Travel insurance Nigeria buyers choose today comes down to six providers worth comparing, and the right one depends on where you are flying. For a Schengen visa the cover is compulsory and the consulate checks the certificate. For most other trips it is optional, yet one hospital bill abroad can cost more than the whole holiday.
This guide ranks no one by advertising spend. It sets out what each provider actually offers, what the Schengen rule demands, what you should expect to pay in naira and how a claim works. It is a selection and not an official ranking.
The 6 Best Providers at a Glance
| Provider | Best for | Headline cover |
|---|---|---|
| AXA Mansard | Flexible budgets and families | Schengen €30,000; worldwide plans up to $150,000 |
| SanlamAllianz | Hajj, families and multi-region trips | Schengen, worldwide and Hajj plans |
| NEM Insurance | Straightforward Schengen visa cover | €30,000 medical with a €50 deductible |
| Leadway | Face-to-face service in a branch | Schengen-compliant cover by trip purpose |
| AIICO | Buyers who want a long-established insurer | Individual and corporate travel policies |
| AXA Schengen (online) | Cheap, instant visa certificates | Basic from €5, annual from about €350 |
What the Schengen Rule Demands
Schengen travel insurance nigeria applicants buy must provide at least €30,000 in medical cover, including emergency treatment, hospitalisation, medical repatriation and repatriation of remains. It must be valid in every Schengen state, run for the full length of your stay, and name repatriation of remains on the certificate. A policy that mentions only medical evacuation does not pass. Buy at least a week before your visa appointment, check the dates against your flights, and print two copies of the certificate.
The 6 Best Travel Insurance Providers in Nigeria
1. AXA Mansard
For axa travel insurance nigeria searches, the local answer is AXA Mansard, which sells the widest range of plans. The Schengen plan carries €30,000 in medical cover with evacuation and repatriation of remains. The worldwide ladder runs from Economy at $15,000 through Pearl and Family at $50,000 to Traveller at $150,000, and the Traveller tier adds personal accident, passport loss, baggage and trip cancellation. Each trip is covered for up to 92 consecutive days, student cover stretches to 180 days, and cover must be bought before you leave. Certificates are issued instantly after payment online.
2. SanlamAllianz
Readers who type allianz travel insurance nigeria into a search engine will find the brand under SanlamAllianz. It sells a Schengen plan, a worldwide plan, two geographic areas (one excluding the USA, Canada and Japan) and a Hajj and Umrah plan. Benefits include emergency medical expenses, evacuation, repatriation of remains, dental care, lost or delayed baggage, delayed trips, legal assistance and a 24-hour assistance line. Travellers up to 80 are covered, each trip is limited to 92 days, and children under 18 are covered free when they travel with two adults.
3. NEM Insurance
NEM keeps things simple. Its Schengen plan lists medical cover of up to €30,000 with a €50 deductible, emergency dental up to €160, advance bail up to €2,000 and legal costs up to €400, backed by an international assistance partner. A separate worldwide plan covers travel anywhere except your country of residence. Cover starts when you leave Nigeria, ends when you return, and suits people from infancy to age 75 on trips of 1 to 365 days.
4. Leadway
Leadway is the pick for people who want to walk into a branch, ask questions and submit a claim in person. Its Schengen cover meets the €30,000 minimum, includes repatriation, and the company offers packages for holiday, business and educational trips as well as treatment abroad. Adventure-sports cover is available as an add-on, which matters if your itinerary includes diving or hiking.
5. AIICO
AIICO has operated since 1963 and sells individual and corporate travel policies, including worldwide cover alongside its Schengen certificate. It works with an international assistance partner for overseas claims, which helps if you need a hospital to bill the insurer directly. It suits buyers who prefer a long-established Nigerian name and companies that want one policy for several staff.
6. AXA Schengen Online
This is an international online seller that issues certificates by email within minutes. Schengen Basic starts from €5 and covers the Schengen area and four European microstates, Essential from €9 widens that to every EU country and the UK, and an annual plan starts from about €350. Medical expenses carry a zero deductible, durations run from one day to a year, and the premium is refundable if your visa is refused and you present the written decision. The certificate carries a unique number that consular staff can check.
