Last month, the Department of State issued a travel warning for Nigeria. Is is safe to get a Nigerian visa? To answer this question as fully as possible, let’s look at the travel warning in a little bit more detail.

The warning sites crime as the chief danger in Nigeria, citing the kidnappings of foreign nationals, fraud perpetrated by people dressed as government officials, shakedowns and demands from bribery by actual police and government officials, home invasions and other incidents of violent crime against US citizens, and local police who are less than helpful in investigating these crimes.

The travel warning also recommends that you avoid the following areas altogether: “the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers; the Southeastern states of Abia, Edo, and Imo; and the city of Jos in Plateau State.”

However, according to the Lonely Planet, many parts of the country are still relatively safe and if you know where to go, the country can be an attractive destination:

“While a few parts of the country remain problematic, the vast majority is as warm and welcoming to visitors as anywhere in Africa.”

The best advice is to research your intended destination thoroughly before you decide whether or not to go. Learn as much as you can about crime rates and security procedures for the particular part of Nigeria you want to visit, consider your own personal tolerance for risk, and make your decision accordingly.

If you do decide to visit, having all of your documents in order before you go is extremely important. Nigerian visas must be obtained in advance, as they are not available on arrival. If you enter without a visa, you will find it quite difficult to leave, as you have to prove you entered legally before you will be allowed to depart.

To learn more about getting a Nigerian visa, see Nigeria Visa Requirements for Tourists.

RushMyTravelVisa can make the process of getting a Nigerian visa much faster and more convenient. We provide you with clear, easy to understand instructions that make filling out the paperwork a snap, and then we  personally deliver your application to the Nigerian Embassy for the fastest possible processing.

Let us help you apply for your Nigerian visa today!

The grove is said to be sacred to the Yoruba fertility goddess Osun. Adorned with 40 shrines, 2 palaces , sculptures and other sacred artwork, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.  Some of the artwork is by Austrian artist Suzanne Wenger, who converted to the Yoruba faith and worked with local devotees to restore the grove and ensure it remains protected.

Every year in August, the sacred grove is the site of a large festival for devotees of Osun and other Yoruba deities.

To enter Nigeria and visit the grove, you do need to apply for  a Nigerian visa in advance, before you leave the US.  Nigeria will not issue you a visa when you arrive at the airport. Here are the steps you will need to take to get your visa:

• Complete a Nigerian visa application form online. A confirmation page will appear once you have submitted the online form. Print the confirmation page.
• Pay the $112 visa application fee online, and print the confirmation form for the payment.
• Submit a copy of a recent bank statement. The statement should show that you have enough money to support yourself while traveling in Nigeria.
• Submit a copy of your round-trip plane tickets along with a hotel confirmation or letter of invitation.
• If you are staying with a private citizen instead of at a hotel, include a copy of your host’s Nigerian passport.

RushMyTravelVisa can make getting a Nigerian visa easier. We walk you through the application process, step by step, and then submit your application for you to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Nigerian visa today!

]]> http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2010/05/nigerian-visa-requirements-to-visit-osun-osogbo-sacred-grove/feed/ 6 http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2010/02/nigeria-visa-requirements-for-tourists/ http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2010/02/nigeria-visa-requirements-for-tourists/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:32:34 +0000 admin http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/?p=452 The Nigerian tourism industry is still in its infancy.  Development and facilities are quite limited; however, if you don’t mind roughing it, the country is filled with interesting things to see and do.

Nigeria’s most popular tourist destinations are natural parks, including Yankari National Park, Cross River and Old Oyo. These parks feature breathtaking scenery and an amazing variety of animal and plant life, including animals that most of us only encounter in zoos, like elephants and lions.

Tourists also visit Nigeria to see cultural attractions,  like the parades of the Durbar festivals and the shrines and temples of the Yoruba religion.

According to Wikipedia, in 2007 travel and tourism was expected to bring the equivalent of $10 billion into the Nigerian economy, making up about 6% of the GDP.

To visit Nigeria, American citizens must have a Nigerian visa. Here are the steps you will need to take to get one:

• Complete a Nigerian visa application form online, and print the confirmation page that appears after the online form has been submitted.
• Pay the $112 visa application fee online, and print the confirmation form for the payment.
• Submit a copy of a recent bank statement. The statement should show that you have enough money to support yourself in Nigeria.
• Submit a copy of your round-trip plane tickets along with a hotel confirmation or letter of invitation.
• If you are staying with a private citizen instead of at a hotel, you’ll also need to submit a copy of your host’s Nigerian passport.

You must apply for your  Nigerian visa before you leave the US- you can’t get one at the airport.  RushMyTravelVisa can help make the application process for your visa easier and quicker.

We’ll help you research your itinerary to ensure you get all the documents needed for each stage of your trip, including any necessary transit visas. Then, we’ll assist you with the paperwork to make sure everything is in order before we forward your applications to the appropriate embassies or consulates to ensure speedy processing.

Apply for your Nigerian visa today!

The Yankari is also a bird watcher’s dream, with over 350 different types of birds, including storks, vultures and hornbills.

When you get tired of watching the animals, you can soak in the relaxing warm water of one of the park’s hot springs, the largest of which is the Wikki spring.

According to Wikipedia, Yankari National Park has been a national park since 1991, and the area has been a protected game reserve since 1957.   It is Nigeria’s largest tourist attraction, with over 20,000 visitors in 2000.

If you’d like to visit the Yankari, you will need a passport and a Nigerian tourist visa.  Once you get your passport, there are a number of requirements you will need to meet to get a visa:

• Fill out an application form online, and print the summary of the application that appears after you have submitted it.
• Pay the fee of $112 and print the payment confirmation form.
• Submit a copy of a recent bank statement showing you have the funds to support yourself on your trip.
• Submit your round-trip plane ticket.
• Submit a hotel confirmation or letter of invitation.
• If you are staying with a private citizen instead of at a hotel, the person you are staying with must provide a copy of their Nigerian passport.

Getting a Nigerian visa is easier with a private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com.  You’ll work with a trained, professional visa specialist who will research your visa needs to ensure you get the appropriate documents. Plus, you’ll get an easy-to-follow checklist to ensure you don’t miss any steps and avoid mistakes that could hold up your visa application.

Apply for your Nigerian visa today!