We've compiled the most common questions Nigerian travellers ask — about visas, flights, refusals, documents, hotels, and more. Real answers, no jargon.
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We handle the entire process on your behalf — from document review and application preparation to embassy submission, progress tracking, and delivery of your approved visa.
Step by step: you contact us with your destination and travel date → we send a personalised document checklist → you submit your documents → we prepare your application and cover letter → we submit and track → we deliver your approved visa by email (electronic) or arrange passport collection (stamped visas).
You never visit an embassy yourself unless biometrics are specifically required (e.g. UK/Schengen). We handle everything else for you.
Processing times vary by destination:
We recommend applying 6–8 weeks before your intended travel date. Embassy appointment slots fill up quickly during peak seasons (May–August and November–January).
Core documents required for most visa applications from Nigeria:
We provide a tailored checklist free of charge when you contact us. Never guess — requirements differ significantly by destination.
No — and we advise against purchasing a non-refundable ticket before visa approval. Embassies require a flight itinerary or reservation, not a paid ticket.
We provide a confirmed flight itinerary for your visa application at no extra cost. Once your visa is approved, we book the actual flight at the best available fare. This protects you from losing money if processing is delayed or your dates change.
We handle this for all our clients as standard — itinerary for the visa, confirmed ticket after approval.
Our quoted price is all-inclusive. It covers our service fee, document review, application preparation, professional cover letter, embassy submission, progress tracking, and visa delivery. Government embassy fees (where applicable) are included in the total we quote.
There are no hidden charges. We explain every cost upfront before you pay anything. If a situation arises during processing that requires extra work, we communicate immediately — no surprises.
Yes. Every client is assigned a dedicated agent who provides WhatsApp updates at every stage — from submission confirmation, to embassy decision, to delivery. You will never be left wondering.
For online portal applications (UAE, Turkey, Kenya), we share tracking links with you directly. For stamped embassy visas, we follow up proactively and update you at each checkpoint.
Embassy application fees are non-refundable by government policy — this is universal, whether you apply yourself or through an agency. Our own service fee policy is explained in full before you engage us.
The important point: with our 98% approval rate, outright denials are rare when clients follow our guidance. If your application is denied, we offer a free refusal review to identify the cause and build a stronger reapplication strategy.
At least 6–8 weeks before travel for most destinations. For US, UK, and Canada — start 3–4 months ahead because interview and appointment slots book up weeks in advance.
You can apply for Schengen visas up to 6 months in advance. Contact us early — we will advise the optimal timeline for your specific case.
A single-entry visa allows you to enter the country once. Once you leave, the visa is exhausted even if its validity period hasn't ended.
A multiple-entry visa allows you to enter and exit as many times as you want within the visa validity period, subject to the maximum stay per visit — for example, a 10-year US B1/B2 allows multiple visits so long as each stay doesn't exceed the permitted duration.
We advise which type to apply for based on your travel plans when reviewing your case.
Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended return date. Your passport must also have at least 2 blank pages for stamps.
If your passport expires within 6 months of your travel date, renew it before applying for any visa — applying with a near-expiry passport almost always results in rejection.
Do not submit a visa application with a damaged passport (torn pages, water damage, unofficial markings). It will be rejected and you will lose the embassy fee.
The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows up to 6 months for tourism, business, or family visits. Key requirements for Nigerian applicants:
Processing is approximately 15 working days. You do not need to buy a ticket before applying.
Apply for UK VisaA Schengen visa is a single visa that allows travel across 27 European countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You apply through the embassy of the country where you'll spend the most time (or first port of entry).
Countries include France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and others. Travel insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage is mandatory for all Schengen applications.
Visiting multiple Schengen countries? Apply through the embassy of the country where you'll spend the most nights. We guide you through this selection.
The Dubai Tourist Visa is electronic — no embassy visit needed. The process is fully online and the approved visa arrives in your email. Requirements: valid passport (6 months validity), passport photo, bank statement, and sometimes a hotel booking. Processing takes 10–15 working days.
Options include a 30-day and 90-day visa. We recommend 30 days for short holidays and 90-day multi-entry for frequent travellers.
