The cost of international air travel for Nigerians is set to increase significantly following a directive by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to introduce an additional $11.5 Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) charge per ticket. The new levy will be collected on all tickets issued from December 1, 2025, for every passenger departing from or arriving in Nigeria.
The directive, communicated to all international airlines operating in Nigeria, including local carriers, mandates them to update their ticketing and reservation systems to reflect the new charge.
According to the NCAA the levy, which is expected to remain in effect for 20 years, is a necessary step to enhance national security and streamline passenger processing at airports.
Deployment and maintenance of the Advance Passenger Information System, an initiative undertaken in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) will be funded from the charge.
The system is designed to track passenger movements and strengthen border control by collecting and processing passenger data before their arrival or departure.
The NCAA claims the levy is aimed at creating a “single window” for all agencies at the airport, thereby streamlining passenger clearance.
The aviation regulator projects that the new levy could generate an estimated $46 million annually.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the $11.5 APIS charge raises Nigeria’s total security levy on international flight tickets to $31.50, as it is an addition to the existing $20 security levy.
This cumulative increase comes at a time when travelers are already grappling with multiple fees and soaring ticket prices driven by high operational costs, aviation fuel volatility, and foreign exchange pressures. Industry analysts warn that the rising cost of tickets could have an adverse impact:
Infants, diplomats, airline crew on duty, transit/transfer passengers (within 24 hours), passengers whose flights are involuntarily re-routed due to technical issues or weather; are exempted from the $11.5 charge.
