Travel insurance is required for some visas and not others, and getting this wrong can cost you a trip. For Nigerians, Turkey requires travel health insurance to get a visa, Canada requires it for the Super Visa but not an ordinary visitor visa, and the UK and US do not require it for a visitor visa but strongly recommend it. This guide sets out what each destination actually asks for, so you buy the right cover and nothing you do not need.
| Destination | Required for the visa? | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (visitor) | No, but recommended | Long-stay visas pay the NHS Immigration Health Surcharge instead of private insurance |
| United States (B-1/B-2) | No, but strongly recommended | No federal requirement; US medical costs are extremely high |
| Canada (visitor) | No, but recommended | The Super Visa requires CAD 100,000 medical cover; the working-holiday route requires cover for the whole stay |
| Turkey | Yes | Travel health insurance of at least €30,000 covering the stay and repatriation |
Requirements change and depend on your visa type, so always confirm with the embassy or official visa authority before you travel. To see which policies suit which trips, our ranking of the best travel insurance for Nigerians compares the options.
The UK does not require private travel insurance for a standard visitor visa. Instead, applicants for longer-stay visas such as work or study pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to the NHS much like a UK resident. For a short visit, travel insurance is not mandatory, but it is still strongly advised, to cover emergencies, cancellations and baggage, because the Health Surcharge does not apply to short visitor visas and NHS emergency care is not a substitute for travel cover.
The United States has no federal travel insurance requirement for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. It is, however, one of the most important destinations to insure, because American healthcare is extraordinarily expensive and a single hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Travelling to the US without cover is a serious financial risk, even though no one will ask for a policy at the visa stage.
A standard Canadian visitor visa does not require travel insurance, but two categories are different. The Super Visa, for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, requires private medical insurance of at least CAD 100,000, valid for at least a year from entry and covering healthcare, hospitalisation and repatriation; it must come from an insurer approved to meet Canada's requirements. The working-holiday route (International Experience Canada) requires insurance covering your entire stay. Many basic travel policies leave out repatriation, which makes them non-compliant for these routes, so check the wording carefully.
Turkey requires travel health insurance for a visa, and this matters especially for Nigerians, because Nigerian passport holders cannot use the Turkish e-Visa and must apply for a sticker visa through the Turkish Embassy in Abuja or an authorised visa centre. Your policy must cover your entire stay, with a minimum of €30,000 (or the equivalent) and cover for medical emergencies and repatriation. Buy from a reputable insurer and make sure the certificate clearly shows the coverage dates and amount.
The Schengen area is the strictest of the common destinations: travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, covering all Schengen states for the whole trip and including repatriation, is mandatory for the visa. Turkey's requirement is similar in spirit, while the UK, the US and ordinary Canadian visitor visas leave insurance optional. Our guide on getting travel insurance for your Schengen visa covers that requirement in full.
Start by confirming your destination's current rule with the embassy, then buy cover that meets it and suits your trip. Where insurance is required, make sure the policy states the right medical limit, covers your whole stay and includes repatriation. Where it is only recommended, weigh the cost of a policy against the cost of an emergency; for high-cost destinations like the US, cover is well worth having. Our travel insurance comparison guide explains how to compare plans on the terms that matter.
No, not for a standard visitor visa, though it is strongly recommended. Longer-stay visas pay the Immigration Health Surcharge rather than buying private travel insurance.
No. The US does not require it for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, but given the cost of American healthcare, travelling without cover is a serious risk.
Not for a standard visitor visa. The Super Visa does require it, with at least CAD 100,000 in medical cover including repatriation, and the working-holiday route requires cover for the whole stay.
Yes. Nigerians apply for a sticker visa through the Turkish Embassy and must show travel health insurance of at least €30,000 covering the stay and repatriation.
Compare insurance plans from NAICOM-licensed providers and match the medical limit and repatriation to your destination's rule.
Whether you need travel insurance for your visa depends entirely on where you are going: it is required for Turkey and for Canada's Super Visa, and optional but wise for the UK, the US and ordinary Canadian visits. Confirm the current rule with the embassy, buy cover that genuinely meets it, and never assume a basic policy qualifies, especially where repatriation is required. For travellers heading overseas, our guide to the best travel insurance plans for Nigerians travelling abroad helps you pick the right policy.
Insurance cover, premiums, limits, exclusions, eligibility and claim outcomes depend on current policy wording and individual circumstances. Visa and entry requirements are set by each destination's authorities and can change. Confirm the latest terms with a NAICOM-licensed insurer or authorised provider, and the current visa rules with the relevant embassy, before buying or travelling. This article provides general information and is not personal financial, legal or insurance advice.