Immigration · Updated 15 Sep 2026 · ~10 min read

Netherlands visa for Nigerians (2026): requirements, where to apply, documents and scams

Fake job offers and paid ‘agents’ cost Nigerian applicants money every year. This guide starts with the scams, then shows where to apply, which documents you need and how the MVV works in Lagos.

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5 scams to avoid What do I need?

Rules from the IND, Netherlands Worldwide, Nuffic and the RDW · Checked 15 September 2026

Short answer

Yes, Nigerians need a visa for the Netherlands. This Netherlands visa for Nigerians guide covers both kinds: a Schengen visa for visits of up to 90 days, applied for at the Belgian TLScontact centre in Abuja or the French one in Lagos depending on your state, and a residence permit with an MVV for longer stays, issued at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos. Your documents must be legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No genuine employer or recognised sponsor needs a fee from you for a job, so treat any such request as a scam.

Key facts for 2026

2 TLScontact centres take Schengen visa applications in Nigeria: the Belgian one in Abuja and the French one in Lagos.
19 states, from Adamawa to Zamfara, apply at the Belgian centre in Abuja; all other states apply in Lagos.
3 months after the IND’s positive decision is how long you have to apply for the MVV sticker in Lagos.
7 working days is how long it can take before your MVV appointment in Lagos is scheduled.
14 December 1992: born before it with an unregistered birth, you need an age declaration from a High Court.
€254 is the 2026 IND fee for a study permit; a highly skilled migrant permit costs €423.
185 days is how long you may drive on a Nigerian licence after you move.

This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.

At a glance

Netherlands visa for Nigerians: what you need at a glance

Nigerians need a visa for any stay in the Netherlands, and the applications run through different offices than in most countries. Nigeria is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa (EU visa regulation, Annex I).

Your situation	What applies to Nigerian citizens	Source
A visit of up to 90 days	A Schengen visa, at TLScontact in Abuja or Lagos depending on your state	Netherlands Worldwide
A stay of more than 90 days	A residence permit; your sponsor in the Netherlands usually applies	IND
The MVV entry visa	Required, issued at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos	IND
The TB test	Required after arrival: Nigeria is not on the exemption appendix	IND
Your documents	Legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Netherlands Worldwide
Your Nigerian driving licence	Valid for 185 days after you move; not on the exchange list	RDW

Our Netherlands visa guide compares every route.

Read first

5 scams that target Nigerian applicants

Nobody may make you pay for a Dutch job: under Dutch law, an intermediary that finds you work may not ask you for anything in return (Waadi, article 3).

The job that costs money: a ‘processing fee’, ‘registration fee’ or ‘sponsorship fee’ for a job in the Netherlands is a warning sign, whoever asks for it.
The fake sponsor: a highly skilled migrant job needs an employer that is a sponsor recognised by the IND (IND brochure). Our sponsorship jobs guide shows how to search the IND register.
The fake contract: the IND names finance fraud, for example using a fake employment contract, and using false or falsified documents among the things it wants reported (IND).
The exploitative job: labour exploitation, human trafficking and smuggling can also be reported to the IND; unsafe or unhealthy working conditions go to the Netherlands Labour Authority.
The ‘agent’ for the embassy: the MVV appointment in Lagos is made by emailing the consulate-general yourself, and Schengen visas go through the TLScontact centres, so a middleman adds nothing (Netherlands Worldwide).

Visiting

Short stays: where Nigerians apply for a Schengen visa

Where you apply depends on the state you live in: the Belgian TLScontact centre in Abuja for the 19 listed states, the French TLScontact centre in Lagos for all the others (Netherlands Worldwide).

Abuja (Belgian centre): Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, FCT Abuja, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Lagos (French centre): residents of every other state.
Questions and objections: for the status of your application, a complaint or an objection to the outcome, contact the TLScontact centre where you applied.
Visa facilitation for a Dutch child: if you apply to live with your Dutch child under 18, you cannot do this in Nigeria and must apply in another country.
More detail: the 90/180-day rule, the fee and the documents are in our Schengen visa guide.

Study, work, family

Long stays: study, work and family

A stay of more than 90 days needs a residence permit for a purpose, and your sponsor in the Netherlands usually submits the application (IND).

Route	IND fee 2026	Our guide
Study	€254	Student visa
Highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant)	€423	Highly skilled migrant visa
Partner or family	€254	Family reunification
Orientation year after graduating	€254	Orientation year

Fees for a first application in 2026 (IND fees).

Work: a highly skilled migrant must earn at least €5,942 gross a month at 30 or over, or €4,357 under 30, in 2026 (IND).
Your degree: Nuffic compares a 4-year Nigerian bachelor’s degree to an HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years of WO, a 5-year one to an HBO or WO bachelor’s degree, and a Higher National Diploma to 2 years of HBO or an associate degree (Nuffic).
The TB test: Nigeria is not on the IND appendix of exempt nationalities (appendix), so you are tested after you arrive, unless another exemption applies (IND).
Joining a partner: you first pass the civic integration exam abroad, and Nigeria is not on the list of exempt nationalities (IND).