Apply for Dubai VisaThe process: fill the DS-160 form online → pay the MRV fee → schedule an interview at the US Consulate Lagos or Embassy Abuja → attend in person. The officer's decision is made at interview.
We prepare a strong DS-160, gather supporting documents, and coach you for the interview. A strong application shows: clear travel purpose, sufficient funds, strong ties to Nigeria (job, family, property), and prior travel history where applicable.
Nigeria has high US visa refusal rates. The most common reason is Section 214(b) — officer not convinced the applicant will return to Nigeria. Strong ties to Nigeria are critical.
Canada's Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is applied for online through the IRCC portal. Biometrics are required at VFS Global Nigeria. Processing takes 30–45 working days.
Key requirements: valid passport, biometric enrolment, proof of sufficient funds, employment confirmation, invitation letter (if visiting family), strong ties to Nigeria, and prior travel history to UK, US or Schengen (significantly strengthens the application).
Apply for Canada VisaYes, Nigerian passports require visas for all three. All offer e-Visas processed fully online — no embassy visit needed.
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda with a single application — perfect for multi-country safari trips. Kenya processes in 2–5 days, Uganda 3–7 days, Tanzania 7–10 days.
Apply East Africa VisaTurkey's e-Visa is one of the quickest for Nigerians — fully online, requires a valid passport, passport photo, and fee payment. Processing takes 1–3 working days. The approved visa arrives by email and allows 30 days of stay for tourism.
Apply for Turkey e-VisaThe Australia Tourist Visa (Subclass 600) is applied for online via the Australian Home Affairs portal. Biometrics and/or a health check may be required. Processing takes 15–25 working days on average. A strong financial profile, clear purpose of travel, and prior international travel history significantly improve approval chances.
Apply for Australia VisaThe China L Visa requires a physical application at the Chinese Embassy or visa centre in Nigeria. You'll need your passport, photos, hotel booking, itinerary, bank statements, and employment letter. Processing takes 10–15 working days.
Apply for China VisaQatar offers an online e-Visa for Nigerian passport holders. Applied through the Qatar government portal — requires a passport photo, valid passport, hotel booking, and return flight itinerary. Processing takes approximately 5 working days and the visa is emailed to you.
Apply for Qatar VisaYes, Nigerian passport holders require a visa. You can apply for an e-Visa on Arrival (eVOA) via the official Indonesian government portal before departure. Processing takes 5–10 working days. Allows a 30-day stay, extendable for another 30 days from within Indonesia.
Apply Indonesia e-VisaDon't panic — and don't rush to reapply with the same documents. A refusal is feedback, not a permanent ban. Here's what to do:
Our refused-case clients achieve a significantly higher second-attempt approval rate when they follow our recovery strategy. A refusal is a roadmap to fixing what was missing.
Section 214(b) means the consular officer was not convinced you would return to Nigeria after your visit. Under US immigration law, every non-immigrant visa applicant is presumed to have immigrant intent unless proven otherwise.
To overcome it on reapplication: demonstrate stronger ties to Nigeria — stable employment, family responsibilities, property, business interests, and a clear compelling reason for the visit.
There is no formal appeal for 214(b). You must reapply with a new application, new fee, and improved documentation. Many Nigerians succeed on the second or third attempt with a stronger case.
After reviewing thousands of applications, the most common causes:
There's no mandatory wait period — you can technically reapply immediately. But reapplying without fixing the underlying issue almost always leads to another refusal.
A practical guideline: wait 3–6 months to genuinely strengthen your profile — build bank balance, get additional documentation, travel nearby countries to build a travel history. The exception is if the refusal was due to a single missing document — fix that and reapply sooner.
A refusal for one country doesn't automatically block others, but most visa forms ask if you've ever been refused — you must answer truthfully. Lying about a prior refusal is a serious immigration offence and can result in permanent bans.
For the same country, your refusal remains on record and is visible when you reapply. This is why addressing the actual cause before reapplying matters so much.
We include a strategic explanation letter with every refusal-recovery application that addresses the prior refusal directly and demonstrates what has materially changed.
