How to Shop from Amazon in Nigeria

If you have ever seen a product on Amazon and wondered if there is any way to get it delivered to your doorstep in Nigeria, you are not alone. 

It is one of the most common questions Nigerians ask when it comes to online shopping, and the honest answer is, yes, it is possible, but there are a few things you need to figure out first before you start placing orders.

Amazon is based in the United States, and for a long time, most of its services were built around American shoppers. 

Over the years, they have expanded internationally, but Nigeria is still not in the same category as countries like the UK, Germany, or the UAE, where Amazon has a more direct presence. 

That does not mean Nigerians are locked out, far from it. 

It just means the process requires a little more planning than it would for someone shopping from London or Dubai.

A lot of people in Nigeria have been shopping on Amazon for years. 

Students who studied abroad already know how it works. 

Tech-savvy buyers figured it out on their own. 

But for many others? 

They are hearing about it for the first time, or people who tried once, ran into a problem, and gave up, since the whole thing can feel confusing. 

In this article, we walk you through everything, from creating an account to receiving your package at your door in Nigeria.

Does Amazon Ship to Nigeria?

Amazon does not ship every product directly to Nigeria. 

Some items are eligible for international shipping to Nigeria, but many are not. 

This is the first thing to understand.

When you search for a product on Amazon and open the listing, scroll to the shipping section. If Nigeria is listed as a delivery destination, Amazon will ship it to you directly. If not, you have two options:

(1) Use a package forwarding service (explained below).

(2) Look for a third-party seller on Amazon who ships internationally.

So yes, you can shop from Amazon in Nigeria, but it just requires knowing which route works for what you want to buy.

How You Can Start Shopping On Amazon In Nigeria

1. Create an Amazon Account

Go to www.amazon.com and click "Create your Amazon account." You will need:

(a) Your name

(b) valid email address

(c) A password

There is no Nigerian restriction on creating an account; you can sign up with any email address. Once your account is created, you can browse products immediately.

You should always use the same email address you check regularly. 

Amazon will send you order confirmations, shipping updates, and receipts to that address.

2. Add a Delivery Address in Nigeria

After signing in, go to your account settings and add your Nigerian address. 

Be as detailed as possible, include your street name, house number, local government area, state, and a phone number where a courier can reach you.

Select Nigeria as your country. 

Amazon will automatically show you which products can be shipped to your address.

If a product is not available for direct shipping to Nigeria, it will say so on the product page. 

That is when you consider a forwarding service.

3. Choose How to Pay

Payment is one of the most common challenges Nigerians face when shopping on Amazon. Amazon accepts:

(i) Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards

(ii) Prepaid dollar cards

(iii) Amazon gift cards

Option A: Use a Dollar Debit Card

Nigerian banks like GTBank, Zenith, Access, and UBA issue dollar-denominated debit cards (usually Visa or Mastercard). 

You fund these cards with US dollars from your domiciliary account. 

This is the most direct way to pay on Amazon.

Visit your bank, open a domiciliary account if you don't have one, and request a dollar card. 

Some banks, like GTBank, also issue virtual dollar cards through their apps.

Option B: Use a Fintech Dollar Card

Apps like Chipper Cash, Grey, Geegpay, and Cleva let you create virtual dollar cards that work on Amazon. 

You fund them in naira, and they convert to dollars. 

This is now one of the most popular methods among Nigerians shopping online internationally.

Check the daily spending limits and conversion rates before using any fintech card. Rates and availability change regularly.

People Also Read: 7 Best Virtual Dollar Cards for Nigerians

Option C: Amazon Gift Cards

Some Nigerians buy Amazon gift cards from platforms like GiftcardsToNaira or Cardtonic, then use the gift card balance to pay on Amazon. This works, but compare exchange rates carefully; you may lose money in the conversion.

4. Find Products That Ship to Nigeria

Once your Nigerian address is saved in your account, Amazon will filter results to show items that ship to you. But here is a more reliable method:

(a) Search for the product you want.

(b) Open the listing.

