Do I need any vaccinations to travel to Nigeria?

Some vaccines and medications such as the required Yellow Fever vaccine, recommended Typhoid vaccine/oral and malaria pills are not typically available via your Primary Care Physician. Please check your health insurer’s travel department and/or a local private travel clinic as they tend to have more availability. 

• Yellow fever REQUIRED TO ENTER NIGERIA Note: Around $145 without insurance/at a travel clinic. Can be covered by FSA/HSA.

• Malaria pills STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. Note: If you get your prescription from a travel clinic, get it filled at your local pharmacy so you don’t have to pay out of pocket.

• Typhoid STRONGLY ENCOURAGED Note: Around $130 without insurance/at a travel clinic. Can be covered by FSA/HSA.

• Covid: Optional. Cases are low in Nigeria.

• Cholera: Optional. It’s not necessary.

• Hepatitis A: Optional, you’ve likely received this.

• Hepatitis B: Optional, you’ve likely received this.

• Measles: Optional, you’ve likely received this

Do I need a visa to travel to Nigeria?
Yes, all U.S. travelers to Nigeria require a visa. You can apply for a visa via two different paths. 

• Online eVisa on Arrival. Here is a check-list (Recommended path): 

  • Have two recent passport-sized (35x40mm) photographs. This can be done at the Post Office, Walgreens, etc. 

  • Have a passport with a validity period of not less than 6 months and at least two blank facing pages. Non-US passport holders must provide proof of Residency Status in the U.S. (e.g., Green Card, Student Visa, or Work Visa).

  • Visit the Nigerian Immigration Service eVisa on Arrival portal.

  • Create a account

  • Complete the online application form and upload required documents. You will upload your passport copy, an invitation letter, your travel itinerary and proof of sufficient funds via a bank statement. The invitation letter will be emailed to all attending guests.

  • Pay the visa fee online ($160 USD)

  • Receive an approval letter via email.

  • Present the approval letter, passport, supporting documents you submitted with your application and yellow fever vaccination at the airport. A hired Protocol Officer will be available to assist you.

• In-person Visa Through the Nigerian Embassy or Consulate: This option requires you to go to one of the visa processing locations (i.e. Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, Minneapolis and Washington D.C.). You will then send your passport off to have the visa printed directly into your passport.

  • Documents to gather before your begin

    1. Have two recent passport-sized (35x40mm) photographs. This can be done at the Post Office, Walgreens, etc. 

    2. Have a passport with a validity period of not less than 6 months and at least two blank facing pages. Non-US passport holders must provide proof of Residency Status in the U.S. (e.g., Green Card, Student Visa, or Work Visa).

    3. Have evidence of an invitation letter (This will be emailed to all attending guests)

    4. Have evidence of hotel reservation 

    5. Have evidence of sufficient funds by printing out a recent bank statement showing evidence of sufficient funds.

    6. Have evidence of departure by printing out your flight itinerary showing a return ticket.

    7. Have evidence that you’ve received a yellow fever vaccination

  • Completing the visa process

    1. Visit the Nigerian Immigration Service Visa portal

    2. Complete the online application form and upload required documents (e.g., passport copy, invitation letter, travel itinerary). We will provide the invitation letter and travel itinerary.

    3. Pay the visa fee online ($160 USD and print your receipt. A printed copy must be submitted.

    4. Visit https://oisservices.com/login

    5. Create an account

    6. Confirm your account via the email provided

    7. Log into your account

    8. Select visa application > “I want to apply for a Nigerian Visa”

    9. Select the country + city you’ll apply from (NOTE: This option requires you to go to the location to complete your biometric data e.g. finger prints)

    10. Select “F5A − Tourism Visa” for your visa type

    11. The “Apply here” button will take you back to the the Nigerian Immigration Service Visa portal. You’ve already completed this step.

    12. Select “Book now”

    13. Select service type “Nigerian visa”

    14. Select center 

    15. Select “Tourist visa”

    16. Choose your appointment time and physically go to the location to complete the rest of the steps.

How do I get from the airport to my accommodation?
Once you’ve updated your flight details in the Guests Arrivals & Departures Google Sheet, we’ll arrange transportation for you. A Protocol Officer will also assist you through visa processing and baggage claim at the airport.

What is the best time to arrive?
We recommend arriving during the day for a smoother travel experience, as it’s easier to navigate the airport and transportation during daylight hours. Coordinating your arrival with other guests is also ideal to streamline logistics. Check the shared Google Sheet for flight overlaps.

How will I get around for the duration of my trip?
We will be providing transportation to and from all planned events.

Based on our calculations a single person not sharing accommodation will spend around $2,500 for a week in Nigeria. The biggest cost being the plane ticket. This cost will be reduced if you share accommodation.

How much are flights to Nigeria?
Round-trip flights from major U.S. cities (e.g., SFO, JFK, ATL) to Lagos (LOS) typically cost around $1,200. Prices can vary and are likely to increase by 2-4x, so book early for the best rates.

How much are medications?

• Yellow Fever: ~$145 without insurance/at a travel clinic. Can be covered by FSA/HSA.

• Typhoid: ~$130 without insurance/at a travel clinic. Can be covered by FSA/HSA.

