All Travelers Entering Nigeria Must Now Complete a Health Form and Accept 21 Days of Follow-Up

If you are flying into Nigeria this festive season, check the rules before you pack.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says every international traveler must complete the Nigeria Health Declaration Form before boarding, “without exception.” That includes returning Nigerians, foreign visitors, diplomats and airline crew, whatever country they are flying from or through.

What changed

The form has existed since 2023. In September, NCDC said only travelers from countries with Ebola transmission needed to complete it, and everyone else was exempt. Its portal now says the requirement applies to every arrival, after an imported Ebola case was confirmed in Abuja on October 20. NCDC has not said exactly when the change took effect.

How it works

The form is free and takes less than five minutes on the NCDC portal, healthapp.ncdc.gov.ng.

1. Enter your personal and travel details: name, passport, flight number and port of entry.
2. Complete a short health questionnaire on symptoms and vaccination status.
3. Review and submit.
4. You will receive a PDF and a QR code by email. Show it to Port Health officers when you arrive.

Airlines will check that you have completed it at check-in and before boarding. On arrival, Port Health officers will scan your QR code and check your temperature. Each traveler, including children, needs a separate form.

After you land

NCDC says every arriving traveler is placed under 21 days of follow-up. A surveillance team may contact you by phone, SMS or in person to ask about symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, so make sure the phone number and address you give are correct.

NCDC says cooperating with the follow-up team is “required by law.” False or incomplete declarations will be dealt with under the Quarantine Act.

Why 21 days

Ebola can take up to 21 days to show symptoms. Following travelers for that full period helps catch illness early, before it spreads to families and communities.

If you develop symptoms within 21 days of arriving, call the NCDC helpline on 6232 immediately. If the line does not connect, contact your state Ministry of Health or nearest government hospital by phone before going in person.