PEBEC: Nigeria’s Visa on Arrival Upgraded to E-Visa for Faster Processing 

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has confirmed that Nigeria’s Visa on Arrival (VOA) process is not being scrapped but rather upgraded to an electronic visa (e-visa) system to enhance efficiency and ease of doing business.

Following a meeting between PEBEC’s Director General, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, and the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, it was clarified that the VOA system is being modernised to ensure smoother entry procedures for business and short-term travellers.

According to a press statement signed by Audu on Tuesday, it was explained that under the new system, travellers will still apply online for short-stay visas, with approvals granted within 24 to 48 hours. “Once approved, the visa will be sent to the applicant’s email, eliminating the need for a physical sticker upon arrival,” the statement read. 

The upgrade builds on the existing online approval system, streamlining the process to ensure applicants receive their visas ahead of time.

This transition to an e-visa system aligns with PEBEC’s mandate to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve Nigeria’s business climate. By automating and controlling traveller inflows more effectively, the Nigerian government aims to enhance its attractiveness to investors while ensuring border security and operational efficiency.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi 

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