​Schengen Visa Application for Nigerians: Easy Steps to Follow

Travel Insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa

Written by : The AXA Schengen Team
Date: 16/10/2025

Planning a trip to Europe? Here’s what you need to know to get your visa without hassle

You’ve made up your mind: your next adventure will lead you to the European continent and more specifically to the Schengen area where you will have the chance to discover the French Riviera, the Italian Dolce Vita, Dracula’s home country, the vestige of Greek civilisation and much much more.

However, whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, if you are a Nigerian national, you will need a visa to be allowed in the largest free-movement area in the World.

But fear not! The AXA Team has prepared a complete guide to help you obtain, from Nigeria, the most issued visa, the Schengen visa.

Let’s get to it!

Why do Nigerians need a visa to visit the Schengen area?

The Schengen area is the largest zone of free movement in the World.

However, entering the zone itself is submitted to certain rules agreed upon by all Schengen Member States, set by the EU Visa Code and establishing that some travellers need a visa to be allowed in the Schengen area. This obligation as well as the type of visa required depend on the visitors’ nationality, the purpose of their trip and how long they intend on staying.

Nationals of over a hundred third countries need a visa to enter the Schengen area.
Nigeria is one of them.

→ Therefore, Nigerian nationals need to apply for a visa to be allowed in the Schengen area.

Bonus info

  • Some Nigerian nationals in specific situations may be exempt from visa obligations (such as seafarers, diplomats, etc.).
    Don’t forget to always check with the consular services of your Schengen destination if this applies to you.

  • Some countries have signed visa-waiver agreements with the EU which means that their nationals are exempt of visa requirements. However, they must nonetheless comply with certain obligations including:
  • carry valid ID documents
  • apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation.
  • Comply with the Schengen visa 90/180-day rule

What kind of visas do Nigerians need to travel to or through the Schengen area?

The first step of your application process: to determine what type of visa you need to be allowed in the Schengen area.

Let’s start by the most popular and most issued visa: the Schengen visa.

What is a Schengen visa?

  • The Schengen visa (also called type C or short-stay visa) allows its holder to stay up to 90 days over a six-month period (180 days) in one or all Schengen Member States.

  • Pro-tip : the AXA team has prepared a special article to make sure you master the 90/180-day rule.

  • It is also called the uniform visa as all the countries of the Area have agreed to deliver the short-stay visa following the same criteria established by article 15 of the Visa Code.

  • It is granted to applicants travelling for the following purposes:
  • Tourism,
  • Business,
  • Family visits,
  • To follow a short training course,
  • To attend or take part in a conference, a seminar, a sports or artistic event.

What other types of visas might Nigerian travellers need?

The purpose or duration of your trip might require you to apply for a different type of visa such as:

  • The long-stay, type D visa:
    Issued for stays longer than 90 days, it is also called the national visa as each Schengen state determines its own granting criteria and application process.

  • The Airport Transit Visa or type A visa:
    Nigerians, traveling from and to a location outside of the Schengen area but who need to transit through an airport located within the Area without exiting the airport international transit zone need to apply for an ATV.

  • Caution! If you need to leave the airport transit area, even if only for a few hours to reach another airport or train station, you will need a Schengen type C visa.

  • Pro tip
    Still unsure about what type of visa you need? Read our detailed guide on the different types of visas you can apply for.

When should you apply for a Schengen visa from Nigeria?

Your application for a type C short-stay visa can be submitted 6 months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest prior to your scheduled date of departure.

Pro tips

  • We recommend submitting your application minimum 6 to 8 weeks prior to your scheduled date of departure. This will avoid additional and unnecessary stress in case of setbacks.

  • Don’t forget to book your visa appointment (more on that later) as soon as possible as availability can be scarce.

  • Visa applications submitted through visa centres must be forwarded to the appropriate consular services for processing. Since embassies and consulates may be located far away or even in another country, this can add several days to the processing time.

Where must you apply for a Schengen visa from Nigeria?

Where you must apply depends on which Schengen country you want to visit and sometimes where you live, particularly in what Nigerian state.

Addressing your visa request to the appropriate authorities is essential in the Schengen visa application process.

You must always start by contacting the consular services of your main Schengen destination. They will give you precise information on how you must proceed to submit your visa application as different situations can occur.

