal rates expose applicants to substantial financial losses.
KaNo—
Nigerians lose at least N75bn annually to visa application expenses across foreign missions, with rejected Schengen visa applications alone accounting for an estimated €11.5m, equivalent to about N19bn in 2025.
This is according to a visa-cost analysis report obtained by Punch Newspaper from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The report highlights the growing financial burden of international travel on Nigerians, particularly applicants who pay non-refundable visa fees and incur additional expenses before knowing whether their applications will be approved.
It noted that visa application charges, high refusal rates, documentation requirements and other processing expenses have continued to make travelling abroad increasingly expensive for Nigerians.
According to the report, the financial consequences are particularly severe for applicants seeking visas to countries such as Canada, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, where high refusal rates expose applicants to substantial financial losses.
“All major embassies collect fees before approval and it is non-refundable,” the report stated.
It explained that the financial exposure often extends beyond official visa fees to include visa application centre charges, medical insurance, hotel reservations, flight bookings and other documentation expenses.
The report estimated that the total cost of an unsuccessful visa application could range from N350,000 to N1.2m, depending on the destination and services required.
In Canada, the study permit system was identified as one of the most challenging for Nigerian applicants, with an estimated refusal rate of 75 per cent between January and April 2026.
This means that only about one in four applications was approved during the period.
The report attributed the high refusal rate largely to concerns about whether applicants would leave Canada after completing their studies, a consideration associated with Section 216(1)(b) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Belgium recorded the highest Schengen visa refusal rate among the countries examined, at 60.3 per cent, leaving an estimated approval rate of 39.7 per cent.
Spain followed with a refusal rate of 52.7 per cent, while France recorded 47.4 per cent.
The analysis put the overall Schengen visa refusal rate for Nigerians at 46.9 per cent in 2025, compared with 45.9 per cent in 2024.
It estimated that approximately 250,000 applications submitted by Nigerians were unsuccessful in 2025, resulting in significant financial losses for applicants.
The figures indicate that Nigerians seeking to visit countries within the Schengen Area face considerable financial risks, particularly when they submit multiple applications without adequately addressing the reasons for previous refusals.
However, visa refusal rates vary according to application categories, periods and nationalities.
The United Kingdom also recorded a significant number of unsuccessful applications by Nigerians.
According to the report, the country’s overall visa refusal rate for Nigerian applicants stood at 33.1 per cent in 2025.
The rate increased to 35.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, while visitor visa applications recorded an estimated refusal rate of 38.6 per cent.
The analysis further claimed that Nigerians accounted for 44.4 per cent of all African visa refusals by the UK, citing a cumulative figure of 1.34 million over 21 years.
For the United States, the report cited an estimated refusal rate of about 64 per cent for African applicants seeking F-1 student visas, compared with a global rate of 35 per cent.
It noted that concerns about applicants’ intentions to return to their home countries remained a major consideration in visa decisions, although individual refusals depend on the circumstances and evidence presented in each application.
Meanwhile, Japan has increased its visa fees for Nigerian applicants, with the new charges taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Under the revised arrangement, a single-entry visa costs ¥15,000, equivalent to approximately $93, while a multiple-entry visa costs ¥30,000, or about $188.
The new charges represent a fivefold increase from the previous fees of ¥3,000 for single-entry visas and ¥6,000 for multiple-entry visas.
At the exchange rates used in the report, the revised charges amount to approximately N126,000 for a single-entry visa and N252,000 for a multiple-entry visa.
Despite the increase, Japan was listed as having a relatively low refusal rate of between 12 and 15 per cent for Nigerian applicants.
The report identified weak bank statements as one of the possible factors contributing to unsuccessful Japanese visa applications, although decisions depend on the complete application and applicable requirements.
India, on the other hand, was ranked as the most expensive destination in the comparison, with a reported visa charge of $588, equivalent to approximately N819,200.
However, the report noted that India’s electronic visa system provides cheaper options for eligible applicants, with charges ranging from $25 to $80, depending on the visa category.
For the United Kingdom, a 10-year visitor visa costs £1,128, approximately N2.09m, while a six-month visitor visa is priced at £127, or about N203,000.
Applicants may also incur additional expenses, including visa application centre charges and other immigration-related costs where applicable.
The United States’ B1/B2 visitor visa costs $185, approximately N299,700, while Canada’s visitor visa and biometrics charges amount to a combined CAD185, or about N205,000.
For Schengen visa applicants, the report estimated that the standard visa fee of €90 and an additional €35 visa application centre charge bring the combined cost to approximately N144,000 at the exchange rates used in the analysis.
The report also highlighted Indonesia’s sponsorship visa procedures as another challenge for Nigerian travellers.
It stated that Nigerians are not eligible for a visa on arrival and generally require a sponsor and approval through the applicable immigration process for the relevant visa category.
Application charges were estimated at between $50 and $110, although the total cost could increase considerably when applicants engage agents or pay for additional documentation and processing assistance.
The analysis also cited a requirement for applicants to demonstrate access to $2,000 and estimated the refusal rate for Indonesian calling visas involving Nigerian applicants at about 40 per cent.
In contrast, Malaysia’s electronic visa system was described as a relatively inexpensive option for eligible Nigerian travellers.
The country’s e-visa was listed at approximately RM126, equivalent to between N40,000 and N45,000, with processing estimated at two to three days.
The report’s findings underscore the financial risks Nigerians face when pursuing international travel opportunities, particularly for education, tourism, business and family visits.
With visa fees largely non-refundable, applicants who fail to secure approval may lose substantial amounts even before beginning their intended journeys.
The analysis therefore draws attention to the need for prospective travellers to understand destination-specific requirements, prepare adequate documentation and address previous reasons for refusal before submitting fresh applications.
For many Nigerians, the challenge is no longer simply raising money for international travel but also bearing the financial consequences when an application is unsuccessful.