No travel history doesn't automatically disqualify you, but officers place more weight on your financial profile and ties to Nigeria. First-time travellers face higher scrutiny for US, UK, and Canadian applications.
A useful strategy: build travel history gradually — start with easier destinations (Turkey, Kenya, Morocco, UAE) before tackling high-scrutiny countries. Stamps in your passport demonstrate immigration compliance and genuine travel intent.
Absolutely not. Using fraudulent documents is a serious crime that results in a permanent visa ban — often 5–10 years — across multiple countries. Even if you didn't know the documents were fake, embassies hold the applicant responsible, not the agent.
At Bowagate, we will never use fraudulent documents. If your finances aren't strong enough right now, we'll tell you honestly and help you build a stronger case before applying — it is always worth waiting.
A prior overstay is treated as a major red flag by most immigration officers. It doesn't make approval impossible — circumstances matter. A minor overstay with genuine extenuating circumstances (medical emergency, flight cancellation) can be explained with documentation. A significant overstay requires a much stronger case and time to rebuild trust.
Contact us for a confidential case review — we'll give you an honest assessment before you spend money on an application.
No universal minimum — each embassy assesses funds relative to your trip length and destination costs. Practical benchmarks:
Critically, funds must be yours — consistent credits, not a single suspicious large deposit. For UK visas, the balance must be maintained for the full 28 days before submission.
All statements must be signed and stamped on official bank letterhead. Screenshots or unstamped online printouts are not acceptable.
Yes — financial sponsorship is accepted by most embassies. The sponsor must provide:
For UK applications, the sponsor's bank statements can substitute for yours. For Schengen, an invitation letter is also required if the sponsor lives in the Schengen area.
A proper employment letter must be on official company letterhead, signed by an authorised person (HR Manager or Director), and include:
Self-employed? Use your CAC Certificate, an accountant's letter, and evidence of business activity (invoices, contracts).
Yes — a strong cover letter is one of the most impactful tools in a visa application, especially for UK, US, Schengen, and Canada. It provides context documents alone can't convey.
It should include: specific purpose of visit, detailed itinerary, accommodation details, funding explanation, professional and personal ties to Nigeria that guarantee your return, and a closing affirmation of your intention to comply with all visa conditions.
At Bowagate, we write all cover letters tailored to your specific profile and destination. A generic template can actually hurt your application.
No — most embassies accept a booking confirmation (with a reference number), not a fully paid or non-refundable receipt. We recommend refundable bookings so you don't lose money if your visa is delayed or your plans change.
Staying with family? A signed invitation letter from your host with proof of their address substitutes the hotel booking. We provide embassy-accepted hotel booking confirmations as part of our service.
Book Embassy HotelSchengen photos must meet strict ICAO biometric standards. Always use a professional photo studio. Wrong photos are one of the most common — and most avoidable — causes of application delay.
Biometrics = fingerprint scans and digital photograph collected by a visa application centre. Required for UK, Schengen, Canada, and US visas.
Once enrolled for Schengen, your biometrics are valid for 59 months — no re-enrolment needed for subsequent Schengen applications within that period.
We guide self-employed clients extensively because requirements differ from salaried employees — and there are more ways to strengthen the case when you own a business.
For Nigerian passport holders, most documents (bank statements, employment letters, certificates) are already in English — translation is usually not required. If you have documents issued in another language (e.g. a foreign marriage certificate), these must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
For Schengen applications, all documents must be in English or the official language of the destination country. We advise on this case-by-case.
We always advise on the right fare type for your situation before booking and handle all changes and cancellation requests on your behalf.
We confirm the exact allowance for your ticket when booking.
We always check transit requirements for your specific routing before booking your tickets.
"OK to Board" (OTB) is a pre-clearance required by some countries — the destination's immigration authority must confirm you are eligible to travel before the airline will board you. Countries that commonly require OTB for Nigerian passport holders include Egypt and South Africa.
We handle OTB clearance as part of our visa service for destinations that require it — you don't need to deal with this yourself.
Yes — we book for individuals, couples, families, and corporate groups of any size. For groups of 10+, airlines often offer unpublished group fares we negotiate on your behalf. We also handle visa processing for entire families simultaneously, ensuring all applications are consistent and submitted together where required.
