Are you living in Nigeria and want to travel to Europe?
In that case, you may need to go through a detailed Visa application process.
But first things first, let’s clear up a common misunderstanding.
Whether you are required to apply for a Schengen Visa or not depends on your nationality, not the country you live in.
This means that not everyone living in Nigeria needs a Visa to enter Europe (see the full list of nationalities exempt from holding a Schengen Visa here).
However, if you are a citizen of Nigeria, you must apply for a Visa to enter any of the 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area.
If you receive one, then you are able to spend up to 90 days in Europe.
So, if you’re looking to travel to Europe but do not know how to apply for a Schengen Visa from Nigeria, read on. You’ll get all the answers you’re looking for.
Table of contents:
- Schengen Visa for Citizens of Nigeria: Application Requirements
- What Is the Easiest Schengen Visa to Get from Nigeria?
1. Schengen Visa for Citizens of Nigeria: Application Requirements
Before you even start preparing your application, it’s important to determine your travel purpose (because your reason for travel will determine the type of documents you need to apply for a Schengen Visa).
A type-C Schengen Visa can be requested for reasons such as tourism, family reunion, business, medical care, study and research, etc.
You may also request a type-A Airport Transit Schengen Visa for transit to another destination.
Once you’ve identified the primary purpose of your travel, you have to find out where you need to apply.
While a Schengen Visa allows you to travel to any of the 26 Member States, you are required to apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the country where you will spend most days.
For example, say you want to spend two weeks in Germany and one week in France.
In that case, you must apply at the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria.
Most Schengen Embassies and Consulates in Nigeria are located in Abuja and Lagos. However, it’s important to do your research and find out exactly where the Embassy you must submit your application is located.
For example, the German Embassy in Abuja processes a very limited number of applications. So, if you’re looking to apply for a Germany Schengen Visa from Nigeria, you must submit your application at the Consulate General of Germany in Lagos.
Or, if you’re applying for a France Schengen Visa (provided that France is the country where you will be spending most days), you must submit your application to VFS Global in Abuja or Lagos.
France (and other Schengen Member States such as Austria, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, etc.) have outsourced the Schengen Visa submission to third-party companies that provide services for governments and diplomatic missions.
Some of these companies are VFS Global, TLScontact, and BLS International.
So, if you can’t submit your application through the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country that is your main destination, then you must apply through a third-party provider.
Once you have identified the Embassy or third-party provider you must submit your application, the next step you need to take is to book your Visa appointment.
Make sure you book your appointment well in advance because some Embassies may only have a limited number of time slots for Visa appointments.
Then, you have to collect the supporting documents and make sure you provide evidence of your intent to return home (e.g., you must show proof of job, family, or financial assets).
To access the full list of Schengen Visa required documents, click here.
Be sure to submit your application at least three weeks before the departure date to avoid delays in processing your application.
Typically, the processing time for a Schengen Visa is 15 calendar days, but sometimes this period may be extended up to 45 days.
On the day of your appointment, you not only have to submit your supporting documents, you also have to hold an interview, provide your biometric data, and pay the Schengen Visa fee.
The Schengen Visa fee for Nigerians is 80 Euros.
That should be around 37.420 Nigeria Naira (NGN) (please note that the Schengen Visa fee in NGN is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to changes without notice).
For Nigerian applicants that meet certain requirements, the Schengen Visa is granted free of charge (read more here).
2. What Is the Easiest Schengen Visa to Get from Nigeria?
We get lots of inquiries on the easiest Schengen Visa to get from Nigeria.
Many Nigerians are worried that their application might be rejected, so they’re wondering whether some Schengen countries issue the Visa easier than others.
While it’s true that the Schengen Visa rejection rates for citizens of Nigeria are relatively high (for more info, please check our Schengen Visa statistics section), there’s no need to worry.
We at Visas Association are here to provide you with all the information you need to prepare your documentation correctly and be successful with your application.
So instead of asking for the easiest Schengen Visa to get from Nigeria, why not seek new ways to make your Visa application stronger?
You can request a FREE, no-obligation Schengen Visa consultation anytime so you know exactly what’s the best next step to take for a successful application.
However, if you still want to know what’s the easiest Schengen Visa to get from Nigeria, we’ve got the answer for you.
In general, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland are the easiest countries to obtain a Schengen Visa from.
Other Schengen countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Luxembourg also had high approval rates over the years.
You can find a list of the 12 easiest Schengen Countries to obtain a Schengen Visa here.
However, it’s important to understand that you must have a good reason to apply to any of these countries. It is also important to stick to your travel itinerary.
For example, say you get a tourist Visa from Lithuania just because it’s one of the easiest countries to get a Schengen Visa from Nigeria while you actually want to visit France, which has higher Visa rejection rates.
If you try to land in France because you have a Schengen Visa from Lithuania, the border officers may turn you back.
While the law states that you may cross any Schengen border with a Visa issued by any Schengen country, your Visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen Area.
This is because during border controls you may be required to provide additional documentation, such as hotel bookings and flight reservations.
If you’re not able to provide evidence that you have sufficient means to cover your stay and the return trip from the Schengen country you are entering first, then the border officers may not allow you to enter the Schengen Area.
That’s why we recommend you submit your application to any country you actually want to visit, whether it’s the easiest or the hardest country to get a Schengen Visa.
From our own experience, we know that applicants with complete and up-to-date documentation always get their Schengen Visas.
We encourage you to shift your perspective when applying for a Schengen Visa. Instead of looking for the easiest countries to get a Schengen Visa, seek the right level of support, guidance, and expertise to ensure you have the highest chance of success.
Contact us today so you can apply for your Schengen Visa without frustration and confusion and walk into your Visa interview with confidence, knowing that you have all the supporting documents that Embassies need to approve your application.
