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Nigeria is often called the “Giant of Africa.” This name comes from the vastness of its land, the diversity of its peoples and languages, its huge population (the largest in Africa), and its oil and other natural resources.
Nigeria is a patchwork of distinctive regions, including deserts, plains, swamps, mountains, and steamy jungles. It has one of the largest river systems in the world, including the Niger Delta, the third largest delta on Earth.
Much of Nigeria is covered with plains and savannas. These tropical grasslands spread out as far as the eye can see and are interrupted here and there by trees and shrubs. The southwestern plains are home to the Yoruba people, who have lived there for thousands of years.
Residence permits in Nigeria, primarily issued as the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), are mandatory documents for foreign nationals intending to live and work in the country for more than 56 days. Issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for a renewable two-year period, it allows expatriates, investors, and their dependents to reside legally.
Easy Step-by-Step Procedure
1. Obtain STR Visa & Enter Nigeria: Ensure you enter Nigeria with a Subject to Regularization (STR) visa. You cannot apply for CERPAC with a tourist visa.
2. Submit Online Application (From Aug 1, 2025): The process is now fully digitized via the NIS portal.
3. Create an account, fill out the CERPAC form, and upload required documents.
4. Payment: Pay the statutory fee of $2,000 USD (for most employment categories) online.
5. Visit NIS Office for Biometrics: After online submission, proceed to an Immigration office for biometric data capture (photograph and fingerprints).
6. Obtain Temporary Card: A temporary card/receipt will be issued (typically 2-3 weeks after submission), which allows legal residency and travel while the main card is processed.
7. Receive Permanent Card: The permanent card will be processed and delivered (approx. 6-10 weeks).
Essential Documents Needed
1. Valid Passport with STR Visa endorsement.
2. Letter of Employment & Acceptance Letter.
3. Expatriate Quota Approval (from the employer).
4. Completed CERPAC Form.
5. Certificate of Incorporation of the company.
Key Aspects of Special Immigrant Status (SIS)
1. Target Audience: Foreign husbands married to Nigerian women. While foreign women married to Nigerian men can apply, they often receive Temporary Resident Permits (TRP) instead.
2. Benefits: Enables the holder to obtain a CERPAC card, allowing legal residence and work without needing a standard expatriate quota.
3. Requirements:
4. Process: Applications are submitted to the Federal Ministry of Interior.
Primary Visa Categories for Expatriates:
Short Visit Visas (SVV) (Up to 90 days):
1. Business Visa: Available as single entry (F4A) or for frequently travelled executives (F4C) to attend meetings, negotiations, or conferences.
2. Tourism/Visiting Visa: For leisure, sightseeing, or visiting family (F5A, F6A, F6B).
3. Specialized Visas: Include Creative Arts (F7F), Sports (F7E), Study Tour (F7G), Academic Exchange (F7H), Medical Tourism (F7C), and Religious Tourism (F7D).
4. Transit Visa (F3A/F3B): For travelers passing through Nigeria to another destination.
5. Emergency/Relief Work Visa (F7K): For individuals providing aid.
Temporary Residence Visas (TRV) (Up to 2 years):
1. STR Visa (Subject to Regularization): For expatriates employed by corporate bodies, requiring an expatriate quota.
2. Investor Visas: Divided into Small (Investor I), Medium (Investor II), Large (Investor III), Ultra-Large (Investor IV), and Oil/Gas/Power sectors.
3. Specialized Residence: Includes Highly Skilled Immigrant, Academic Exchange, and Retirement visas (for both, retiring in Nigeria or from abroad).
4. Spouse Visa: For foreign nationals married to Nigerian citizens.
Permanent Residence Visas (PRV):
1. Permanent Residence: Granted to individuals who meet specific long-term investment or residency criteria, including returning Nigerians by birth who have renounced citizenship.
The Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) Green Card is a mandatory, renewable, and legal identification document issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to non-ECOWAS foreigners residing or working in Nigeria for more than 56 days. It acts as both a residence and work permit, allowing foreign nationals to live, work, or conduct business legally in the country.
In Nigeria, the CERPAC Brown Card is a special, long-term residence permit introduced for eligible foreigners to live and work in Nigeria permanently (indefinitely).
It is different from the traditional Green Card (which lasts for 2–5 years and requires renewal).
1. What it is: A “Permanent Residence” permit for non-Nigerians.
2. Validity: It is valid permanently (“perpetual”), meaning it does not need to be renewed every few years.
3. Purpose: It allows holders to live, work, and invest in Nigeria indefinitely without needing to renew their residence permit.
