Relocating from Nigeria costs up to 19% less as naira strengthens

The naira cost of relocating from Nigeria to any of 21 countries has fallen over the past year, by between 2% and 19%, according to the third-quarter edition of the State of Japa report from Japa Calculator, a free relocation decision tool. The decline is driven by the naira's recovery against major currencies rather than by lower prices overseas.

Key facts

• Every route surveyed costs 2% to 19% less in naira terms than a year ago.
• Estimates cover visa fees, proof of funds where required, a one-way flight from Lagos and three months' rent.
• Canada's Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) route is the costliest at about ₦22.1 million; South Africa's Critical Skills Visa is the cheapest at about ₦2.8 million.
• Australia raised skilled and student visa charges by about 25% on 1 July 2026.
• Canada is now the most-researched destination at 21% of calculations; the United States dropped from first to fifth with 7%.
• Rwanda, Cape Verde and Ireland entered the top 10 most-researched destinations.

Why has the cost fallen?

The report attributes the drop to exchange rates. At the Central Bank of Nigeria's official rate, a dollar now costs 8% less in naira terms than a year ago, a pound costs 8% less and a euro 11% less.

Among the routes listed, the average cost of moving to the United States through the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa is now ₦11.9 million, 8% below the ₦12.9 million recorded a year ago. Malaysia's Student Pass, arranged through EMGS, is ₦12.8 million, down 5% from ₦13.5 million. Australia's Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) stands at ₦15.2 million, just 2% under its year-ago level of ₦15.4 million — the smallest fall on the list.

Cyprus's Student Visa (Pink Slip) costs ₦15.3 million, 11% less than ₦17.2 million, and the United Kingdom's Skilled Worker Visa ₦15.4 million, 8% below ₦16.7 million. France's Campus France Student Visa (VLS-TS) is ₦20.2 million, down 11% from ₦22.8 million, and Portugal's D7 Passive Income Visa ₦20.8 million, down 11% from ₦23.4 million. Turkey recorded the steepest decline of all at 19%.

Where is the money going up?

Australia is the exception. Its skilled and student visa charges rose by about 25% from 1 July 2026. The Skilled Independent (189) visa climbed from A$4,910 to A$6,135, while the student visa for most applicants went from A$2,000 to A$2,500.

Which destinations are Nigerians researching?

The platform recorded 1,645 calculations between July and September, 18% more than the 1,393 logged in the previous quarter and 4,569 since launch. Canada accounted for 21% of calculations, while the United States fell to fifth place with 7%. Lagos generated 39% of the calculations, and the most frequently entered professions were software engineer, nurse, student and teacher. Some 77% of this quarter's calculations began with a Google search, compared with 40% in the second quarter.

How reliable are the figures?

The report stresses the limits of the data: a calculation is not a person, and a destination researched is not a move. The naira rate used was the site's exchange rate in October, while changes over time use the Central Bank's official rates as of 26 October.

What this means for travellers

Travellers weighing a move from Nigeria can expect a lower naira outlay than a year ago on the routes surveyed, although Australia has moved in the opposite direction. Anyone planning a move should check the current visa fee, proof-of-funds requirement and rent assumptions for the specific route, since the report presents estimates rather than individual quotations.