{
  "id": 17163136,
  "title": "IATA: Rejection Rate of Nigerian Visa Application Highest among African Travellers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/iata-rejection-rate-of-nigerian-visa-application-highest-among",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T01:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/30/iata-rejection-rate-of-nigerian-visa-application-highest-among-african-travellers/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that Nigerian travellers experience the highest rejection rates when applying for visas to countries around the world, with over 40 per cent of applications being rejected. African travellers are found to be the most likely to be discouraged from visiting destinations due to immigration requirements. The main concerns for those deterred by entry requirements are complexity and cost, while digital travel solutions are of the strongest interest among all regions. The UK visa rejection rate for Nigerian applicants stands at 33.1 per cent historically, more than double the global average refusal rate of 14.8 per cent. In 2024, the UK rejected about 77,706 Nigerian applications at a 33.5 per cent refusal rate, and in 2025, 77,571 applications were refused at a 33.1 per cent refusal rate. The US Department of State reports a 57 per cent rejection rate for Nigeria's B1/B2 (business and tourism) visitor visa applicants in 2025, up from 46.51 per cent in 2024. The Schengen visa rejection rate for Nigerian applicants is 45.9 per cent, with Belgium having the highest rejection rate at 62.32 per cent and Switzerland having the most favorable approval rate at 79.40 per cent. Nigerian applicants are 8 times more likely to be refused a Schengen visa than Asian applicants, with common reasons for rejection including insufficient financial proof, applying at the wrong embassy, weak ties to Nigeria, and submitting to a generic agent who uses the same template cover letter. Visa denials can cost applicants a non-refundable €90 (approximately ₦160,000+), with African applicants losing about €316 million globally due to rejection.",
  "summary": "Chinedu Eze A report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that African travellers face so much barriers in international travel, with records indicating that Nigerians face the",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}