Visa Information

・　In principle, foreign nationals entering Japan need to obtain a visa, but some nationals are exempt from obtaining a temporary visitor visa or a diplomatic/official visa.

 

・Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

・Visa Exemption for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders

 

・ Nigerian nationals are required to obtain a visa regardless of the purpose or duration of their trip.

 

From March 2025, with few exceptions, visa applications and passport collections will be processed exclusively at the Japan Visa Application Centres (JVACs) in Abuja and Lagos, operated by VFS Global.

 

➡　Please see “Opening of Japan Visa Application Centres in Abuja and Lagos”

 

●If you are planning to apply for a visa, please visit the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) website for details on how to book an appointment, the process and required documents.
 

   Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC)
   Telephone: +234-(0)8150188800
   E-mail: Info.JapanNigeria@vfshelpline.com
 

●The Embassy will only accept direct applications for 1) urgent humanitarian cases, 2) diplomatic and official business and 3) cases where applicants are invited by the Government of Japan.

(Notes)
-The only authorised visa application agency affiliated with the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria is the Japan Visa Application Centre (operated by VFS Global). Please be aware of fraudulent attempts to collect visa application fees under the guise of visa application agencies. 
- Please also note that visa applications must be made by the applicant him/herself and applications by a proxy are not permitted in principle.

 

 

 

• Urgent Humanitarian Cases
• Diplomatic and Official Business (by a governmental/international organisation) Diplomatic/Official passports or Laissez-passer holder
• Invited by the Government of Japan / an international organisation based in Japan (e.g. a United Nations agency)

Please first contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan by e-mail ( visanigeria@la.mofa.go.jp ) with the following information. The Consular Section will respond to you as soon as possible with the details of required documents etc.

 

● Applicant's name (if there is more than one applicant, please list them all)

● Organisation

● Contact details of the representative (e-mail, telephone number)

● Expected period of travel

● Purpose of travel
● Date of application submission* 

*Please indicate at least three preferred dates and times between 08:30 and 11:30 excluding Embassy holidays)

(Notes)
-Even if you are affiliated with a government or international organisation, if you are travelling to Japan in a personal capacity (e.g. to attend a registration-based conference at your own expense), you are required to submit your visa application documents to the Japan Visa Application Centre in Abuja or Lagos. However, if you are a member of the diplomatic corps stationed in Nigeria and are travelling to Japan, please contact the Embassy of Japan first, regardless of the purpose of the trip.
-Please note that documents sent separately to the Embassy of Japan by courier or hand-delivery, apart from the visa application documents, will not be considered as supporting documents for the visa application. Only documents submitted together with your passport and application form as part of the visa application will be considered as supporting documents.

 

 

●The minimum processing time from submission of the visa application to collection of the passport at the Japan Visa Application Centre is 12 working days for applications received in Abuja and 14 working days for applications received in Lagos, provided there are no problems with the content of the application.

 

●However, if there are a large number of applicants, it may take longer, and if there are doubts about the content of the application, it may take more than a month for the application to be further reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tokyo).

 

●It is strongly recommended that you allow sufficient time for your visa application to be processed. To apply at the Japan Visa Application Centres, you can book online up to three months in advance.