I'm checking flights from ACC to JNB and it seems it may be best to transit LOS. Can travelers on US passports do this transit without a visa?

According to a colleague who does this frequently no visa is required for next transfer at LOS, however, he pointed out he does always travel with his friend Andrew Jackson....

Well put. ^

Andrew's influence at Lagos is waning. Might be better to affiliate himself with Benjamin Franklin in the future.

No visa needed. Airside has nothing to do for beyond an hour or two though. Landside has even less to do.

PS. Drop me a note if you're visiting ACC and want to catch up.

In my past experiences, I've always had a business visa to transit through with. Basically if you get off the airplane at LOS, you WILL be going through customs. LOS does not have any way to corral people back upstairs and into any sort of intl waiting area. Yellow Fever card must be in your hand exiting the jetway as well.

Ottawa Website Says:
http://www.nigeriahcottawa.com/visit...sit-vbt-9.html

New York Website Says:
http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ind...a-requirements

They do make note of a transit visa is this embassy webpage for Canada, but no where on the US site do they talk about it. I'm a US citizen living and working in Canada, travelling on a US Passport, so all my filings go through Ottawa as a foreign citizen.

If you don't get off the plane and have a contiguous itin, I wouldn't worry. If you getting off the plane, I'd be sure to maybe call your local consular office and find out for sure. Because once you're in front of those guys, they got ya by the short and hairy's.

Accra is a good example on UA IAD-LOS. The stopover in ACC, they make you get off the plane, corral you right back into a waiting area, and you never have to deal with a customs officer. They put you back on the plane and it's like you never landed in country.

ironmanjt knows his stuff though...

...just my two cents ;-)

I was idly reading this thread as I am heading to Nigeria for the first time in about 10 days. I do have a visa already, for which I had to provide my yellow fever certificate--do I need to bring the yellow fever certificate with me also? Or is the visa enough?

I've never actually had to present my yellow fever certificate to anyone except the Nigerians!

You should ALWAYS bring your yellow fever cert on your travels. Even if you don't think you need it, sometimes a crazy immigration agent might demand it. Or your flight might get re-routed to an airport that requires it.

Well, I'm not sure I would agree with that--in 25 years of traveling in 60+ countries, I have never once been asked for it during a trip--but is it in fact a requirement for entry into Nigeria?

I have been only traveling heavily for 15 years or so to 80+ countries, and it has only happened to me three times. But I'm sure glad I had my cert on those occasions.

1. NBO to JNB
2. NBO to BOM
3. KGL to EBB

On each of those routes, it was a variable request. Sometimes they will ask, sometimes they won't. But if they ask and you don't have it, you have to sit around and wait for a doctor, sometimes for many hours, and pay for a shot. I sure wouldn't want some government doctor in Nigeria poking a needle in me.

Yes, it is a requirement. And I have been asked on a number of occasions.

Thanks--I will bring it then.

stimpy, my Africa travel has been mostly in the far south (SA, Zimbabwe, Botswana) and far north (Egypt, Morocco) so I guess that is why I have missed this particular thrill. I'll remember it for the future. This trip is taking me to ACC and LOS, my first foray into the middle of the continent.

Never been asked in 40+ trips to Nigeria.

Almost always asked on return to India when they see my (Indian) passport was issued in Accra.

Asked frequently in South Africa on arrival from Lagos or Accra.

Asked once in Egypt by immigration on departure from Cairo to Accra. Never understood that one.

In a pinch, folding a piece of yellow paper or gently taking out the inner page of a friend's yellow fever book enough to wave it at an official can work Has twice for a friend.

Ha! Well, I do have my book and it is already ensconced in my passport case, so I should be OK. Thanks everybody!

In LOS they frequently place 2-3 persons at the top of the escalators which take you down to the screwed-up immigration desks, to check your Vaccination Card. I lived there for years and was only asked for it a couple times at the border crossing at Seme. I returned to LOS less than a year after leaving and they had started this new routine.

With regards to transit, you don't even need any Andrew or Ben to help you along as long as you are patient.