A Lagos to India flight visa logistics medical trip goes wrong when the steps happen in the wrong order. The safe sequence is hospital invitation first, visa second, flight last.
This guide is for Nigerian patients and families planning treatment in India. Every requirement below comes from official Indian government sources, linked at the end of the article.
Table of Contents
Lagos to India Medical Visa: Apply in Person, No e-Visa
The High Commission of India in Abuja states that there is no e-Visa facility for Nigerian nationals. Any guide that tells Nigerian patients to use the e-Medical Visa contradicts the mission’s own published instructions.
Instead, you complete the form online and then submit your application in person, with physical documents, at the High Commission in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos.
The mission also advises applicants not to confirm bookings or travel arrangements until a visa decision has been made. It accepts no responsibility for losses on bookings made in advance.
Processing times are set at the mission’s discretion and are not published as a fixed number of days. Plan your treatment dates around that uncertainty.
Documents for the Indian Medical Visa
The High Commission’s medical visa page lists the following. The consular officer can ask for more at the interview.
- Original passport valid for at least six months (or the requested visa validity, if longer), plus a photocopy of the data page.
- Two photographs, 50 mm x 50 mm, with a light background.
- The online application form, printed and signed. Use your own contact details and email address.
- A typed referral letter from a reputable Nigerian hospital, on letterhead, stamped and signed. It must state your illness and why you are being referred to an Indian hospital.
- A typed invitation letter from the Indian hospital, on letterhead, stamped and signed. It must state the treatment and its start and end dates, include attendant details, and carry the hospital’s undertaking to be responsible for you and your attendants until departure.
- A certified bank statement for the last three months, or a bank guarantee letter. If someone sponsors you, add their affidavit and ID copy.
- Copies of your Nigerian treatment records, including CT, MRI or X-ray reports. Bring originals for verification.
- For follow-up treatment: earlier Indian medical papers and the discharge summary.
- For transplant patients: the donor and patient compatibility report.
The Indian hospital must also email the invitation letter to the mission. For Lagos applications, the published addresses are visa.lagos@mea.gov.in and cons.lagos@mea.gov.in. Attach a printout of the invitation and the email page to your form.
Some Indian missions abroad also state that hospitals must pre-validate invitation letters on the government’s Medical and Ayush Visa Portal. Ask your hospital whether it is registered, and confirm the current rule with CGI Lagos.
Yellow Fever and Polio Certificates
The High Commission states that yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for all travellers to India except infants under six months.
Nigerian travellers must also carry a valid polio certificate. It must show at least one dose of bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The dose must be given within the previous 12 months and at least four weeks before arrival.
That four-week rule is the one people miss. Check your certificates early, because a late vaccination cannot be fixed at the airport.
Indian Medical Visa Fee from Lagos
The Consulate General of India in Lagos publishes a fee schedule listing a visa for a Nigerian national at USD 250, plus a USD 3 Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) charge. The consulate sets the Naira amounts.
The High Commission says fees are paid at the Sterling Bank counter on the mission premises, and are non-refundable even if the visa is refused.
Published figures on official mission pages have differed over time, including USD 252 on the medical visa page and USD 585 on an instruction page. Confirm the current amount at the consulate before you budget.
Lagos to India Flights: What to Expect
Flight-search sites list no nonstop flights from Lagos to Delhi. Expect at least one connection.
Commonly listed one-stop options include Emirates via Dubai, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Qatar Airways via Doha. Lagos to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai are also listed with connecting flights.
Journey times vary widely. Listings show the same route taking roughly 12 hours on one date and well over 30 hours on another, depending on the layover. Compare total travel time, not just the airline.
Practical tips (our advice, not a regulation):
- Choose a layover long enough to connect calmly, especially if you have limited mobility.
- Keep your medical records, invitation letter and medication in your cabin bag.
- Pick the arrival city that is closest to your treating hospital.
- Check fares and schedules on the airline’s own site for your dates, because prices change daily.
Lagos to India Flight Visa Logistics Medical Trip: 7-Step Plan
- Get your referral letter. Ask your Nigerian doctor for the referral letter and copies of your scans and reports.
- Choose the Indian hospital and request the invitation letter. Make sure it names you and any attendants and gives treatment dates.
- Sort your vaccination certificates. Confirm yellow fever and polio, including the four-week polio timing.
- Complete the online form. Use the Indian Visa Online portal and select the Lagos mission. Print the form and book an appointment where required.
- Submit in person at CGI Lagos. Bring originals and copies, and pay the fee at the bank counter.
- Book flights only after the visa decision. This follows the mission’s own advice.
- Travel with a document folder. Carry the passport, visa, invitation letter, medical records, vaccination certificates and proof of funds.
Medical Attendants and Registration After Arrival
The invitation letter must include attendant details. Indian mission guidance states that a maximum of two attendants may accompany a patient. Ask CGI Lagos how attendant visas should be filed in your case.
If your visa is valid for more than six months, the High Commission says you must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival. Your hospital’s international patient desk can usually guide you through this.
If you want help coordinating the hospital side, MedicHorizon arranges medical travel for international patients. For other nationalities, see our India medical visa guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct flight from Lagos to India?
Flight-search sites list no nonstop flights from Lagos to Delhi. All listed itineraries involve at least one stop.
Can Nigerians apply for the India e-Medical Visa?
No. The High Commission of India in Abuja states there is no e-Visa facility for Nigerian nationals. Applications are submitted in person at Abuja or Lagos.
How long does the Indian medical visa take for Nigerians?
No fixed processing time is published. The mission says times vary and advises confirming travel plans only after the visa is granted.
Official Sources
- High Commission of India, Abuja: Medical Visa requirements
- High Commission of India, Abuja: Visa instructions, fees and vaccination requirements
- Consulate General of India, Lagos: Consular fee schedule
- Consulate General of India, Lagos: Visa services and online application
- Indian Visa Online: Regular visa application
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Vaccination requirements
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Flight details are drawn from public flight-search listings and change frequently.
Last reviewed: 23 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm final details with the Consulate General of India in Lagos before you pay or book anything.