The United Kingdom has confirmed that citizens of Nigeria and 114 other countries must obtain a UK visa before travelling for visits or stays lasting less than six months. The requirement appears in the updated Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor, issued by the UK Home Office on July 1, 2026.
Under the revised rules, nationals from the listed countries must secure entry clearance before travelling to the UK, unless they meet specific exemptions allowed under immigration regulations. The policy affects travellers planning short visits, including tourism, business trips, and other temporary stays.
The UK visa requirement also applies to stateless persons and people travelling with documents other than a national passport or, where permitted, a national identity card. However, an exemption applies when such travel documents were issued by the United Kingdom.
The updated guidance also stated that limited exceptions remain available for citizens of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, as outlined in the immigration rules.
Countries affected by the UK visa requirement include Nigeria, Afghanistan, Ghana, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and many others across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The full list contains 115 countries and territories whose citizens must obtain approval before entering the UK.
The UK immigration rules are designed to control entry into the country while setting out who needs permission before travelling. Alongside national requirements, the rules identify specific groups, including stateless travellers and those using non-standard travel documents, who must complete the necessary entry process.
For Nigerian travellers and others affected, understanding the updated UK visa requirement is essential before making travel arrangements to avoid delays or refused entry.
Full List below:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- People’s Republic of China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Republic of the Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- North Korea
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Russia
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- St Lucia
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan*
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
How do you think these updated travel requirements will affect international movement between the UK and affected countries?