To understand how the visa application works in Nigeria, let’s start by considering:

Who is in charge of Schengen visa applications in Nigeria?

Deciding to grant or deny a visa request is always the responsibility of the consular services of the Schengen country you have chosen to visit.

When applying for a Schengen visa from Nigeria and depending on your Schengen destination, you will need to submit your visa application either:

  • Directly at the Embassy or consulate of your Schengen destination,

  • Through a private visa service provider entrusted by a Schengen state with the recovering and handling of its applications BUT not the decision-making aspect (always in the hands of the consular services).

  • Through the embassy or consulate of another Schengen state responsible for the processing of visa applications on behalf of your Schengen destination if it has no consular mission in Nigeria:
  • Belgium handles short-stay visa applications for: Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (for applicants living in certain states)
  • France represents the following countries: Lithuania, Monaco, the Netherlands.
  • Sweden represents Latvia, Slovakia.
  • Hungary represents Slovenia.

Bonus info

You might still need to go through a private visa service provider if the intermediary Schengen country uses one.
For example, Belgium handles visa applications for Estonia. Since Belgium uses the services of TLS, you will need to apply through them if you want to visit Estonia.

Where must your Schengen visa application be submitted in Nigeria?

Your Schengen visa application must be submitted at:

→ The embassy/consulate (Abuja or Lagos) of the Schengen country you want to visit if you are applying for a visa for:

  • Bulgaria,
  • the Czech Republic,
  • Germany,
  • Greece,
  • Hungary,
  • Poland,
  • Romania,
  • Slovenia (via Hungary)

Pro Tip : Find out more on:

→ At a VFS Global centre (Abuja or Lagos) if you are applying for a Schengen visa for:

  • Austria,
  • Croatia,
  • Denmark,
  • Finland,
  • Latvia (via Sweden),
  • Portugal,
  • Slovakia (via Sweden),
  • Sweden,
  • Iceland (via Norway),
  • Liechtenstein (via Switzerland),
  • Norway,
  • Switzerland

Bonus Info

  • VFS Global offers a “visa at your doorstep” service which is currently only available for applicants who wish to visit Croatia. However, they might extend this service to other Schengen states later so don’t forget to check if this can be helpful in your situation.

Pro tip: follow our step-by-step guides on:

→ At a TLS Contact centre if you are applying for a Schengen visa for:

  • Belgium,
  • Estonia (via Belgium),
  • France,
  • Italy,
  • Lithuania (via Belgium or France),
  • Luxembourg (via Belgium),
  • Malta (via Italy),
  • the Netherlands (via Belgium or France),

Pro tip: read our comprehensive guides on:

→ At a BLS centre if you are applying for a Schengen visa for:

  • Spain

The BLS centre in charge of most Spanish visa applications is located in Lagos. However, in some specific situations particularly concerning residents of the Northern region of Nigeria, visa applications for Spain can be submitted at the Spanish embassy in Abuja.

Pro tip : discover all you need to know on how to apply for a Schengen visa for Spain.

Caution!

  • Make sure to always check with the consular services of your chosen Schengen destination as this information can change.

  • Do not use an external visa service provider unless it has been clearly specified by the Schengen country’s consular services that this is how you should proceed.

  • In any case, there are currently only 3 official visa service providers in Nigeria, all entrusted by the Schengen countries themselves: VFS Global, TLS Contact and BLS. Most are located in either Abuja or Lagos.

Please note:

If you intend on making the most of your stay and visit several Schengen member states (as allowed by your precious uniform visa!), you need to submit your visa application at the consular services of the country where you will remain the longest during your stay or by which you will enter the Schengen area first also called your first port of entry.

What mandatory documents do Nigerians need to include with their Schengen visa application?

What are the basic mandatory documents to enclose with your application?

While some requirements may differ from one Schengen country to another and from one applicant to another, the basic compulsory documents which must be enclosed with your Schengen visa application from Nigeria include:

  • The application form completed, dated and signed.

  • A valid passport i.e. in good condition, issued less than 10 years prior to your application, with at least 2 blank pages, valid for more than 3 months after your scheduled date of departure from the Schengen area or, in case of long-stay visa applications, valid for more than 3 months beyond the expiration date of the requested visa.

  • Two recent ICAO ID photos i.e. meeting international standards.

