Saudi Arabia entry requirements for travellers from Nigeria
Nigeria sends a large number of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina each year, and Saudi Arabia is among the most searched destinations for Nigerian travellers. Nigeria is not on the tourist eVisa list, and there is one health requirement that applies to Nigerian travellers in a way it does not apply to most others. This guide covers both points and the routes available.
Visa requirement summary
Nigerian citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia. Nigeria is not among the 66 nationalities eligible for the tourist eVisa, and there is no visa on arrival on a Nigerian passport.
Three routes are open.
The Umrah visa is arranged through the Nusuk platform rather than the tourist visa system. Since July 2026 the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued a one year multiple entry Umrah visa, valid for 365 days from issue with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days. It requires a service package from an approved provider on Nusuk and an Umrah permit obtained in the Nusuk app before arrival.
The tourist eVisa is reachable through an exception. Holders of a valid Schengen, United Kingdom or United States visa that has already been used to enter that country, and permanent residents of the EU, UK, US and GCC states, can apply for the visitor eVisa regardless of nationality. That gives 365 days of validity, multiple entries, up to 90 days of cumulative stay and health cover of up to SAR 100,000.
A visit visa covers family and business travel and needs a sponsor or inviting party in the Kingdom. Tourist visas for nationalities outside the eVisa scheme are applied for at a Saudi embassy or consulate.
Nigeria is one of fourteen nationalities restricted to single entry visit visas since February 2025. Umrah visas, Hajj visas, residence visas and existing multiple entry holders were not affected. The restriction applies to business, tourism and family visit visas, so a pilgrimage trip and a business trip are on quite different footings.
How long you can stay
On the one year Umrah visa you have 365 days of validity and a cumulative stay of up to 90 days, with each visit tied to the service package booked.
If you qualify for the eVisa through a used visa or residence permit, the terms are 365 days, multiple entries and 90 days cumulative.
On a visit visa, the position most recently set out was single entry with a maximum stay of up to 90 days. The letter of invitation does not determine this. Saudi authorities decide validity and the number of entries at the point of issue.
Passport validity requirements
Your Nigerian passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.
Evidence of previous travel to Israel in your passport may result in refused entry.
Proof of funds and financial requirements
Saudi Arabia does not publish a fixed sum for Nigerian visitors. On an Umrah package accommodation and transport are already covered. On a business trip the invitation from the company you are visiting carries the weight. On a family visit the sponsor in the Kingdom is central to the application.
Expect to provide bank statements and proof of employment or business alongside the invitation on a visit visa application.
Onward or return travel
You should be able to show onward or return travel inside the period your visa allows. On a single entry visit visa this matters more, because leaving the country ends the permission.
Applying for the visa
For Umrah, applications go through the Nusuk platform. Since August 2025 the Nusuk Umrah service has allowed pilgrims to apply for the visa and book accommodation, transport and tours directly, rather than only through a licensed agent. Nigerian Umrah travel has traditionally been organised through operators, so it is worth comparing the two.
Your Umrah permit must be obtained through the Nusuk app before you travel.
The one year Umrah visa does not activate during the Hajj season, which runs from the first of Dhu Al Qi’dah to the 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah.
Hajj requires a separate visa through Nusuk Hajj. In Nigeria, Hajj is coordinated through a national commission and state boards under an allocated quota rather than by individual application.
For a family or business visit visa, your sponsor in Saudi Arabia initiates the invitation and the application is completed through Saudi channels.
Be careful with spring travel. The restrictions affecting Nigerian travellers have been described as temporary with no promised date for reconsideration. In April 2025 visit visas for the affected nationalities were suspended outright until after Hajj. Check the current position before you book.
Health requirements
This is where Nigerian travellers face a requirement most visitors do not. Saudi Arabia requires a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from countries where yellow fever is endemic, and Nigeria is one of them. You should expect to present a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis showing yellow fever vaccination, and you should carry it rather than pack it.
Separately, if you are travelling for Hajj or Umrah you must show proof of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination covering the ACWY strains. That is a pilgrim requirement and it sits alongside the yellow fever certificate rather than replacing it.
Arrange both well ahead of departure. Yellow fever vaccination in particular needs time to become valid, and a certificate presented too close to the vaccination date can cause problems at the border.
Other entry requirements
Flights into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif are restricted during the Hajj season.
Alcohol is prohibited and attempting to bring it in is a serious offence.
Entry to Mecca is restricted to Muslims, and parts of Medina are similarly restricted.
FAQs
Do Nigerian citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, you should expect to. Saudi Arabia requires a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from countries where the disease is endemic, and Nigeria falls into that category. Carry the certificate with your passport.
Can Nigerian citizens get a Saudi eVisa?
Not on a Nigerian passport alone, because Nigeria is not among the 66 eligible nationalities. You can if you hold a used Schengen, UK or US visa, or permanent residence in the EU, UK, US or a GCC country.
Was the Umrah visa affected by the restrictions on Nigerian travellers?
No. The February 2025 single entry restriction applied to business, tourism and family visit visas. Umrah and Hajj visas were unaffected.
What vaccinations do pilgrims need?
Quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY vaccination is required for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, in addition to the yellow fever certificate that applies to travellers from Nigeria generally.
How long can I stay on a visit visa?
The position most recently set out was single entry with a maximum stay of up to 90 days, decided by Saudi authorities at issue.
Does the one year Umrah visa cover Hajj?
No. Hajj needs a separate visa, and the Umrah visa does not activate during the Hajj season.
Official sources
Saudi eVisa portal: https://visa.visitsaudi.com/
Visit Saudi visa regulations: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/plan-your-trip/visa-regulations
Saudi visa portal: https://ksavisa.sa/
Nusuk platform: https://www.nusuk.sa/