How to Choose Between Them
Start with the destination and the trip length. A two-week Schengen visa trip needs only the €30,000 certificate, so the cheapest compliant policy usually wins. A family heading to the United States should look at limits well above that figure, because medical bills there run far higher. Pilgrims should look at the Hajj plan, students at the 180-day cover, and frequent flyers at an annual plan. Then ask each insurer how its assistance line works at night and whether a hospital can bill it directly.
Travel Insurance Nigeria Cost
Your premium depends on trip length, cover limit, age and the number of travellers. These estimates apply to Schengen-only trips bought from Nigerian providers.
| Trip type | Cover | Typical premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 weeks | Basic, €30,000 | ₦15,000 to ₦25,000 |
| 1 to 2 weeks | Standard, €50,000 | ₦20,000 to ₦35,000 |
| 1 to 2 weeks | Premium, €100,000 or more | ₦30,000 to ₦50,000 |
| 3 to 4 weeks | Any | ₦25,000 to ₦70,000 |
| 1 to 3 months | Any | ₦40,000 to ₦120,000 |
| Annual multi-trip | Frequent travellers | ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 |
Anyone asking about travel insurance nigeria cost should also know that family policies often save 30% to 50% against separate cover, and travellers over 65 usually pay 50% to 100% more. If you fly more than three or four times a year, an annual plan can beat buying a fresh policy each time. A cheap policy that fails the visa check costs more in the end, because you pay twice and may miss your appointment.
Do You Need Cover for the UK, Canada or Ireland?
The rule changes by destination, so check it before you pay.
Travel Insurance Nigeria to UK
For travel insurance nigeria to uk trips, cover is not compulsory for a visitor visa. It is still sensible, because medical care for visitors is expensive and delays or lost luggage add up. Our guide to UK travel requirements from Nigeria lists the documents you do need.
Travel Insurance Nigeria to Canada
Most visitors do not have to show proof of cover on entry, though a few visa applicants must prove medical cover for their whole stay. Even where it is optional, buyers of travel insurance nigeria to canada plans are advised to take cover, because treatment for visitors can be costly. Read your visa checklist and match any figure it states.
Travel Insurance Nigeria to Ireland
Ireland sits outside the Schengen area, so the Schengen figure does not apply automatically. For travel insurance nigeria to ireland, read the current checklist in our guide to Ireland visa requirements for Nigerians and buy a policy that meets whatever it states. Many applicants choose at least €30,000 so one policy covers Ireland and a Schengen side trip.
How to Buy and How to Claim
- Confirm flights and hotel first, because changed dates mean a reissued certificate.
- Add a day or two at each end for delays and connections.
- Select the Schengen or Europe option, not a single country.
- Check that the quote lists every required item.
- Enter your name and passport number exactly as printed.
- Pay, keep the reference, then download and print the certificate.
Check the finished certificate for your name, passport number, dates, the €30,000 limit, the repatriation wording, the insurer and the emergency number. Our guide to Schengen visa requirements for Nigerians lists the documents that go into the same file.
Only the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) licenses insurers in Nigeria, and it publishes its list of licensed operators, so confirm your insurer is on it. To claim, call the assistance number on your certificate as soon as a problem happens and note the reference you are given. Keep every bill, receipt and medical report, follow the filing time limit in your policy and, in a European emergency, call 112 first. Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded, so disclose them and read the exclusions before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance in Nigeria
Is travel insurance compulsory for a Schengen visa?
Yes. You need at least €30,000 of medical cover valid in all Schengen states for your full stay.
How much is a policy for a two-week trip?
Typical premiums run from about ₦15,000 for a basic policy to ₦50,000 for premium cover.
Can I get a refund if my visa is refused?
Some providers refund the premium if you present the written refusal and ask before the policy start date. Check this term before you buy.
How soon do I get the certificate?
Usually within 24 hours, and often at once when you buy online.
Choosing Your Cover
Pick the provider that fits your destination and your budget, read the territory and repatriation wording, confirm the insurer’s licence and keep the certificate where you can reach it on arrival. Done properly, the whole process takes under an hour and costs a small slice of the trip.
Leave a Reply