NIGERIA UPDATE ON COVID-19 TRAVEL POLICY - 2nd Dec. 2021

Due to the recent outbreak of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, the Presidential Steering Committee(PSC) has issued a revised Provisional Travel Protocol for travellers arriving and departing Nigeria effective from 12:01 AM Sunday 5th December 2021. The revised protocol was published on the 2nd December 2021.

The revised policy states that:

COVID-19 PCR test to be done not later than 48 hours from departure time for all travellers (inbound & outbound);
Post-arrival Day-2 COVID-19 PCR test for all inbound travellers; and
Self-isolation for 7 days for partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers and Day-7 post-arrival negative COVID-19 PCR test is required for exit from isolation.

Hence, the changes made from the previous policy published on the 22nd October 2021 are changes in pre-departure and inbound COVID-19 test validity from 72-hours to 48-hours. The second modification is a mandatory test on Day 2 for inbound travellers.

An all operators letter has been sent to all airlines by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for travellers exiting and arriving in the country. The operator’s letter states that airlines are to only board passengers travelling to Nigeria who have a negative PCR test taken not later than 48-hours before boarding as opposed to the earlier 72-hours before boarding. As to outbound passengers, airlines are to only board passengers with evidence of complete vaccination for COVID-19 or Negative COVID-19 PCR test done at any NCDC accredited laboratories no later than 48-hours before boarding.

It remains compulsory to fill the Traveller’s Health Declaration Form and upload your test results for inbound travellers. The link to the form is https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng/. Also, travellers are expected to comply with existing COVID-19 policy from the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, you may download the full policy here.

In other news, the UK has resumed the pre-departure COVID-19 test for return. All international arrivals to the UK will be required to test again to tackle the spread of the new COVID-19 omicron variant. This rule applies to all travellers visiting or returning to the UK regardless of their vaccination status; this is effective from 4 AM on Tuesday, 7th December 2021. In the meantime, Nigerians are temporarily banned from visiting the UK as announced by the UK Government on the 4th December 2021 – click here for details.

We advise that proper consultation is done with your travel specialist before concluding your travel arrangements this festive season.

For consultations, new visa applications and renewals contact us at [email protected] or call +234 906 307 0000. Drop your comment or questions in the comment section below.