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Travellers entering Nigeria from countries with Ebola virus disease transmission must complete an online Nigeria Health Declaration Form before they travel and may face thermal screening and a travel history check on arrival, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says in its Nigeria entry requirements, updated on 28 September 2026. The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has since clarified that the form applies to travellers arriving from Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, and includes a mandatory 21-day health monitoring period after arrival, TVC News reports. Passengers arriving from all other countries are currently exempt.
- Who: travellers arriving in Nigeria from countries with Ebola transmission.
- Countries named: Burundi, Central African Republic, DR Congo and South Sudan.
- Before travel: complete the online Nigeria Health Declaration Form.
- On arrival: possible thermal screening and travel history check; 21-day health monitoring.
- Everyone else: exempt from the form for now, NCDC says.
Nigeria Health Declaration Form Rules
The NCDC set out the approach in an interim public health advisory dated 22 September 2026 and signed by its director general, Dr Jide Idris, Leadership reports. It says travellers from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission may be required to complete the Health Declaration Form as part of enhanced public health surveillance and follow-up, and that passengers arriving from countries without active or relevant transmission are exempt for now.
The agency said the measure followed a dynamic risk assessment and consultations with public health experts and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The form asks for travel, health and contact information through the NCDC’s online declaration system, TVC News reports.
Which Travellers Are Affected
The NCDC’s clarification on 25 September names four countries: Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. If you have been in any of them before flying to Nigeria, expect to fill in the form before departure and to be contacted for monitoring during the 21 days after you arrive. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has passed the updated requirements to airlines and other aviation service providers.
Travellers coming from the UK, the US, Europe and most other countries do not need the form at present. The NCDC says the measures will be reviewed as the epidemiological situation changes, so check the latest guidance shortly before you travel.
Screening at Nigerian Airports
The FCDO says travellers from affected countries may be required to undergo thermal screening and a travel history check on arrival. The NCDC advisory was copied to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Port Health Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, as well as state ministries of health, the World Health Organization and Africa CDC. Nigeria remains on high alert and preparatory activities are ongoing, the agency says.
The NCDC urges the public to watch for symptoms consistent with Ebola and to seek medical attention promptly, reporting any relevant travel or exposure history. Other countries in the region have also set Ebola measures; see our report on Rwanda’s entry ban for travellers from DR Congo.
Planning a Trip to Nigeria
Before you fly, check whether any part of your trip in the previous weeks included Burundi, the Central African Republic, DR Congo or South Sudan. If so, complete the NCDC declaration form before departure, keep your contact details accurate for follow-up, and allow extra time at the airport for screening. Nigeria also requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, the FCDO notes, so carry your certificate. If you develop symptoms after travel, seek medical care and tell staff where you have been.
| If you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| Arriving from Burundi, CAR, DR Congo or South Sudan | Complete the Nigeria Health Declaration Form before travel and expect 21-day monitoring. |
| Connecting through those countries | Check NCDC guidance and your airline on whether the form applies. |
| Arriving from the UK, US or Europe | No form needed for now; check guidance before departure. |
| Unwell after travel | Seek medical care promptly and share your travel history. |
Targeted form. Only travellers from Ebola-affected countries need to declare.
Airport checks. Thermal screening and travel history checks are possible on arrival.
Rules may change. NCDC will review measures as the outbreak evolves.
Do I need a health declaration form to enter Nigeria?
Only if you are arriving from a country with Ebola transmission. The NCDC names Burundi, the Central African Republic, DR Congo and South Sudan; other passengers are currently exempt.
Is there Ebola screening at Nigerian airports?
Travellers from affected countries may undergo thermal screening and a travel history check on arrival, according to the FCDO.
How long is Ebola monitoring after arriving in Nigeria?
The form includes a mandatory 21-day post-arrival health monitoring requirement, TVC News reports.
