10 Non-African Countries Nigerians Can Visit Without a Visa

As a Nigerian, your Green Passport will grant you access to visit only about 46 countries without a visa. In this listicle, we ranked the non-African countries you can visit without needing a visa.

Here’s a fun fact…

If you were born in Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana or Namibia, your national passport would grant you access to visit over 80 countries, including Brazil and Argentina, without a visa.

But if you were born in Nigeria, the largest and most populous economy in Africa and the self-acclaimed Giant of Africa, your Green Passport will grant you access to visit only about 46 countries without a visa.

Of course, with the Nigerian passport, you’re eligible to visit any country of your choice under normal circumstances once you have met the visa requirements, however, a visa-free privilege is like the cherry on top of limitless travel experience. 

But this is not the case for Nigerians. 

If you’re asking why your Nigerianness limits your travel opportunities, well, the answer is not quite far-fetched. The good old days of Nigeria being the toast of the African continent and the source of worldwide negro pride and respect are (almost) gone.

But here’s the twist. So, yes, you may not be able to wake up one morning, pack your bags and hop on the next available flight to the US, UK, Canada, France and those other countries of your dreams without a visa just yet (maybe even never), but in this listicle, I’ll show you, in no specific order, 10 non-African destinations that you can visit with your Nigerian passport and without needing a visa pre-travel.

Ready? Let’s get touring.

1. BARBADOS (Visa-free) 

What you may know is that Barbados is an island country located in the eastern part of the southeastern Caribbean Sea and an independent British Commonwealth nation. 

What you may not know is that Barbados is the home country of world-renowned and multi-award winning singer, Rihanna. Barbados is also home to several amazing fascinations.

Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, is a reputed cruise-ship port with vintage colonial buildings and Nidhe Israel, a synagogue founded in 1654. 

What to do in Barbados: Apart from being the birthplace of Rihanna and rum, Barbados is also home to some of the most beautiful tropical beaches, surf scenes, vintage colonial sites, horse Caribbean festivals, wildlife and the famous cou cou and flying fish national dish - actually there’s a flying fish specie found majorly in Barbados.

2. MALDIVES (Visa-on-arrival)

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small country in South Asia, located near the Arabian Sea off the Indian Ocean.

With its capital in Malé (one of the smallest capitals in the world) bustling with activity from the fishing docks to the National Museum and 1,190 islands (only 200 are inhabited), you've got plenty of Maldivian territory to explore.

What to do in Maldives: For Nigerians, this visa-free country is a perfect location for a honeymoon or a peaceful getaway with family and friends, you can have a good time on one of its many beaches, go scuba diving, enjoy the breeze and serenity of the warm climate and so much more.

3. DOMINICA (Visa-free) 

Dominica is an island country of the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is bordered to the north by the French islands of Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante and Martinique to the south.

With its capital city at Roseau, Dominica’s great natural beauty, especially its spectacular mountainous topography, beautiful sandy beaches and a relatively small population has impressed generations of tourists.

What to do in Dominica: With its visa-free offer to Nigerians, Dominica allows a stay of up to six months. While in this beautiful country, you can visit the Trafalgar Falls, the Boiling Lake, Dominica’s beautiful sandy beaches, go scuba diving, visit Fort Shirley and many more amazing places.

4. SAMOA (Visa-on-arrival)

If you’re looking to have an epic cultural exchange, then you need to book a trip to Samoa, where the water activities are endless, the waterfalls are breathtaking, the caves are evocative, the cuisine is to-die-for and the people are fascinating.

Interestingly, Samoans are known as ‘The Happy People of Polynesia’. On these islands, there’s no dulling. Located in the Pacific Ocean between Fiji and French Polynesia and made up of 2 main islands, Upolu and Savai’i, Samoa offers Nigerian passport holders a visa on arrival.

What to do in Samoa: While in Samoa, you can go swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, jumping into waterfalls, gliding down a natural waterslide or visit the Afu Aau Falls and become a part-time cave dweller in one of the country’s many cave structures.

5. TUVALU (Visa-on-arrival)

Formerly called Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is a country in the west-central Pacific Ocean comprising nine small coral islands scattered around like a chain. Tuvalu also has a reputation for being one of the smallest countries in the world with a landmass of about 420 miles (676 km).

The Tuvaluans are Polynesian, and their language, Tuvaluan, is closely related to Samoan. Tuvalu is not your typical urban country and as such, most Tuvaluans are subsistence farmers and most of other commercial activities are done in subsistence scales.