  • A travel insurance certificate.
    Important: being protected by certified travel insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa.
    Find out how to get valid Schengen travel insurance from Nigeria.

  • Documents supporting the purpose of your stay such as a letter of invitation by an organisation, a company, a relative or friend confirming the reason for your trip, tickets to a cultural or sports event, etc.

  • Your travel itinerary including your round-trip flight reservation as well as your travel plans in the Schengen area.

  • Proof of your accommodation arrangements in your Schengen destination: hotel or rental booking confirmation, letter by a relative or friend inviting you to stay with them, any document proving where you will be living while in the country.

  • Proof of your means of subsistence i.e. your ability to cover your financial needs during your stay. It can include bank statements, pay slips, employment contracts or a sponsorship letter.

  • Proof of your intent on leaving the Schengen area at the end of your trip. This can include documents showing your ties to Nigeria and your obligation to return to your home country.

What additional documents can be requested with your Schengen visa application?

Depending on the purpose of your stay and your Schengen destination, additional documents may be required including:

  • Proof of your socio-professional status including employment contracts, tax clearance certificates, proof of pension, school certificates, proof of income, etc.

  • A cover letter explaining the reasons for your trip,

  • A valid residence permit if you are not a Nigerian national,

  • Marriage and birth certificates if you are travelling with your family,

  • Previous passports with Schengen visas.

Don’t worry! You will be provided with a comprehensive list of the documents required in your specific situation when you fill out your application form online.

Your 9-step guide to apply for your Schengen visa from Nigeria

  1. Determine what type of visa you need,
  2. Find out where you need to submit your application according to your Schengen destination,
  3. Fill out and sign the Schengen visa application form.
    Depending on your destination you might need to fill out the form online, via “Visa on web”, “France-visa”, etc.
  4. Gather the required supporting documents.
  5. Subscribe to certified and compulsory travel insurance.

Remember!
According to article 15 of the EU visa Code, all applicants must be protected by certified travel insurance which covers medical expenses as well as repatriation in case of accidents or illness during their stay in the Schengen area.

  1. Book your appointment to submit your file.
  2. Attend the interview in person, submit your application, and pay the visa application fee.
  3. Track your visa application status online.
  4. Collect your passport where you’ve left it. If your application is granted, you will find a visa sticker in your passport.

Pro tip: the AXA team answers all your questions on the visa application form.

What happens during and after a visa appointment in Nigeria?

→ As mentioned before, you must attend your appointment in person in order to submit your visa application file which must include:

  • The letter confirming your appointment,
  • The printed application form duly completed, dated and signed,
  • Your passport,
  • The required supporting documents (originals and copies),
  • The accepted means of payment to settle the visa fees and service fees if you need to go through a visa service provider (VFS, TLS or BLS)

→ During your appointment, you will meet with a visa agent who will:

  • check that your file is complete and that your supporting documents comply with visa requirements.
  • record your biometric data (fingerprints and photo).
    Children under age 12 are exempt but must still attend the appointment.
  • collect the visa and service fees.
  • keep your passport.

Once the appointment is over, your visa application file is in the right hands to be processed and examined by the competent consular services.

When will you get an answer to your Schengen visa request?

→ Processing time is usually between 15 to 30 calendar days but can reach up to 60 days if:

  • Consular services need additional supporting documents,
  • You apply during the busier times of the year (school holidays, Christmas and New Year’s, major sports events, European public holidays, etc.)

→ In the meantime, you can track the progress of the examination of your visa application.

The visa services where you have submitted your file, will provide you with the specific information to help you monitor the examination of your visa request.

→ Once your application has been examined and a decision made, you will be informed by text/email/phone and asked to come recover your passport.

→ If your visa is granted, a visa sticker will feature on your passport.

→ If your visa is denied, a document will be enclosed, explaining the reasons why and how you can appeal the decision.

How much does a Schengen visa cost for Nigerians?

Visa fees cover the expenses entailed by the processing by consular services of your Schengen visa application.

The price of a Schengen visa (or visa fee), depends mainly on the age of the applicant:

  • Travellers aged 12 and over: full fee
  • Children between ages 6 to 12: reduced fee
  • Children younger than 6: free of charge

Pro Tip: to find out more, read our page detailing the costs entailed by a Schengen visa application.

