Please note
Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). This is general information — apply and check requirements only through official NIS channels (immigration.gov.ng). Visa rules, fees and processes change and depend on your nationality and category — confirm current requirements on the official portal. For Nigerian passports, see our dedicated passport guide.
What they are
Landing and Exit Cards are mandatory travel documents required of all passengers entering or departing Nigeria. They became a required part of border processing from 1 May 2025.
Who must complete them
All arriving and departing passengers — Nigerians and foreigners alike — must complete the relevant card (Landing on arrival, Exit on departure).
When & how
They’re completed on arrival at or departure from Nigerian borders. Increasingly these are handled electronically/online as part of the NIS’s digital border process — check the official channel for the current method and complete yours before/at travel.
Why they exist
They’re a border-management and immigration-control tool — helping the NIS record movements accurately and improve security and planning.
Tips
- Expect to complete a card both ways.
- Have your passport/visa details handy.
- Check for the online option to save time.
What landing and exit cards are
Landing and exit cards are the travel declarations completed by passengers entering (landing) and leaving (exit) Nigeria. They capture traveller and trip details and serve as a core instrument of immigration control and border management — helping the authorities record and track movement across the country's borders. They apply at air, land and sea entry/exit points, and completing them is part of the normal border process.
Mandatory for all travellers
These cards are mandatory for all passengers entering or departing Nigeria — Nigerians and foreigners alike. As part of the May 2025 reforms, Nigeria moved to an automated landing and exit card system (from 1 May 2025), modernising what used to be paper forms. Because they're compulsory, factor them into your travel: they're a required step, not an optional formality, and they sit alongside your passport and (for foreigners) your visa.
How to complete them
Under the automated system, the cards are completed electronically as part of the arrival/departure process — you provide your personal, passport and travel details accurately, matching your documents. Because the specifics of where and how to complete them (online in advance vs at the border) can evolve as the system beds in, check the current guidance on the official NIS site, immigration.gov.ng, before you fly. Fill them in truthfully and consistently with your passport to avoid hold-ups at immigration.
Frequently asked questions
What are Nigeria’s Landing and Exit Cards?
Mandatory travel documents that all passengers entering or departing Nigeria must complete; they became required from 1 May 2025.
Who has to complete them?
All arriving and departing passengers — Nigerians and foreigners — complete the Landing card on arrival and the Exit card on departure.
How do I complete the cards?
At Nigerian borders on arrival/departure, increasingly via an electronic/online process — check the official NIS channel for the current method.
Why were these cards introduced?
As a border-management and immigration-control tool to record movements accurately and improve security.
Do I need one for both entry and exit?
Yes — a Landing card for entry and an Exit card for departure.
What are landing and exit cards?
Travel declarations completed by passengers entering (landing) and leaving (exit) Nigeria. They capture traveller and trip details and are a core instrument of immigration control and border management, applying at air, land and sea entry/exit points.
Who must complete landing and exit cards?
All passengers entering or departing Nigeria — both Nigerians and foreigners. They're mandatory, not optional, and sit alongside your passport and (for foreigners) your visa.
Are landing and exit cards mandatory in Nigeria?
Yes. They're compulsory for everyone entering or leaving the country. Since 1 May 2025 Nigeria uses an automated landing and exit card system, replacing the old paper forms.
How do I fill in Nigeria's landing and exit cards now?
Under the automated system they're completed electronically as part of the arrival/departure process, with your personal, passport and travel details. As the rollout evolves, check the current guidance on the official NIS site (immigration.gov.ng) before you travel.
Why does Nigeria require landing and exit cards?
They're a key tool for immigration control and border management — letting the authorities record and track who enters and leaves the country. Completing them accurately and consistently with your passport helps avoid delays at immigration.