Expansion Of Business Visa Activities in Nigeria | Dayo Adu
Background: This memo seeks to enlighten
Partners, business visitors to
Partners, business visitors to
Nigeria, companies, investors and human
resource experts on the new policy direction of the Nigeria Immigration Service
(“NIS”) in line with the 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business
in Nigeria that was approved recently by the Presidential Enabling Business
Environment Council (PEBEC).
resource experts on the new policy direction of the Nigeria Immigration Service
(“NIS”) in line with the 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business
in Nigeria that was approved recently by the Presidential Enabling Business
Environment Council (PEBEC).
The Policy expands on the category of
persons and activities that can be
persons and activities that can be
undertaken when issued a visa at entry
point. It further allows those visiting from countries where Nigeria does not
have an embassy to obtain visas at the port of entry. The aim of the policy is
to remove bureaucratic bottleneck and encourage business travellers and
tourists.
point. It further allows those visiting from countries where Nigeria does not
have an embassy to obtain visas at the port of entry. The aim of the policy is
to remove bureaucratic bottleneck and encourage business travellers and
tourists.
Permissible Activities on the Business Visa
on Arrival; The permissible activities have been revised and expanded by the
NIS to cater for foreign travellers who wish to travel to Nigeria for Old
Activities: meetings, conferences, seminars.
on Arrival; The permissible activities have been revised and expanded by the
NIS to cater for foreign travellers who wish to travel to Nigeria for Old
Activities: meetings, conferences, seminars.
New Activities: contract negotiation,
marketing, sales, purchase and distribution of Nigerian goods, trade fairs, job
interviews, training of Nigerians, emergency/relief work, crew members, staff
of NGOs, staff of NGOs, researchers and musical concerts”
marketing, sales, purchase and distribution of Nigerian goods, trade fairs, job
interviews, training of Nigerians, emergency/relief work, crew members, staff
of NGOs, staff of NGOs, researchers and musical concerts”
Who qualifies; foreign travellers, Artist,
High net worth Individuals, Businessmen, business visitors, and Investors
coming to Nigeria
High net worth Individuals, Businessmen, business visitors, and Investors
coming to Nigeria
Implementation time frame: Immediate
New Developments further introduced by the
NIS:
NIS:
· The harmonization
of multiplicity of airport arrival and departure form/cards into a single form
for all agencies of government to save foreign visitors from the current
frustrating practice of filling three different forms or more and the
decentralization of immigration services to the state commands.
of multiplicity of airport arrival and departure form/cards into a single form
for all agencies of government to save foreign visitors from the current
frustrating practice of filling three different forms or more and the
decentralization of immigration services to the state commands.
· Re-issuance of
passports for change of names due to marital reasons or lost cases have been
decentralized to all state commands and foreign missions to save passport
holders from additional costs and inconvenience of travelling to the service
headquarters in Abuja.
passports for change of names due to marital reasons or lost cases have been
decentralized to all state commands and foreign missions to save passport
holders from additional costs and inconvenience of travelling to the service
headquarters in Abuja.
· Additional 28
offices have been opened for issuance of residence permits in Nigeria, bringing
the issuance of Combined Expatriate Residence Permit And Aliens Cards (CERPAC)
closer to the doorstep of employers of expatriates at all 36 states and FCT.
offices have been opened for issuance of residence permits in Nigeria, bringing
the issuance of Combined Expatriate Residence Permit And Aliens Cards (CERPAC)
closer to the doorstep of employers of expatriates at all 36 states and FCT.
Dayo Adu,
Partner -Famsville Solicitors
Ed’s Note – This article was first
published here.
published here.