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Nigerians spent more than 50 billion naira on United States visa applications between 2023 and 2024, despite a sharp decline in approvals as Washington tightened immigration controls, an analysis of official data showed.
An Intelpoint report using data from the US Department of State showed that 201,200 non-immigrant visas were issued to Nigerians during the two-year period.
At a standard application fee of $185 per applicant, Nigerians spent approximately $37.2 million, equivalent to 50.7 billion naira at an average exchange rate of 1,360 naira to the dollar.
Visa issuances declined by about 23 percent, falling to 87,300 in 2024 from 113,900 in 2023, a reduction of 26,600 visas.
Business and tourism travel dominated approvals in 2024, with B1/B2 visas accounting for 83 percent of total issuances.
Student visas represented about seven percent, while exchange visitor visas and other temporary categories made up the remainder.
Nigeria accounted for about 0.8 percent of global non-immigrant visa issuances in 2024, the data showed.
Former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Susan Akporiaye, said Nigerians’ travel behaviour is driven by more than economic conditions.
“People would say it’s because of the economy, but I share a different view. Nigerians are generally migrants; they love travelling. We are like the Chinese of Africa,” Akporiaye told Punch.
She argued that most Nigerians who travel abroad return home.
“There is so much noise of Nigerians staying back. The ones who travel and return are far more than those who stay back. It’s not up to 10 percent that don’t return,” she stated.
The decline in visa issuances came amid policy changes introduced after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
In July 2025, the US Department of State announced that most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerian citizens would be restricted to single-entry permits valid for three months.
In August 2025, applicants were required to disclose all social media usernames used over the previous five years, with officials warning that omissions could lead to visa denial.
In December 2025, the US Mission in Nigeria said Washington expanded travel restrictions to include partial limitations on Nigeria and five other countries, effective January 1, 2026.
