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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
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Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



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  #1  
Old 16 Mar 2009
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Does Nigeria asks LOI?

Hello all!

I am planning a trip down the westcoast of Africa to Capetown, leaving september. I already collected a lot of information, from the HUBB and other bulletinboards. Now and then I found a message informing that Nigeria asks a Letter of Invitation (LOI). Is that right? I am familiar with LOI's because I travelled in Russia and Central Asia. For those countries I could buy a LOI easily from the internet but I couldn't find a site offering LOI for Nigeria. If Nigeria asks for a LOI, were can I buy one?

Thanks for your information,

Mart Heijnens


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  #2  
Old 16 Mar 2009
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In 2006 I received visa in Cotonou, Benin without LOI. Then the cost was 30000 CFA, embassy was open for applications tuesday and thursday 10-12 o'clock.

Embassy location: N6°21.012', E2°23.965'

Last edited by Rebaseonu; 25 Mar 2009 at 09:34. Reason: Added location
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  #3  
Old 16 Mar 2009
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LOI is required, as far as I know.

Hi,
I was in Nigeria in 2002. Back then I needed a letter of invitation in order to apply for a visa. I did, however, have a friend working for a government agency in Lagos who was able to provide a letter of invitation for me. I'm afraid I don't know any online service where such a letter can be bought.
Regards,
Ken.
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  #4  
Old 17 Mar 2009
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In 2005 I was asked for a LOI at the embassies/consulates in Ouaga and Accra, in 2007 at the London Embassy. I made a letter from a fictitious friend using internet info - it worked.

Dave
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  #5  
Old 18 Mar 2009
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We secured Nigerian visas in Lome, Togo, in December 2008. No LOI was required.

However -- they did demand we write our own brief letters explaining our "mission" (as they call it) and why we had not secured Nigerian visas in our home countries.

And they demanded letters from our respective consulates that would basically vouch we were basic tourists. My German friend secured such a letter from the German consulate. I asked for same at the American embassy, but the embassy said no, against policy, blah blah.

Back at the Nigerian consulate, it took more than an hour of cajoling and explaining why the American embassy wouldn't issue a letter ... finally my visa was approved, pleasantly enough. Hope this helps ~~

Mark
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  #6  
Old 18 Mar 2009
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Thanks a lot!

Maybe your ambassador says NO, because you RIDE too FAR away from "home".

Greetings
Ferdi
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  #7  
Old 24 Mar 2009
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Nigeria visa

We applied just before Christmas in Accra, no Letter of Invitation required, takes 24 hours.
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  #8  
Old 24 Mar 2009
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Applied in Accra yesterday, no LOI. A word or warning, you need photocopies of everything and they wont do them for you. All car papers, including front page and ghana page of carnet, passports, international driving licenses, vaccination certificates, medical insurance. 48 hour issue and cost $130 each so a little pricy!

And I wish I'd had these:
Nigerian Embassy coordinates - N5.60693 W0.20005
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  #9  
Old 25 Mar 2009
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Inflation?

Geeez, we paid $78 each just before Christmas

Here is the list of copies you will need:
1. Front page of Carnet
2. Ghana stamped page in Carnet
3. Registration Certificate
4. Passport photo page
5. Passport Ghana entry stamp
6. Passport Ghana visa
7. Medical Insurance
8. Carte Brune
9. 2 Passport pics

Hope it helps
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  #10  
Old 25 Mar 2009
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I remember asking for visa in Accra and was told to "apply in last country before Nigeria".
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  #11  
Old 25 Mar 2009
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Thanks all for the information. I understand I can overcome this LOI-bubble. Would your nationality make any difference? I mean, do some nationalities have to produce a LOI while others just may pass?

Good travels, Mart Heijnens

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  #12  
Old 27 Mar 2009
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Location Nigerian High Comm, Accra

Will. sorry you had difficulty finding Nigerian High Comm. From your co-ords it seems to have moved in past few years - it was once on Josef Broz Tito Avenue, now you seem to place it approx 0.5km off Achimota Road, at about 2.8km NW of '37' (Military Hospital) Interchange (and at about 200m before Achimota Rd crosses railway level-crossing).

Can you confirm this, so I may suggest to Bradts and Lonely Planet to update their guidebooks. Thanks, Peter
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  #13  
Old 27 Mar 2009
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The Embassy had certainly moved from the coordinates we'd found online. I'll double check those coordinates I submitted to make sure they're correct, don't have them on me at the mo. But yes, I'm guessing it's moved. Was it close to / next to the Zimbabwe embassy previously? As that's where we ended up with the coordinates we had.
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  #14  
Old 4 Apr 2009
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No LOI !!!

Hi!
We drove this year from Europe to South Africa via the west coast. (we are just back home since 3 weeks) On our way we met a couple who lived in Nigeria for 11 years. They told us that we have to know that the rules about the LOI changed about a year ago. The LOI is officially not neccesary anymore. We applied in Accra and indeed we didn't need an invitation.
Good luck!
Anne
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  #15  
Old 5 Apr 2009
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International Drivers License

Is this required for Nigeria, I mean do they check it in Nigeria.
Sry just thought this fits in here. Thanks for all other info submitted here.
Manfred, in Accra
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