Good to know!

  • Depending on the purpose of their trip (studies, research, humanitarian work, etc.), some travellers can enjoy a reduced visa fee or even visa fee exemption.

  • If you have to submit your visa application via an external visa service provider (VFS, TLS or BLS), you will have to pay additional service fees to this company.

  • These different visa fees are non-refundable even if your visa application is denied.

Why is AXA Schengen travel insurance the best choice for Nigerian visa applicants?

Article 15 of the European Union Visa Code determines the requirements for travel insurance to be considered as valid and thus accepted with a Schengen visa application. If they are not met, the visa application is systematically denied.

AXA Schengen travel insurance meets all these compulsory visa requirements:

  • It guarantees a €30,000 minimum coverage for medical expenses,
  • It covers emergency hospitalisation and medical care due to health issues occurring during your stay.
  • It bears the costs of repatriation to your home country in case of serious health issues or even death.
  • It is certified by all the countries of the Schengen area (not just the one you are travelling to) and is thus automatically accepted by visa consular services.
  • It is valid in all Schengen countries.
  • It remains valid during the entire duration of your stay.

It offers many additional advantages including:

  • Quick and easy online subscription.
  • Excellent value for money and decreasing rate based on the length of your stay.
  • It is refundable if your visa application is denied.
  • It applies a zero-deductible policy.
  • There is no age limit.
  • Free 24/7 medical consultation and assistance.

What is the best AXA travel insurance plan for you?

  • AXA Schengen Basic offers standard and efficient coverage to obtain your Schengen visa.
    This travel insurance option meets all the mandatory requirements, covers you in all the countries of the Schengen Area as well as in the 4 European microstates (Andorra, Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino).

  • AXA Schengen Essential provides complete and reliable coverage at an affordable price. Another perfect choice to obtain your Schengen visa.
    Not only does it meet all visa requirements and is valid in all the Schengen countries + the European microstates, but it also offers coverage in all the EU countries as well as the UK.

  • AXA Schengen Premium is THE all-inclusive plan allowing you to obtain your Schengen visa and to travel stress-free all over Europe.
    Its coverage is valid in all Schengen countries + the EU countries + the 4 microstates + the UK.

  • AXA Schengen Annual is the ideal yearly travel insurance plan for frequent travellers to Europe as well as multiple-entry Schengen visa holders.
    One contract for a full year of travel coverage across Europe!
    It is valid in all Schengen countries + the EU countries + the 4 microstates + the UK

Find out more about our different coverage and benefits

and get your commitment-free, online quote now!

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FAQ

Is an in-person interview required to obtain a Schengen visa from Nigeria?

Yes, an in-person interview is part of the Schengen visa application process for Nigerians. During this interview, applicants will submit their file, provide their biometric data and answer a few questions supporting the purpose of their trip and other information provided in their visa application.

What are the main reasons for Schengen visa refusal in Nigeria?

Nigerians are the visa applicants with the highest refusal rate (45.9%).
The main reasons might include missing or improper compulsory supporting documents, invalid travel insurance, insufficient means of subsistence, a bad record when it comes to past Schengen visas.
To avoid your visa application being denied, read our special guide on how to avoid Schengen visa refusal.

Can Nigerian nationals apply for a multiple-entry visa?

Yes, they can. Nigerians who need to enter and leave the Schengen area several times in the limit of 90 days over a 180-day timespan, can apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. To find out more, read our article on what is a multiple-entry visa and how to get one.

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AXA Schengen Basic

AXA Schengen Basic

AXA Schengen Basic is perfect to obtain your Schengen visa. This travel insurance meets all the requirements demanded, covers you in all the countries of the Schengen Area as well as 4 European microstates (Andorra, Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino).

AXA Schengen Essential

AXA Schengen Essential

AXA Essential is perfect to obtain your Schengen visa. It provides coverage in all the Schengen countries + the European microstates + all the EU countries (including UK, Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland). And you get additional guarantees compared to AXA Schengen Basic.

AXA Schengen Annual

AXA Schengen Annual

AXA Annual is perfect to obtain your Schengen visa. This annual travel insurance is ideal for those who often travel to Europe as well as multiple-entry Schengen visa holders. You get the same guarantees as AXA Schengen Annual for different countries during 90 days.