(c) On the right side, check the delivery section. It will say "Ships to Nigeria" if eligible.

(d) If it doesn't ship to Nigeria directly, scroll down to see if a third-party seller on that same listing ships internationally.

Products sold directly by Amazon are often restricted to certain regions. 

However, third-party sellers frequently offer the same item with international shipping available.

5. Use a Package Forwarding Service (If Needed)

If the item you want does not ship to Nigeria at all, a package forwarding service solves that problem.

(i) You sign up with a forwarding company. They give you a US mailing address.

(ii) You use that US address as your Amazon delivery address.

(iii) Amazon ships your package to that US address.

(iv) The forwarding company then ships the package from the US to your address in Nigeria.

Popular forwarding services used by Nigerians include:

(a) MyUS

(b) Shipito

(c) Planet Express

(d) Heroshe

Each service charges for receiving your package at their US address and then shipping it to Nigeria. Costs vary depending on the weight and size of your items, so compare before choosing. Always factor in this shipping cost when deciding if a purchase makes financial sense.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship to Nigeria?

Shipping costs depend on the weight and dimensions of the package, the shipping method (standard, express), and the forwarding company you use (if applicable)

For direct Amazon international shipping, costs start from $10–$15 for small items and go higher for heavier packages. Through a forwarding service, you can expect to pay between $10 and $30+, depending on package weight, plus any customs duties when your package enters Nigeria.

Customs duties in Nigeria are calculated by the Nigeria Customs Service and can add to your total cost. Most forwarding services will give you an estimate before finalising the shipment.

How Long Does Delivery Take?

Delivery times vary. 

Direct Amazon shipping to Nigeria generally takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the item and shipping option you select.

When using a forwarding service, the time might take longer because the Amazon delivery to the US warehouse (usually 3 to 7 days), and then the forwarding company's shipping to Nigeria (1 to 3 weeks, depending on the service). 

So in total, expect 3 to 5 weeks from order to delivery in many cases.

Things to Check Before You Order

1. Check the total cost: The item price plus international shipping plus customs is your real cost. Sometimes a product is cheaper on Jumia or Konga when you add everything up.

2. Read seller reviews: If buying from a third-party seller, check their ratings. A seller with consistently poor reviews is a red flag.

3. Check return policies: Returning an item internationally is difficult and often not worth it. Make sure you are confident in your purchase before ordering.

4. Avoid restricted items: Nigeria Customs restricts some items from being imported. Check the Nigerian Customs Service website or ask your forwarding company if you are unsure.

Some Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not saving your Nigerian address before searching 

2. Assuming a Naira debit card will work 

3. Ignoring customs charges 

4. Choosing the slowest shipping to save money on an urgent item

What About Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime is a paid subscription that offers fast free shipping within the US, streaming, and other benefits. 

However, Prime's free two-day shipping does not apply to international orders. 

If you subscribe to Prime as a Nigerian shopper, the main benefit would be access to Prime Video streaming content, not shipping to Nigeria.

Conclusion

Shopping on Amazon in Nigeria is very doable once you understand how payment and shipping work. 

The most practical setup for most Nigerians is to use a virtual dollar card from a fintech app, have your full Nigerian address saved on Amazon, and a reliable forwarding service for products that don't ship directly.

Start small, order something inexpensive first to get familiar with the process. 

Once you have done it once, the second order is easy.

Your Package Is in Nigeria. Now What?

That is actually where most people get stuck. 

The item has arrived in the country, maybe it is sitting with your forwarding service's Lagos agent, or a friend helped receive it, but getting it from that point to your actual address is another thing entirely.

Let us handle that part for you.

Once your package is in Nigeria, we’ll pick it up from wherever it is and deliver it to you; it doesn’t matter if you are in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, or anywhere else we operate. 

No stressing about logistics, no calling around for a dispatch rider, no waiting and wondering where your item is.

You shopped internationally.

Now, just tell us where it is and where it needs to go, and we'll handle the rest.

Reach out to us today, and let's get your delivery sorted.

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