Documents

Nigerian documents: legalisation, birth certificates and your licence

A document from Nigeria must first be legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it is then fit for use in the Netherlands (Netherlands Worldwide).

Language: documents in English do not have to be translated.
Birth certificates: only the original birth certificate from the National Population Commission (NPC), or a legalised photocopy of it, can be used. The NPC is the only authority that issues them.
Unregistered births before 14 December 1992: you need an age declaration from the High Court in the state where you were born, live or last lived, with your parents’ names and photographs, plus a cover letter from the NPC.
Unmarried status: a single status certificate from the High Court, and an attestation of marital status from the local authority.
Driving: a Nigerian licence is valid for the first 185 days after you move (RDW), and Nigeria is not on the list of licences that can be exchanged (RDW).

Step by step

Collecting the MVV in Lagos, step by step

For a long stay, the IND decides in the Netherlands and you collect the MVV sticker at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos.

Wait for the IND letter The MVV sticker can only be applied for at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos if the IND letter says so. Our visa application guide lists what the sponsor sends first.
Email for an appointment Email the consulate-general with your V number and contact details; as a highly skilled migrant, add your start date. A family member applying with you must also be present.
Book within 3 months You have 3 months after the letter. The appointment is not scheduled immediately: it can take up to 7 working days.
Bring the documents Your passport, valid for 6 more months with 2 empty pages, and a copy of the photo page, plus the other documents the IND letter lists (Netherlands Worldwide).
Collect the sticker It can take up to 10 working days before you get your passport back. At the consulate-general, fees are paid in cash in naira or with a European debit card only (fees).
Register and insure Register in person with your municipality within 5 days of arriving (Netherlands Worldwide), and take out Dutch health insurance no later than 4 months after arriving (Government.nl).

Keep reading

Related guides

More of our guides for moving to the Netherlands from Nigeria.

Jobs

Visa sponsorship jobs

Search the recognised sponsor register and spot fake offers.

Study

Netherlands student visa

Admission, proof of funds and the permit for your studies.

Visas

Which Netherlands visa you need

Short or long stay, and every residence permit route side by side.

Applying

The MVV entry visa

Who needs one, and how the sticker is issued abroad.

Applying

Track your visa application

The official trackers and what each stage means.

Work

Highly skilled migrant visa

Salary thresholds, recognised sponsors and the IND procedure.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do Nigerians need a visa for the Netherlands?

Yes. Nigeria is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa, so a visit of up to 90 days needs a Schengen visa. You apply at the Belgian TLScontact centre in Abuja or the French one in Lagos, depending on your state. A longer stay needs a residence permit and an MVV entry visa, which is issued at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos.

Where do I apply for a Netherlands Schengen visa in Nigeria?

It depends on where you live. Residents of the 19 states on the Netherlands Worldwide list, including FCT Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, apply at the Belgian application centre of TLScontact in Abuja. Residents of every other state apply at the French application centre of TLScontact in Lagos. Questions and objections go to the centre you used.

How can I spot a fake Dutch job offer or visa agent?

Be suspicious of anyone who asks you to pay for a job, a sponsorship or a visa. Under Dutch law, an intermediary that finds you work may not ask you for anything in return. A highly skilled migrant job needs an employer recognised by the IND, and fake employment contracts are one of the kinds of fraud the IND asks people to report.

Do my Nigerian documents need an apostille?

No apostille: Netherlands Worldwide says documents from Nigeria must be legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then they are fit for use in the Netherlands. Documents in English need no translation. Birth certificates must come from the National Population Commission, which is the only authority that issues them.

Do Nigerians need a TB test for the Netherlands?

Yes, in most cases. The IND exempts the nationalities on its appendix, and Nigeria is not one of them, so you are tested for tuberculosis after you arrive in the Netherlands. You are exempt if, for example, you already hold a valid Dutch residence permit and apply for a different one.

How does Nuffic compare a Nigerian bachelor degree?

Nuffic compares a 4-year Nigerian bachelor degree to an HBO bachelor degree or 2 years of WO, and a 5-year bachelor degree to an HBO or a WO bachelor degree, depending on the content and purpose of the programme. A Higher National Diploma is compared to 2 years of HBO or an associate degree.

Where do I collect the MVV visa sticker in Nigeria?

At the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos, if the IND letter says so. You request the appointment by email with your V number and contact details, and scheduling can take up to 7 working days. You have 3 months after the IND letter to apply, and the sticker itself can take up to 10 working days.

Can I study in the Netherlands as a Nigerian?

Yes. For a study permit your Dutch university or college is usually the sponsor that applies for you, and the IND fee in 2026 is €254. After approval you collect the MVV sticker in Lagos, take the TB test after arrival and register with your municipality within 5 days. Our student visa guide explains the requirements.

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Official sources, checked 15 September 2026

Final notes and legal disclaimer

This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
No rights can be derived from this article.
For decisions about a visa or residence permit application from Nigeria, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.

FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.

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