Official System: Nigeria Digital Landing & Exit Card (LeCard)
2026 Quick Answer
All foreign nationals entering or departing Nigeria across Air, Land, and Sea borders (across all 4 passport categories: ECOWAS Member Countries, Visa Free / Exemption Countries, Development Organisation, and Other Nationalities), as well as dual-citizen Nigerians travelling into or out of Nigeria on a foreign passport. Travelers must submit the Nigeria Digital Landing & Exit Card (LeCard) (Within 72 hours (3 days) before arrival or departure). This digital declaration replaces: Paper Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Landing & Exit Disembarkation Cards.
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in Nigeria so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 3-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| Within 72 hours (3 days) before arrival or departure | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your Nigeria Digital Landing & Exit Card (LeCard) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your LeCard confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / Nigeria arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify LeCard completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Mandatory paired entry and exit system effective May 1, 2025: every approved Landing Card (13-character ID 'NGL' + YYMMDD + 4 digits) requires a corresponding Exit Card ('NGE' + YYMMDD + 4 digits) upon departure. A traveller cannot submit a new Landing Card for a subsequent visit until the previous trip's Exit Card has been completed.
Compliance tip: Must be completed within 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival in Nigeria (Landing Card) and prior to departure (Exit Card). The Date of Arrival datepicker strictly unlocks a 4-date clickable window: Today (D), Tomorrow (D+1), D+2, and D+3.
Compliance tip: Requires individual Traveller Account registration on lecard.immigration.gov.ng using full names exactly as they appear on the passport; First Name, Last Name, and Email Address are prefilled and locked (read-only) on the card application form. Every traveller must apply from their own individual account.
Compliance tip: Submitted Landing and Exit Cards are immutable and cannot be edited in-place; if flight numbers, travel dates, or passport details change before travel, the traveller must submit a new Landing or Exit Card application.
Eligible Passports: Airline check-in agents and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officers scan the 13-character Landing ID (NGL...) or Exit ID (NGE...) QR code, which resolves to the official NIS public verification portal.
How Airport Clearance Works: Airline check-in agents and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officers scan the 13-character Landing ID (NGL...) or Exit ID (NGE...) QR code, which resolves to the official NIS public verification portal.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOS | Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS — Lagos) | Air | Primary designated international airport in Lagos. |
| ABV | Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV — Abuja) | Air | Designated international airport in Abuja (FCT). |
| KAN | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN — Kano) | Air | Designated international airport in Kano. |
| PHC | Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC — Port Harcourt) | Air | Designated international airport in Rivers State. |
| ENU | Akanu Ibiam International Airport (ENU — Enugu) | Air | Designated international airport in Enugu State. |
| NG-6 | Nigeria Designated International Land Border Posts | Land | Supported under Mode of Travel = Land for both Landing and Exit Cards. |
| NG-7 | Nigeria Designated International Seaports | Sea | Supported under Mode of Travel = Sea for both Landing and Exit Cards. |
Create and verify your LeCard traveller account using your exact passport name, then select Landing Card or Exit Card and choose your passport category (ECOWAS, Visa Free, Development Organisation, or Other Nationalities).
Enter your passport issuance and expiry dates, Nigerian passport number (if dual citizen), and Visa Details (Visa Number, Class, and Type if applying under Other Nationalities).
Fill in your residential details, address in Nigeria, occupation, arrival/departure date (within 72 hours of travel), port of entry/exit, flight number, and purpose of visit.
Review all fields on Step 2 (Detail Preview) and submit to receive your 13-character Landing ID (NGL...) or Exit ID (NGE...) with a scannable QR code by email and on your dashboard.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Africa & Indian Ocean):
Mandatory paired entry and exit system effective May 1, 2025: every approved Landing Card (13-character ID 'NGL' + YYMMDD + 4 digits) requires a corresponding Exit Card ('NGE' + YYMMDD + 4 digits) upon departure. A traveller cannot submit a new Landing Card for a subsequent visit until the previous trip's Exit Card has been completed. Must be completed within 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival in Nigeria (Landing Card) and prior to departure (Exit Card). The Date of Arrival datepicker strictly unlocks a 4-date clickable window: Today (D), Tomorrow (D+1), D+2, and D+3. Requires individual Traveller Account registration on lecard.immigration.gov.ng using full names exactly as they appear on the passport; First Name, Last Name, and Email Address are prefilled and locked (read-only) on the card application form. Every traveller must apply from their own individual account. Submitted Landing and Exit Cards are immutable and cannot be edited in-place; if flight numbers, travel dates, or passport details change before travel, the traveller must submit a new Landing or Exit Card application. Automated Overstay Enforcement: During Exit Card creation, the system compares the departure date against the approved visa/entry stay duration. If an overstay is detected, an Overstay Penalty Invoice is automatically generated at USD $15 per day (overstaying 6+ months incurs a 5-year entry ban; overstaying 1+ year incurs a 10-year ban). Passport Category Branching: 'Other Nationalities' (OTHERS) requires the full VISA DETAILS section (Visa Number, Visa Issued Date, Visa Class, and cascading Visa Type); 'Development Organisation' requires selecting from 4 accredited bodies (UN, AU, AfDB, ECOWAS Commission); 'ECOWAS' restricts Nationality to the 14 non-Nigerian ECOWAS states.
Yes. Both the Landing Card (entry) and Exit Card (departure) on the official Nigeria Immigration Service portal (lecard.immigration.gov.ng) are completely free of charge (NGN 0 / USD 0). However, if you overstay your visa or entry permit, an overstay penalty of USD $15 per day is automatically invoiced when you create your Exit Card.
Since May 1, 2025, all foreign nationals entering or departing Nigeria by Air, Land, or Sea (including ECOWAS nationals, Visa-Free nationals, Development Organisation officials, and visa/residence permit holders) must complete a Landing Card before arrival and an Exit Card before departure. Dual-citizen Nigerians travelling on a foreign passport must also complete both cards.
No. Nigerian citizens travelling with a Nigerian passport (valid or expired) are completely exempt from both the Landing Card and Exit Card. Nigerians arriving on an expired Nigerian passport undergo citizenship verification on arrival and must renew their passport or obtain an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) before departing.
Both the Landing Card and the Exit Card must be completed within 72 hours (3 days) prior to your arrival in or departure from Nigeria. On the application form, the Date of Arrival calendar strictly enables Today (D), Tomorrow (D+1), D+2, and D+3.
Every approved Landing Card must be paired with a corresponding Exit Card upon departure. The LeCard system blocks travellers from creating a new Landing Card until the previous trip's Exit Card has been completed.
No. Each adult traveller must register their own individual account on lecard.immigration.gov.ng (since First Name, Last Name, and Email are locked to the account holder's passport profile) and submit their own card. A dedicated Minors tab is available on the dashboard for minor dependants.
No. Once submitted, information on a Landing or Exit Card cannot be edited. If your flight number, arrival/departure date, or passport details change, or if you made a mistake, you must submit a new Landing or Exit Card application.
No. Accounts created on the Nigeria Visa platform are separate; you must register a dedicated account on https://lecard.immigration.gov.ng/register-page to apply for your Landing and Exit Cards.