Many Nigerians are planning to study or work abroad — and fake agents know it. Learn how genuine visa processes work so nobody takes your savings with a fake promise.
✈️ How genuine applications work
- Apply on the official websiteMost countries accept visa applications online through their official government site, and use approved visa centres for biometrics.
- Pay official fees onlyVisa fees are listed on the government website. You usually pay them through the official portal.
- Get admission or a job offer firstStudy visas need admission from a recognised school; work visas usually need a real employer or sponsor.
- Attend biometrics or an interviewAt the embassy or official visa application centre — not at an agent’s office.
You can apply for most visas yourself. A genuine agent may help with paperwork, but they cannot guarantee a visa — only the embassy decides.
🚩 Red flags of a fake agent
No one can guarantee a visa. Only the embassy decides.
Biggest flagReal employers interview you and check your skills.
Job scamsLarge payments into personal accounts, especially before any document is shown.
MoneyOffers to create bank statements, certificates or job letters for you. This can get you banned from travelling.
DangerousOnly WhatsApp numbers and Instagram pages.
CheckPlans to “connect” through other countries on visit visas to work illegally are risky and can lead to trafficking.
DangerUsing fake documents can get your visa refused and you banned from the country for years. Some “agents” are human traffickers. If an offer feels wrong, walk away.
❓ Questions to ask any agent
- Are you registered, and where is your office?
- Which school or employer is this, and can I contact them directly?
- What exactly am I paying for, and can I get a written contract and receipts?
- What happens to my money if the visa is refused?
Verify every job offer by searching for the company on its official website, and every school by checking it on the country’s official list of licensed institutions.
Are you planning to japa? Which country and why? · Have you or someone you know been scammed by a visa agent?