• Malaria pills are typically covered by your health insurance. Do not purchase directly from the travel clinic.

• ~$50 on misc. items like mosquito repellant, Imodium, etc.

How much will accommodation be?

• Guests will be staying at the Black Diamond Hotel. We’re currently working to secure a discounted rate and will share updates within the next two weeks. Room rates start at $100 per night. Guests will be responsible for booking their own accommodations.

How much will my visa be?

• The visa itself is $160. If you choose to go in-person to complete your visa, there are associated costs.

How much will I spend on dining?

• Depends on your tastes! Meals can range from $3 to $50 per person.

Open our Google Sheet for a packing list—clothing, toiletries, and must-have documents included. Mark, pack, and you’re ready to go!

According to the Nigeria Travel Advisory, there are areas in the country you should avoid, but Lagos is not one of them and is generally safe to visit—just exercise increased caution as you would in other large cities like Mexico City or Ro de Janeiro.

Because Lagos is not walkable, we recommend using a trusted driver; we will have drivers available for all planned events, and we can connect you with additional options closer to the wedding date.

Lagos may present some unfamiliar experiences, such as children begging in the streets, debris, or buildings without much curb appeal, but don’t be put off—many establishments have modern, chic interiors. For the best experience, stick to recommended neighborhoods and venues, keep your valuables secure, consider traveling in groups whenever possible and share your location with the bride and/or groom.

Recommended Neighborhoods:

• Victoria Island (Called “V.I.” for short)

• Lagos Island

• Ikoyi

• Lekki Phase 1

If you have any questions or concerns about safety and security, please reach out to Andrewnet. She has first-hand experience traveling to Nigeria from an American perspective, and she has also traveled solo to several countries, including a six-month stay in Senegal.

Guests will be staying at the Black Diamond Hotel. We’re currently working to secure a discounted rate and will share updates within the next two weeks. Guests will be responsible for booking their own accommodations. If you're applying for your visa before then, we recommend booking a room at the Black Diamond, as a hotel reservation is required as part of your visa application.

Lagos boasts a vibrant and diverse food scene, offering everything from traditional Nigerian dishes like suya and jollof rice to international cuisines served in world-class restaurants

• Gossip Kitchen & Bar: Mix of local and global cuisines. Recommend the Atlantic lobster pasta.

• Kaly Restaurant & Bar Lounge: Upscale restaurant & rooftop lounge

• Lagosia: Authentic Nigerian dishes

• Nok by Alara: Contemporary Pan African dining

• sLow : Bohemian restaurant inspired by Latin American, Central American and West African flavors

• RSVP Restaurant: New American restaurant and bar

• John Randle Centre for Yorùbá Culture & History: Museum which details Yorùbá culture over the centuries entry is about ₦ 3,000 (~$2)

• Lekki Conservation Center: Visit Africa’s longest canopy walk and see wildlife for ₦ 3,000 (~$2). If heights aren’t your thing you can skip the canopy and just enjoy the surrounding park area.

• Markets: Lagos is famous for its bustling markets, but we don’t recommend visiting one as a tourist without a plan. If you’re interested in exploring a market, please let us know—we’d be happy to accompany you!

• Nike Art gallery: Gallery with multiple floors filled to the brim of Nigerian art. There are ad hoc painting classes for ₦ 10,000 (~$5.50) and live drumming. For jewelry lovers you can find unique pieces here as well. We recommend tipping the workers and drummers.

• Terra kulture: Art centre that puts on art exhibitions, plays and book readings throughout the year.

• Tix Africa: Similar to Eventbrite. We’ve used this site heavily to find different shows and events in Lagos.

• Quintessence: Recommend this store if you’re looking for souvenirs such as clothing, jewelry, etc from artists throughout Africa.

How should I convert my dollars?
Nigeria uses the Naira (₦). ATMs are available though they sometimes run out of money. The bride and groom will coordinate for guests to convert their USD. You do not need to do so at the airport.

Can I use my credit or debit card?
Credit cards are not commonly used in Nigeria. It is common to pay for things via bank transfer. You can set this up prior to the trip by downloading Sendwave and/or Taptap Send from your app store and connecting your debit card to your account. We recommend downloading both apps as they cover different banks.

Will my phone work in Nigeria?
Check with your service provider about international plans. T Mobile has seamless international plans. For non-iPhone users, Google Fi is a great option. Alternatively, you can purchase a local SIM card on arrival for data and calls. If you are going the local SIM card route, please contact us at itsgoingdownyall@gmail.com and we will assist with setting you up.

How should I reach people?
We highly recommend downloading WhatsApp. This will be how you communicate with us or any coordinators once in Lagos. We will also create a group chat with all guests traveling into Lagos at a later date.

Nigeria is a long way to travel solo or without your children! Traditional weddings are very family and community focused. Please bring your children or additional loved one to make the journey with. For plus ones, send their first and last name + email address to itsgoingdownyall@gmail.com so they can be added to the guest list.

We’ll miss you and completely understand that Nigeria is a long way to travel!

In Yoruba culture, there’s a traditional wedding followed by the white wedding (similar to what’s often referred to as a wedding in American culture). We’re excited to share that we’ll also be hosting a white wedding ceremony in the Bay Area in early 2026. We’ll reach out once the details are confirmed, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you then!