Despite these high fees, over 60 per cent of applications are reportedly denied, forcing desperate applicants to reapply multiple times, each time with fresh payments.
US visa costs Nigerians billions annually
These losses continue to mount, leaving many Nigerians emotionally and financially drained. For US visa applications alone, a conservative estimate of 300 applicants per day paying N299,700 each amounts to N21.5 billion annually.
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Despite the steep cost, many applicants face rejection during interviews, leading to repeated payments without any guarantee of approval.
The trend reflects a vicious cycle that has become a lucrative source of revenue for foreign embassies.
UK, Schengen applications add to financial burden
UK visa applications add another estimated N13.3 billion annually to the total drain, while Schengen countries rake in about N11.6 billion.
These figures exclude priority services and long-term visa applications, where fees run into hundreds of thousands and even millions of naira.
These embassies appear to have discovered a steady stream of income from the wave of Nigerian travellers.
Emotional spending and peer pressure drive demand
Experts say many Nigerians travel not just for valid reasons like business or education, but to show off or keep up with peers. A travel consultant described it as an “ego trip,” driven by social media pressure, village rivalry, and class competition. “Our people often travel just because a neighbour did—it’s about validation and status,” he said.
Not all travellers are frivolous spenders
Despite the trend, there are still many genuine travellers, including business people, students, and professionals with long-term visas. Travel consultant Mrs. Shalom Asuquo noted that students and serious business travellers form a sizable portion of applicants, especially those heading to the UK, Canada, the US, and China.
She added that additional services like VIP appointments and health insurance also drive up the total cost.