Yes — this is what most of our clients prefer. One WhatsApp or call handles everything: visa processing, flight booking, hotel reservation, travel insurance, and airport transfers. All elements are coordinated so your visa dates match your flight dates which match your hotel booking.
Get a Package QuoteNo. Most embassies accept a confirmed reservation (booking reference number), not a fully paid receipt. We always use refundable bookings so you're protected if your visa is delayed or your travel dates change.
We provide embassy-accepted hotel booking confirmations as part of our service. Once your visa is approved and you're ready to travel, we confirm or update the booking to your final choice.
No — you substitute the hotel booking with an invitation letter from your host. The letter must state their name, full address, your relationship, duration of your stay, and their confirmation to host you. Include a copy of their proof of address (utility bill or tenancy agreement).
For UK applications, a copy of the host's passport or proof of their immigration status is also needed. We help draft these letters correctly.
If a hotel booking we processed for you is cancelled or changed, we handle the replacement immediately at no extra cost. We monitor all bookings and notify you of any hotel-side changes. We always recommend free-cancellation policies where possible — flexibility without financial risk.
Absolutely. We book hotels worldwide for all budgets — budget-friendly to luxury resorts. We handle multi-city bookings, extended stays, and specific requests. We also arrange airport transfers at many destinations, so your entire trip is coordinated from the moment you land.
Book HotelsTell us your destination and budget range — we'll find the best options.
Most embassies accept Airbnb reservation confirmations — it is treated the same as a hotel booking. The confirmation must show your name, the property address, check-in and check-out dates, and a confirmation number.
Some Schengen embassies prefer traditional hotel bookings as they are easier to verify. We advise on the best approach for your specific destination.
For Schengen visas, travel insurance is mandatory — not optional. The policy must provide a minimum of €30,000 medical coverage and be valid across all Schengen countries for the full trip duration.
For UK, US, Canada, and Australia, insurance is not technically required but is strongly recommended — some officers view its absence as poor travel planning, which can subtly weaken an application. We arrange compliant insurance for all our visa clients.
Get Travel InsuranceSpecific coverage depends on the policy. We match you with the right policy for your destination and trip length.
We include travel insurance in our full-service packages. Contact us for a specific quote for your trip.
Most modern policies include COVID-19 medical coverage — if you contract COVID abroad and need treatment, the policy covers it. However, trip cancellation due to testing positive before departure varies by policy — always verify the specific terms.
We recommend policies with explicit epidemic/pandemic cover for all clients. This has been a standard consideration since 2020 and we ensure the policies we arrange include clear, useful COVID coverage.
Yes. Bowagate Travels is IATA accredited, NANTA registered, and duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria. We have been operating for 7+ years and have processed over 5,000 visa applications with a 98% approval rate.
We never take on cases we don't believe in, and we never use fraudulent documents. Our results speak for themselves — and so do the thousands of clients who have travelled with our help.
Our office is at 3 Ade Idowu Street, Aviation Estate, Off MMI Airport Road, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos — close to Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Closed Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, but we recommend scheduling via WhatsApp first so a dedicated agent is available for you.
We respond to WhatsApp messages within 30 minutes during business hours. For urgent matters, calling is fastest.
We accept bank transfer, cash at our Oshodi office, and POS payments. We provide a receipt for all payments. A deposit is required to commence processing, with the balance due before visa submission or upon approval.
We will never ask you to pay into a personal account. All payments go to official Bowagate Travels Limited bank accounts. Always verify our payment details directly via our official phone number or by visiting the office — beware of impersonators online.
Send us a WhatsApp message or call — our first consultation is always free. We'll ask about your destination, travel date, employment status, and travel history, and give you an honest assessment before you commit to anything.
There is no pressure and no obligation. If we think now isn't the right time to apply, we'll tell you that rather than take your money and submit a weak application.
Book Free ConsultationYou can self-apply for many visas — and we'll tell you when that's straightforward. But here's why 5,000+ Nigerians have chosen Bowagate:
For complex applications (UK, US, Canada, Schengen), the value of getting it right the first time far outweighs our fee.