Nigeria customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• Spirits: one 1-litre bottle.
• Wine: one 1-litre bottle.
• Tobacco of all kinds: up to 200 g in total (200 cigarettes count as 200 g).
• Perfume: up to 284 ml.
• Unused personal effects and gifts worth up to NGN 50,000 in total. Jewellery, photographic equipment, electronics and other luxury goods are not included in this allowance.
• Personal effects of tourists and temporary visitors, plus one radio, one portable musical instrument and one fishing outfit. These goods must not be sold or exchanged in Nigeria unless duty is paid.
• Clothing, toys, one camera, binoculars, a laptop and similar personal items in reasonable quantities. Declare valuable jewellery in writing on arrival to avoid problems when you take it out again.
Currency
• There is no limit on the amount of local (Nigerian naira, NGN) or foreign currency you may bring in.
• Cash, negotiable instruments (such as traveller's cheques), gold and precious stones worth USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared to Nigeria Customs on arrival. You can fill in the free electronic Currency Declaration Form (E-CDF) at cdf.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng, then show it to a customs officer at the border for validation.
• Not declaring, or making a false declaration, is a criminal offence. The undeclared money can be forfeited and you can be jailed for at least 2 years.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis
• Nigeria's Import Prohibition List bans the import of many goods, including poultry and eggs, pork and beef, refined vegetable oil, tomato paste and sweetened soft drinks in retail packs, some cocoa products, soaps and detergents, and several common medicines. The list is aimed at trade, but food from these groups found in baggage may be seized. Check the full list on the Nigeria Customs website before packing food or medicines.
• Goods that infringe copyright
Restricted
• If you carry goods above your allowances, or any restricted goods, go through the red channel ("Goods to declare") and declare them. The green channel ("Nothing to declare") is only for travelers without such goods.
• Firearms and ammunition are controlled under Nigeria's Firearms Act. Do not bring them without prior authorization from the Nigerian authorities.
• Pets (dogs, cats and pet birds) and other live animals need an import permit from the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services and an international veterinary health certificate. They are inspected on arrival by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
• Plants and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate and an import permit and are inspected by NAQS. Cassava stems and other cassava planting material may not be imported.
• Endangered species of plants and animals, and products made from them, need a CITES permit from the Federal Ministry of Environment.
• You may bring your own car for up to 6 months with a valid carnet de passages or triptyque, plus a bond or cash deposit covering the duty. The bond is cancelled or the deposit refunded when the car leaves Nigeria.
• Goods taken out of Nigeria and brought back unchanged are duty-free if you show a certificate of re-importation (form C.206) or proof that you bought them in Nigeria.
• Spirits: one 1-litre bottle.
• Wine: one 1-litre bottle.
• Tobacco of all kinds: up to 200 g in total (200 cigarettes count as 200 g).
• Perfume: up to 284 ml.
• Unused personal effects and gifts worth up to NGN 50,000 in total. Jewellery, photographic equipment, electronics and other luxury goods are not included in this allowance.
• Personal effects of tourists and temporary visitors, plus one radio, one portable musical instrument and one fishing outfit. These goods must not be sold or exchanged in Nigeria unless duty is paid.
• Clothing, toys, one camera, binoculars, a laptop and similar personal items in reasonable quantities. Declare valuable jewellery in writing on arrival to avoid problems when you take it out again.
Currency
• There is no limit on the amount of local (Nigerian naira, NGN) or foreign currency you may bring in.
• Cash, negotiable instruments (such as traveller's cheques), gold and precious stones worth USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared to Nigeria Customs on arrival. You can fill in the free electronic Currency Declaration Form (E-CDF) at cdf.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng, then show it to a customs officer at the border for validation.
• Not declaring, or making a false declaration, is a criminal offence. The undeclared money can be forfeited and you can be jailed for at least 2 years.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis
• Nigeria's Import Prohibition List bans the import of many goods, including poultry and eggs, pork and beef, refined vegetable oil, tomato paste and sweetened soft drinks in retail packs, some cocoa products, soaps and detergents, and several common medicines. The list is aimed at trade, but food from these groups found in baggage may be seized. Check the full list on the Nigeria Customs website before packing food or medicines.
• Goods that infringe copyright
Restricted
• If you carry goods above your allowances, or any restricted goods, go through the red channel ("Goods to declare") and declare them. The green channel ("Nothing to declare") is only for travelers without such goods.
• Firearms and ammunition are controlled under Nigeria's Firearms Act. Do not bring them without prior authorization from the Nigerian authorities.
• Pets (dogs, cats and pet birds) and other live animals need an import permit from the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services and an international veterinary health certificate. They are inspected on arrival by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
• Plants and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate and an import permit and are inspected by NAQS. Cassava stems and other cassava planting material may not be imported.
• Endangered species of plants and animals, and products made from them, need a CITES permit from the Federal Ministry of Environment.
• You may bring your own car for up to 6 months with a valid carnet de passages or triptyque, plus a bond or cash deposit covering the duty. The bond is cancelled or the deposit refunded when the car leaves Nigeria.
• Goods taken out of Nigeria and brought back unchanged are duty-free if you show a certificate of re-importation (form C.206) or proof that you bought them in Nigeria.