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The short answer
A parent's visit from Nigeria costs far more than the visa fee. Budget for the visa and biometrics (as at October 2026, £135 for a UK Standard Visitor visa, $185 for a US visitor visa, and C$100 plus C$85 biometrics for Canada), the return flight, medical cover for the whole stay, and three to six months of extra household spending on food, heating, transport, phone data and outings.
Bringing a mother or father over for the birth of a grandchild, a graduation or simply a long stay is one of the most common reasons Nigerians abroad save. The fee on the visa page is the smallest part of the bill. This guide lists every cost line so you can set a realistic budget, with official fees where they are published and examples where they are not.
1. Visa and application costs
| Country | Official fee (as at Oct 2026) | Notes from the official page |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £135 Standard Visitor, up to 6 months | Apply up to 3 months before travel; must show they will leave, can support themselves and pay for the return journey, or that someone else will fund it |
| US | $185 visitor visa application fee | Interview generally required; State Department says an invitation letter or affidavit of support is not needed |
| Canada | C$100 visitor visa (including super visa) plus C$85 biometrics | Family maximum C$500 visa and C$170 biometrics |
| Ireland | See ISD fee page | ISD says decisions take approximately 8 weeks; apply about 3 months before travel and do not buy tickets before the outcome |
Add the costs that sit around the application: travel to the visa application centre in Lagos or Abuja, document translation or certification if needed, courier fees, and the time off work for the parent. Check the current fee on the official page on the day you apply, because fees change.
2. Flights
Fares from Lagos or Abuja vary widely by season, airline and how early you book; December and the summer holidays are usually the most expensive. Budget for a return ticket with checked baggage, and, for an older parent, ask the airline about assistance at the airport when you book. The UK and US pages both ask visitors to show they can pay for the return journey, so a confirmed or affordable return plan helps the application as well as the budget.
3. Medical cover
This is the line most likely to be underestimated. In the UK, GOV.UK's NHS migrant health guide says GP and nurse consultations, A&E and NHS 111 are free to everyone, but visitors are charged 150% of the NHS cost for most hospital treatment, non-urgent care must be paid in full in advance, and debts of £500 or more unpaid for two months may be shared with the Home Office. In the US there is no public cover for visitors at all. For Canada's super visa, IRCC requires private health insurance from a Canadian insurer (or an approved foreign one) with at least C$100,000 of emergency cover, valid for at least a year from entry.
Visitor policies for older people often exclude pre-existing conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, which are exactly the conditions most likely to need care. See medical insurance for parents visiting from Nigeria for what to check in the policy.
4. Household spending while they stay
- Food, especially if you cook Nigerian dishes more often or buy from specialist shops.
- Heating and electricity, which rise when someone is at home all day in winter.
- A local SIM or data bundle so they can call home and reach you.
- Local transport passes, taxis to appointments, and day trips.
- Warm clothing for a winter visit, which many parents will not own.
- Medication: bring enough from Nigeria with prescriptions, because replacing it abroad without cover can be expensive.
- Your own lost earnings if you take leave to host.
5. Money they bring or that you send
If you will cover most costs, the visa application usually needs to show that. Officers look at the visitor's own finances and at the host's support; the UK's guide to supporting documents asks for bank statements that show the origin of funds, and IRCC's letter of invitation asks the host to state how the visit will be paid for. The details are in inviting family from Nigeria: showing you can support them.
Worked example
Example only, for a three-month UK visit by one parent. Visa £135; flights £800; travel to the visa centre and documents £60; visitor medical cover £300; extra food £150 a month (£450); heating and electricity £60 a month (£180); SIM and data £15 a month (£45); transport and outings £400; winter clothing £150. Total: £2,520. Add a contingency of 10% (£252) for a total budget of £2,772. Your own figures will differ; price each line before you commit.
Where Pryme fits
If the visit is part-funded from naira savings at home, a Pryme account lets you hold naira and pounds, dollars or euros in one place and convert only the amount needed with Swap, with the rate and fee shown before you approve. A verifiable statement from Pryme's partnership with VerifyDoc.ai can support the financial evidence in a visa application (receipts and statements). Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. For the costs back home while they are away, see carer costs for an elderly parent in Nigeria.
What to check first
- The visa fee and processing time on the official page, on the day you apply.
- Whether medical cover will include your parent's existing conditions.
- How long the visa allows them to stay, and plan the return flight inside it.
- Your own leave and income for the months they are with you.
Questions people ask
How much is a UK visitor visa for my mum from Nigeria?
GOV.UK lists £135 for a Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months, as at October 2026. Check the fee on the day you apply.
Do my parents need an invitation letter for a US visitor visa?
No. The State Department says an invitation letter or affidavit of support is not needed and is not a factor in the decision.
Will the NHS treat my parents for free when they visit?
GP visits and A&E are free, but GOV.UK says visitors are charged 150% of the NHS cost for most hospital treatment.
What is the cheapest way to host parents for six months?
Price every line first, especially medical cover. A cheaper policy that excludes existing conditions can cost far more if they fall ill.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: NHS entitlements, migrant health guide · accessed Oct 2026
- US State Department: Visitor visa · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Fee list · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Super visa, forms and documents · accessed Oct 2026
- Irish Immigration Service: Short stay C visit visa · accessed Oct 2026
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