Every December, many Nigerians and members of the diaspora travel home or across Africa for the holidays. Flights get booked early. Two things usually don’t: the visa and the data. Both can quietly ruin a trip, and both are easier to sort before you fly.
Start with the visa, because it’s the slow part
What you need depends on your passport and where you’re going, and the rules change. Faylo’s free visa checker lets you pick your passport and an African destination. It shows whether you need nothing, a visa on arrival, an eTA, an e-visa or an embassy visa, with the official site to confirm.
If you do need to apply, the Visa Pack ($3 to $9, depending on the route) turns it into a checklist: an apply-by date based on your travel dates, the documents to gather, the steps, and a check of your passport’s validity against your trip. We don’t apply for you, and we don’t store your passport number. Always confirm the final requirements on the official government site.
Then sort your data
An eSIM is a SIM that lives in your phone. You buy a plan online, install it at home on Wi-Fi, and it starts working when you land. The plan only starts counting when it first connects, so installing early is safe. Faylo eSIMs are data only, so there’s no new number, and WhatsApp calls work over data.
First, check that your phone supports eSIM: dial *#06# and look for a long EID number. If it’s there, you’re set. If not, you’ll need a local SIM.
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Choosing a plan matters. Our Nigeria-only plans run on Glo only, and Glo coverage varies by area. A 1 GB plan for 7 days costs $5.99. If you’d rather have MTN or Airtel, or you’re visiting several countries, our 29-country Africa plan covers both and 28 other countries. Plans start at $2.99.
The order that works
- Check your visa now.
- Apply early if you need to.
- Confirm your phone supports eSIM.
- Install your eSIM at home on Wi-Fi.
- Land, switch it on, and message your family.
What’s next
We’re also testing an assistant that fills in official forms in your own browser from a photo of your passport. You answer every question and press Submit yourself. Join the early-testing list at faylo.xyz/visa/assistant.
Check your visa: faylo.xyz/visa · Get your eSIM: faylo.xyz/esim/nigeria
About Faylo. An Africa-first travel service built by Olamide Akomolafe and Chuks Ossai: eSIM plans for 190+ countries, a free visa checker for all 54 African countries, and a paid Visa Pack. The eSIM store launched in September 2026.
Last updated: November 10, 2026
