There
are three classes of visas under which corporate/business visitors can visit
Nigeria. These are:
are three classes of visas under which corporate/business visitors can visit
Nigeria. These are:
- ·
Business visa;
- ·
Temporary Work Permit (TWP visa); and
- ·
Subject to Regularization Visa (STR visa).
A
business visa is an entry visa for business people and investors coming to
Nigeria for business discussions and meetings and is usually obtained from the
Nigerian mission abroad. This visa is usually granted for 90 days (subject to
the discretion of the Nigerian Mission abroad) Holders of a business visa are
prohibited from any form of employment while in-country. The penalty for over staying
in-country on a business visa is $1,000.
business visa is an entry visa for business people and investors coming to
Nigeria for business discussions and meetings and is usually obtained from the
Nigerian mission abroad. This visa is usually granted for 90 days (subject to
the discretion of the Nigerian Mission abroad) Holders of a business visa are
prohibited from any form of employment while in-country. The penalty for over staying
in-country on a business visa is $1,000.
Requirements
for a business visa are:
for a business visa are:
- Letter of invitation from a company incorporated in
Nigeria;
- International passport with at least six months
validity;
- Evidence of funds (account statements will
suffice);
- Evidence of hotel reservation;
- Flight itinerary;
- International vaccination certificate; and
- Payment of prescribed visa fees.
Nigeria
now has the option of business visa on arrival for business visitors. This
offers easy access to immigration facilities by genuine visitors and foreign
investors. This visa is usually issued at the port of entry. This policy aims
to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI’s) and open the economy to
employment opportunities. In addition to the above listed document, the
approval of the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service must be
prior to the arrival of the business visitor in Nigeria.
now has the option of business visa on arrival for business visitors. This
offers easy access to immigration facilities by genuine visitors and foreign
investors. This visa is usually issued at the port of entry. This policy aims
to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI’s) and open the economy to
employment opportunities. In addition to the above listed document, the
approval of the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service must be
prior to the arrival of the business visitor in Nigeria.
Temporary Work Permit:
This
class of visa is available to companies that require the services of expatriate
employees in Nigeria for short term assignment. The application for this type
of visa is made to the Nigerian Consul in the home country of the expatriate.
It is pertinent to state however that the approval of the CGI must first be
sought. This approval once granted is in the form a cablegram issued to the
Nigerian mission abroad directing the mission to grant the expatriate the visa.
class of visa is available to companies that require the services of expatriate
employees in Nigeria for short term assignment. The application for this type
of visa is made to the Nigerian Consul in the home country of the expatriate.
It is pertinent to state however that the approval of the CGI must first be
sought. This approval once granted is in the form a cablegram issued to the
Nigerian mission abroad directing the mission to grant the expatriate the visa.
- Copy of expatriates bio-data page of international
passport (with at least 6 months validity);
- Copy of company’s certificate of incorporation;
- Cope CAC form 2 (allotment of share capital);
- Copy of CAC form 7 (particulars of directors);
- A copy of the company’s memorandum and articles of
association;
- Company firm profile;
- Copy of expatriates resume;
- Copies of expatriates professional certifications;
and
- Appropriate visa fees paid.
Subject to Regularization Visa (STR):
The
Immigration Act expressly prohibits the employment of foreigners without prior
consent of the Director of Immigration, as such foreigners seeking to take up
long term employment in Nigeria must apply for an STR visa.
Immigration Act expressly prohibits the employment of foreigners without prior
consent of the Director of Immigration, as such foreigners seeking to take up
long term employment in Nigeria must apply for an STR visa.
The
application is to be made to CGI stating that the company has a vacancy on its
expatriate quota and desires the foreigner to fill the vacant position.
application is to be made to CGI stating that the company has a vacancy on its
expatriate quota and desires the foreigner to fill the vacant position.
The
application for the STR visa is to be done by the employer company to the
Nigerian mission abroad. The STR visa once granted is valid for 90 days, during
which the prospective expatriate employee must enter Nigeria and apply to
regularize the work permit. Parents and children of expatriate are categorized
as dependants and can reside in Nigeria once the relevant visas and
applications have been approved. They are however prohibited from any form of
employment.
application for the STR visa is to be done by the employer company to the
Nigerian mission abroad. The STR visa once granted is valid for 90 days, during
which the prospective expatriate employee must enter Nigeria and apply to
regularize the work permit. Parents and children of expatriate are categorized
as dependants and can reside in Nigeria once the relevant visas and
applications have been approved. They are however prohibited from any form of
employment.
Documents
required for issuance of an STR visa:
required for issuance of an STR visa:
- Employees international passport with at least 6
months validity;
- 4 passport sized photographs;
- 4 copies of the prescribed visa form;
- Letter of application for STR visa from the
company;
- Copy of certificate onf incorporation of the
company;
- 4 copies of company’s expatriate quota;
- 4 copies of the employees letter of employment;
- 4 copies of letter of acceptance of employment by
employee;
- 4 copies of resume of employee;
- 4 copies of educational/professional certifications
of employee;
- Valid international health certificate showing
vaccination against yellow fever
- Flight itinerary; and
- Visa fees paid.
Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens
Card (CERPAC):
Card (CERPAC):
CERPAC
is a green card issued to expatriate employees once they have regularized their
STR visa in-country. The CERPAC is valid for 12 months and can be renewed for a
further 12 months as long the expatriate quota position is valid.
is a green card issued to expatriate employees once they have regularized their
STR visa in-country. The CERPAC is valid for 12 months and can be renewed for a
further 12 months as long the expatriate quota position is valid.
It
is pertinent to state that the employer must accept immigration responsibility
of the expatriate employee in all the classes of visa listed above.
is pertinent to state that the employer must accept immigration responsibility
of the expatriate employee in all the classes of visa listed above.
ECOWAS citizens working in Nigeria:
Citizens
of ECOWAS states seeking employment in Nigeria are to apply (through their
employer) to comptroller of immigrations in the state where the expatriate will
be employed for an ECOWAS card which grants the employee leave to live and work
in Nigeria for 2 years.
of ECOWAS states seeking employment in Nigeria are to apply (through their
employer) to comptroller of immigrations in the state where the expatriate will
be employed for an ECOWAS card which grants the employee leave to live and work
in Nigeria for 2 years.
Written By: Busayo Adedeji
Email: busayo_adedeji@outlook.com
Twitter: @thestreetloya
Image
credits: www.imperialvisas.com
credits: www.imperialvisas.com