In this article, we will be discussing what India visa requirements are for Nigerian citizens and how to apply for the Indian visa in Nigeria. So if you are planning on travelling to India any time soon and you need to know how you can go about it, you are in the right place. Let’s dive in.
India is a country full of incredible destinations for you to visit in the south of Asia. Whether you want to visit the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar or enjoy the spiritual experience as you hike through the amazing scenery of the Indian Himalayas or the spectacular natural beauty across the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India; there is something for everyone to see in one visit.
We will be talking mainly about how to apply for the Indian tourist visa for Nigeria citizens. In subsequent posts, we will show you how to apply for other visa categories (e.g. student, business, medical visa, etc.) that Nigerians are eligible to apply for.
India Visa Requirements for Nigeria Citizens
Here are the visa requirements to travel to India from Nigeria
Documents Requirement
- Original passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of your application
- A photocopy of the data page of the passport and any other old passport.
- 2 recent photographs with light background. The photo size should be 2 inches x 2 inches.
- Attach photographs to the space provided in the first two pages of the online form.
- Introduction Letter. This letter should contain the following information about you (the applicant):
Your full name.
Passport number.
Contact information.
Your reason for travelling to India.
Your date of arrival and departure.
And pledge to be of good behavior and return back to Nigeria after your trip.
- Invitation Letter – If you are being invited by someone in India, he/she will have to write a letter of invitation on your behalf. This letter will contain the nature of your relationship with them, their contact details and a scanned copy of their Aadhaar or PAN card. They will also mail the letter and cards to the HCI email cons.abuja@mea.gov.in and cons1.abuja@mea.gov.in. If you are going to use the Indian embassy in Lagos then your host will have to send the documents to these email addresses: fs1@hcilagos.org and consvisa@hcilagos.org. You are to have copies of these documents as well. You are to attach the printout of the invitation and the email to your visa application form.
- Bank Statement for last 6 months. If someone else is sponsoring your travel to India, their bank statement and a letter stating that they will be sponsoring your trip will be required.
- Letter from your employee (if applicable).
- Business registration documents if you are a businessman/Employer. This includes your business CAC documents and tax clearance in original copies.
- Proof of address in Nigeria (voter’s card, Nigerian national identity card, Driver’s license, lease agreement, electricity bills, property documents, etc.)
- Hotel reservation/booking.
- Flight reservation/booking.
- Travel itinerary of the places you plan to visit in India.
- From March 1, 2014, citizens of the seven polio-affected countries, including Nigeria, will be required to show proof of oral polio vaccination or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) before entering India. There should be a one-year validity period on any OPV/IPV certificate that is being carried with you.
- Those who are planning to travel to India are required to get vaccination against yellow fever and polio, with the exception of infants younger than six months old and citizens of third world countries.
Indian Visa Online Application in Nigeria – How to Apply
With all of the afore mentioned documents in hand, you can now proceed to fill out the form via the online site at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/. It is important to provide proper information in the fields provided. Once the application has been submitted, revisions cannot be made.
As soon as you start completing the form, you will be given a temporary ID. Take careful note of it; it’s important. The temporary ID is going to come in handy later. Also, you will receive an application ID after submission. Keep this in mind as well because you’ll need it to schedule an appointment and then check the status of your visa.
Your electronic signature is required underneath the photo on page 1 and at the bottom of page 2 of the form. Your signatures should correspond to the one in your passport.
After submitting the form, print the confirmation page and click “Get Appointment” to choose a date for your appointment. If you can’t find a date right away, try again and again until you do. You can also give it a shot late at night or very early in the morning.
If, after submitting the form, you find that you cannot keep the appointment you initially scheduled, you have five days to reschedule it. After the deadline has passed, you can either visit an embassy or consulate in person to request a new date, or you can submit a fresh application to receive a new date automatically.
Visa Fees
US$ 252.00, plus a US$ 2.00 surcharge.
Processing time for Indian visa requirements for Nigerian citizens takes an average of 1 month. However, it is important to verify that all relevant documents are appropriately submitted in order to avoid any delays. if any of the needed documents are either missing or wrong, there is a possibility that the visa application processing will be delayed or visa denied. So, it is strongly advised to double-check all the paperwork before delivering it to the Indian embassy or consulate to guarantee a quick and easy visa application process.
Where is the Indian Embassy Located in Nigeria?
Indian Embassy in Abuja
364, Cadastral Zone,
Central Business Area,
FCT Abuja
(Nigeria)
Lagos
8a, Walter Carrington, Crescent,
Victoria Island
Lagos
In conclusion, Nigerians who want to travel to India must comply with strict visa criteria before they leave. A valid passport must be obtained, an online application must be completed, supporting documentation must be submitted, and the appropriate visa price must be paid. It is advised to apply well in advance of the anticipated travel date because the visa application procedure could take a few weeks. Nigerians can visit India without hassles and take in the country’s rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes, and energetic cities by completing the proper visa formalities.
