The Yellow Fever Certificate — the One You Cannot Skip

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Start here, because this is the requirement that catches Nigerian travellers out most often. India classifies Nigeria as a yellow fever country, and under International Health Regulations every traveller aged 9 months or older arriving from Nigeria must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. This applies to the patient and to every family member travelling with them.

Two points on timing matter. First, the certificate only becomes valid 10 days after the vaccination, so you must be vaccinated at least 10 days before you fly. Second, a yellow fever certificate is valid for life — so if you were vaccinated before and still have the certificate, you are covered.

In Nigeria, the yellow fever vaccine is available through Port Health Services and designated centres, with the certificate registered on the national Yellow Card system. It is a single injection. Getting vaccinated early — well before you apply for the visa — keeps everything moving smoothly.

Polio Vaccination — the Second Thing to Check

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This is the detail that sets Nigeria apart from some other countries, and it is worth checking carefully. Alongside yellow fever, India has at times required travellers arriving from polio-affected countries to show proof of polio vaccination, and Nigeria has appeared on that list. The requirement is not always in force — Nigeria was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020 — but because the position can change, you should confirm whether it currently applies before you travel.

The e-Medical Visa for Nigerian Patients

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Nigeria is on India's list of countries eligible for the electronic visa, so as a Nigerian patient you can apply online for the e-Medical Visa without visiting a mission in person. It is valid for 60 days from arrival with triple entry, which comfortably covers most neurosurgery and the early follow-up, and is usually processed within 24 to 72 hours.

As with all patients, the visa cannot be granted until your hospital in India has issued a Visa Invitation Letter, and you should never travel for surgery on a tourist visa. The full mechanics of the e-Medical Visa — validity, the attendant visa, the new e-Arrival Card and more — are set out in the main guide to the Indian medical visa for neurosurgery. This page focuses on what is specific to travelling from Nigeria.

Step by Step, from Nigeria

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1. Sort your vaccinations early. Get your yellow fever vaccination (at least 10 days before travel) and check whether polio vaccination is currently required. Keep both certificates safe with your passport.
2. Have your case reviewed and get the hospital invitation letter. Send your scans and reports to the hospital or coordinator. Once the surgeon confirms the treatment, the hospital issues the Visa Invitation Letter naming you and any attendants.
3. Apply online for the e-Medical Visa. Apply at the official Government of India portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, from 120 days up to a minimum of 4 days before arrival. Upload your passport, photograph and the invitation letter, and pay online.
4. Receive your approval and complete the e-Arrival Card. The approval usually arrives by email within 24 to 72 hours. Fill in the online e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours before your flight.
5. Travel from Nigeria. Carry your printed visa approval, passport, yellow fever certificate, polio certificate if required, and hospital letter, and present them on arrival in India.

Documents and Fees

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For a Nigerian patient, the checklist is the standard medical visa set plus the health certificates:

• A Nigerian passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival, with two blank pages.
• A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate for the patient and each attendant.
• Proof of polio vaccination if it is required at the time of travel — check the current rules.
• A recent passport-style photograph on a plain background.
• A scan of the passport bio-data page.
• The hospital Visa Invitation Letter, naming the patient, the treatment, the dates and any attendants.

The e-Medical Visa fee is paid online during the application and varies by nationality and season; confirm the current amount on the official portal before you pay. The visa fee is a small part of the overall trip, and far smaller than the saving on the surgery — a brain or spine operation in India typically costs a fraction of private treatment elsewhere.

Flights from Lagos and Abuja

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There are no direct flights between Nigeria and India, so you will travel with one connection. From Lagos (Murtala Muhammed International) or Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International), the common routes go through a single hub — Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines, Dubai with Emirates, Doha with Qatar Airways, or Istanbul with Turkish Airlines — onward to Delhi, where most of the leading neuro hospitals are based. Total journey time is usually around twelve to sixteen hours including the layover.

A practical tip: keep your yellow fever certificate, and your polio certificate if you have one, with your passport throughout the journey rather than packed away, since they may be checked at connection points as well as on arrival in India.

Once you arrive, the Delhi-NCR hospitals are well set up for international patients, with airport pickup, accommodation near the hospital, and coordinators who handle the practical side. If you are coming for a back or neck problem — one of the most common reasons patients travel from Nigeria — the details of cost, recovery and fly-home timing are in the guide on spine surgery cost in India for international patients.

Family, Urgent Cases and the Indian Missions

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Up to two family members can travel with you from Nigeria on an e-Medical Attendant Visa, applied for online using the same hospital invitation letter. Remember that each attendant also needs a valid yellow fever certificate, and the polio requirement, if in force, applies to them too. For most patients one companion is enough, but the option of two is there for surgery that needs more support.

India maintains a High Commission in Abuja and a Deputy High Commission in Lagos, which handle visa matters for Nigerian nationals, including expedited processing for urgent medical cases with a hospital support letter. Most patients apply online for the e-Medical Visa, but the missions are the point of contact for paper visas and urgent cases. If your case is time-critical, flag the urgency at the very start so the hospital prioritises your invitation letter — the documentation, not the visa itself, is usually what takes the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do Nigerians need a visa for medical treatment in India?

Yes. Nigerian patients need an Indian e-Medical Visa, applied for online once the hospital issues a Visa Invitation Letter. Nigeria is on India's e-Visa eligible list, so you can apply online without visiting a mission. You should never travel for surgery on a tourist visa.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate to travel from Nigeria to India?

Yes — it is mandatory. India classifies Nigeria as a yellow fever country, so every traveller aged 9 months or older arriving from Nigeria must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so get vaccinated at least 10 days before you fly. A yellow fever certificate is valid for life.

Do I need a polio vaccination to travel from Nigeria to India?

Possibly — it depends on the rules in force. India has at times required travellers from polio-affected countries, including Nigeria, to show proof of polio vaccination. The requirement is not always active, and Nigeria was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, but because the position can change you should confirm the current requirement on India's Ministry of Health guidance and with the Indian mission before you travel.

How long does the Indian medical visa take for Nigerian patients?

The e-Medical Visa is usually processed within 24 to 72 hours once you apply online with a valid hospital invitation letter. You can apply from 120 days up to a minimum of 4 days before arrival, so applying early leaves room to fix any query.

How do I travel from Lagos or Abuja to India for surgery?

There are no direct flights, so you travel with one connection from Lagos or Abuja — commonly through Addis Ababa, Dubai, Doha or Istanbul — onward to Delhi. Total journey time is usually around twelve to sixteen hours including the layover. Keep your yellow fever certificate, and polio certificate if you have one, with your passport throughout.

Can my family travel with me from Nigeria?

Yes. Up to two family members can travel with you on an e-Medical Attendant Visa, applied for online using the same hospital invitation letter. Each attendant also needs a valid yellow fever certificate, and the polio requirement, if in force, applies to them too. Their visa is linked to your medical visa and carries the same validity.

How much does the Indian medical visa cost from Nigeria?

The e-Medical Visa fee is paid online during the application and varies by nationality and season, so confirm the current amount on the official Government of India portal before you pay. The fee is a small part of the overall trip, and far less than the saving on the surgery compared with private treatment elsewhere.

Where are the Indian missions in Nigeria?

India maintains a High Commission in Abuja and a Deputy High Commission in Lagos, which handle visa matters for Nigerian nationals, including expedited processing for urgent medical cases with a hospital support letter. Most patients apply online for the e-Medical Visa, but the missions are the point of contact for paper visas and urgent cases.