What to do in Tuvalu: Tuvalu is one of the very calm countries that offer visa-on-arrival privileges to nationals including Nigerians. While in this island country, you can warm your feet on the beaches with friends and loved ones, rent and ride a bike around the island (for about $10 a day), stay in an eco-lodge, visit the beautiful beaches and many more.

6. BANGLADESH (Visa-on-arrival)

Bangladesh is not only an Asian country, but also one of the most populous countries in the world. As a Nigerian, you’re sure to feel at home in Bangladesh, since white rice is an important ingredient in Bangladeshi cuisine and the capital city, Dhaka, is a bustling, over-populated and cosmopolitan city just like Lagos. 

Bangladesh offers visa-on-arrival entry for Nigerian passport holders for 30 days, requiring that you possess a return ticket and proof that you have enough money to spend during your stay. 

What to do in Bangladesh: While in Bangladesh, you can visit sites like the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Somapuri Vihara, and others, while enjoying its rich dishes.

7. IRAN (Visa-on-arrival)

Iran, officially called the Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. Iran is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations and the Persian Empire and has become a prime destination for tourism. 

Iran practices a mix of Islamic theocracy and presidential democracy, so although the country has been labelled an official authoritarian state, it still holds beautiful tourism treasures.

What to do in Iran: If you’re visiting Iran for business, the capital, Tehran, is not only a commercial hub, but is also the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East. For tourism and pleasure, Iran is home to several UNESCO Heritage Sites like Persepolis, the birthplace of the Persian Empire, natural landscapes like the Anzali Lagoon and several amazing beaches. For more information about tourism in Iran, visit the country’s official tourism page here.

8. CAMBODIA (Visa-free, e-visa)

Cambodia has no existing embassy in Nigeria, so it automatically becomes a visa-free country for Nigerians who want to explore this South-East Asian country. 

E-visas are what you need to travel to Cambodia or you can simply apply for a visa on arrival. 

What to do in Cambodia: While in Cambodia, you can visit the Temples of Angkor, Phare Cambodian Circus, Preah Vihear temple, Romdeng restaurant, Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, Koh Rong Sanloem island, etc.

9. VANUATU (Visa-free)

Yup! You read that correctly. There’s a country called Vanuatu and if you can confidently point to Vanuatu on a map, then you’re a born traveller.

Made up of about 83 islands, this geologically active island hub is a natural playground of colourful coral reefs, bubbling volcanoes and lush rainforest.

What to do in Vanuatu: As a Nigerian, you can visit this beautiful nation of islands without a visa. Make sure to drive up to the crater of Yasur, cited as the most accessible active volcano in the world, sea kayak round the islands' sandy shores, explore underwater WWII relics, or hike and bike through coconut plantations and steamy jungles.

10. HAITI (Visa-free)

Haiti is the most mountainous country in the Caribbeans and this is partly why tourism is the country’s biggest income earner. Nearly a million tourists visit Haiti by cruise ship and lodge at Labadee, a private resort on the northern coast of Haiti, named after Marquis de La Badie, a French man who first settled in the area in the 17th century.

Although recovering from a devastating 2010 earthquake, Haiti happens to be a great tourist and cultural destination, as well as the birthplace of global music star, Wycleaf Jean.

What to do in Haiti: Nigerians travelling to Haiti can enjoy the visa-free policy valid for 3 months. While in Haiti, you can visit the Citadelle la Ferriere, the ruins of Sans-Souci Palace, the baroque former royal home of King Henry I, the Bassin Bleu waterfall, Labadee port, Kokoye Beach, go Ziplining and more.

Wrapping up our trip...

Travelling is, no doubt, one of the most enjoyable activities and in today’s world, it’s important to have as many travel destination options as possible. As a Nigerian, this holds even more truth. While visa-required destinations, outnumber the opposite, it pays to explore more unpopular and unrestricted lands.

Being a Nigerian grants you the privilege of travelling to all ECOWAS countries and a few other African countries, either without needing a visa or needing one upon arrival, but in this article, we’ve introduced you to newer, unpopular and non-African countries that you can visit visa-free.

So, while you’re hoping and dreaming of the much-awaited day when you can visit developed countries like the USA, UK, France, Canada, China, etc., visa-free, pack your bags, get on an airplane and visit these amazing countries unrestricted.

Aloha!