4. Goal: It was designed to encourage long-term investment and stability for expatriates, particularly those of African descent.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning
2. Data Analytics & Data Science
3. Cybersecurity & Information Security
4. Software Engineering & Development
5. Cloud Computing
6. Digital Marketing
7. Nigeria Employment Laws
8. Medical Doctors/Specialists (Massive shortages due to migration)
9. Nursing & Specialized Care
10. Business Analytics & Intelligence
Nigeria’s major sources of employment compliance laws include the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Labor Act of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. All federal laws enacted by the National Assembly and state laws enacted by the House of Assembly also govern employment relationships.
There are two broad categories of employees in Nigeria — those who perform manual or clerical work and those who do administrative, executive, technical, or professional work. The Labor Act applies only to the first group of employees who handle manual or clerical work. Non-workers are typically governed by their employment contracts.
Working hours in Nigeria generally consist of an 8-hour day and a 40 to 48-hour workweek, typically Monday through Friday (9 am–5 pm or 8 am–4 pm), often viewed as standard but frequently extended in demanding sectors. While 40 hours is common, many Nigerians work longer, with the country ranking as the second most hardworking globally, averaging over 2,100 hours annually per worker.
Key Aspects of Working Hours in Nigeria:
1. Standard Hours: The Labour Act generally recognizes 8 hours daily. A 40-hour week is standard for many, but 48 hours is often cited as the statutory limit.
2. Sector Variations: While office jobs often follow 9-5, sectors like manufacturing, security, and healthcare frequently require longer hours, weekends, and shift work.
3. Industry Demands: Many, particularly in the private sector, work more than 40 hours per week, with some studies indicating that over 35% of workers exceed this, and 11% work over 60 hours.
4. Informal Sector: In the informal, agricultural, and market sectors, hours can be much longer, often stretching into weekends.
5. Overtime: Work exceeding standard hours should be compensated, but there is no strict government mandate for premium pay rates for overtime, making it dependent on the employment contract.
6. Rest Days: Employees are entitled to at least one rest day, typically Sundays or Saturdays.
Paying taxes in Nigeria is essential for national development, fostering economic stability, and funding public infrastructure like roads, schools, and healthcare. It is a civic duty that enables government functionality, although challenges like poor administration and lack of infrastructure often lead to public skepticism about tax effectiveness.
Nigerian work visas allow foreign nationals to work legally, primarily granted as Subject to Regularization (STR) visas for long-term employment or Temporary Work Permits (TWP) for short-term projects. They require employer sponsorship, an expatriate quota approval from the Ministry of Interior, and must be converted into a residence/work permit (CERPAC) upon arrival.
Nigeria primarily offers two main categories of work permits for foreign nationals
1. Temporary Work Permit (TWP – R10/R11): Issued to expatriates engaged for short-term specialized tasks (e.g., installation, maintenance, training), usually valid for 90 days to 6 months.
2. Subject to Regularization (STR) Visa (R2A/Expatriate): Required for long-term employment, enabling foreign nationals to work under an approved Expatriate Quota.
Key Requirements for Nigeria Work Visa (STR):
1. Valid Passport: At least 6 months validity with minimum 2 blank pages.
2. Expatriate Quota Approval: Approved by the Ministry of Interior for the hiring company.
3. Employment Letter/Contract: Duly signed, stating position, salary, and responsibilities.
4. Acceptance Letter: Signed by the applicant accepting the offer.
5. Credentials: Copies of educational qualifications and curriculum vitae (CV).
6. Application Form: Duly completed IMM 22 form.
7. Letter of Introduction: From the employer accepting Immigration Responsibility (IR).
8. Board Resolution: Required for CEO or senior management positions.
9. Photographs: Two recent passport-sized photographs (50mm x 50mm).
Steps to Obtain the Visa:
1. Job Offer & Quota: Secure a job offer from a company that holds an active Expatriate Quota.
2. Visa Application: Apply for the STR visa online and submit documents to the Nigerian Embassy in your country.
3. Entry & Regularization (CERPAC): Upon entry, the employee must regularize their stay to obtain the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) within 90 days.
Royal HR Solution has the knowledge and experience to advise you at every step of your Nigeria Work Visa application.
Your Royal HR Solution consultant can guide you through the process and help you file an application with the highest chances of success talk to us today.
