Nigeria Immigration Service → Residence Permit

Residence Permit

ECOWAS Residence Card

Eligibility

ECOWAS Citizens (Resident in Nigeria)

Requirements
  1. Application letter for ECOWAS Residence Card by Individual/Employer/ Embassy/ High Commission/ Diaspora Union accepting Immigration Responsibilities.
  2. ECOWAS Travel Certificate or National Passport valid for not less than 6 months
  3. Photocopy of Bio-data page of ECOWAS Travel Certificate or National Passport
  4. Two (2) copies of applicant’s recent passport photograph
  5. Evidence of e-payment i.e. printed payment confirmation page
  6. Duly completed and signed application form
For Employees (the following are required in addition to i-vi above)
  1. Letter of offer of employment
  2. Letter of acceptance of offer of employment
  3. Applicant’s credentials / CV where applicable.
  4. Evidence of registration with professional bodies (where applicable)
How to Apply
  1. Complete ECOWAS Residence Card application form online here, make payment online and obtain Application ID and Reference Number.
  2. Submit completed ECOWAS Residence Card application form with other requirements at immigration office chosen during online application.
Fee
Togolese:
N25,000.00
Cote d’Ivoire:
N6,580.00
Other ECOWAS Citizens:
N 500.00

Note: All fees are exclusive of bank charges

Timeline

48 hrs after receipt of application

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Renewal of ECOWAS Residence Card

Note: After 2 years From Date of Issuance

Requirements
  1. Application for Renewal of ECOWAS Residence Card from the Employer/ Embassy/ High Commission/ Diaspora Union/ Company accepting Immigration Responsibilities
  2. Expired residence card
  3. Duly completed signed application form
  4. Photocopy of passport Bio-data page and expired residence card
  5. Evidence of e-payment i.e. printed payment confirmation page
How to Apply
  1. Complete ECOWAS Residence Card Renewal application form online here, make payment online and obtain Application ID and Reference Number.
  2. Submit completed ECOWAS Residence Card Renewal application form with other requirements at immigration office chosen during online application.
Fees
Togolese:
N12,500.00
Cote d’Ivoire:
N3,290.00
Other ECOWAS Citizens:
N 250.00

Timeline

24 hrs after receipt of application

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Expatriate Residence Permit

Regularisation of Stay (Residence Permits)
Fresh Application
Eligibility
  1. Expatriate employees of Companies and their dependants
  2. Expatriate Technical officials of Missions
  3. Foreign Students
  4. Missionaries / Clerics and their dependants
  5. Research Fellows
  6. Expatriate Staff of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and their dependants
  7. Expatriate Staff of International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and their dependants
  8. Government Officials (GOs) and their dependants
  9. Expatriates employed by companies operating in Free Trade Zones (FTZ) and their dependants
Requirements
  1. Letter of Application for Regularization of Stay and acceptance of Immigration Responsibilities by the
    employer / School / Embassies / High Commission / International Organizations / INGOs / NGOs / MDAs (for Government officials)
  2. Passport bio-data page of the expatriate
  3. Copy of the STR visa page and arrival endorsement page
  4. Form IMM 22 (Visa Application Form)
  5. 2 recent passport photographs
  6. Expatriate’s valid National Passport
  7. Evidence of purchase of CERPAC Form (Bank teller)

In addition to the general requirements above, the following shall be applicable to each category of applicants:

  1. Expatriate employees of Companies and their dependants
    • Letter of offer of employment
    • Letter of acceptance of employment
    • Vetted Academic Credentials / Qualifications
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Copy of valid Quota Approval
    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
    • Board of Directors Resolution (for appointment of CEOs and Managing Directors)
    • Evidence of registration with relevant Professional Bodies (where applicable)
    • Business Permit of the company
  2. Expatriate Technical Officials of Missions
    • Letter of offer of employment
    • Letter of acceptance of employment
  3. Foreign Students
    • Admission letter
    • Letter of acceptance of admission
    • Evidence of payment of school fees
  4. Missionaries / Clerics and their dependants
    • Letter of offer of employment
    • Letter of acceptance of employment
  5. Research Fellows
    • Letter of offer of Research Fellowship
    • Letter of acceptance of Research Fellowship
  6. Expatriates employed by companies operating in Free Trade Zones (FTZ) and their dependants
    • Letter from the FTZ management
    • Certificate of registration with the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) or Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone Authority
    • Operating License
    • Letter of employment
    • Letter of acceptance of employment.
    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
    • Board of Directors Resolution (for appointment of CEOs and Managing Directors)
    • Evidence of registration with relevant Professional Bodies (where applicable)
How to Apply (for a-f above)

Fresh applications shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Abuja or to the
Office of the Comptroller of Immigration Service at the State Commands where the expatriate is resident accepting full Immigration Responsibilities

Fees

$2,000 per annum (Naira equivalent) for all categories of expatriates
$400 per annum (Naira equivalent) for students and Missionaries

Timeline

Five (5) working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met)

Government Officials (GOs)

Eligibility

Expatriates in the employment of the Federal, State or Local Governments

Requirements
  1. Letter of Application for Regularization of Stay and acceptance of Immigration Responsibilities by the MDAs
  2. Letter of offer of employment
  3. Letter of acceptance of employment
  4. Vetted Academic Credentials / Qualifications
  5. Curriculum Vitae
  6. Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
  7. Evidence of registration with relevant Professional Bodies (where applicable)
  8. Passport bio-data page of the expatriate
  9. Copy of the STR visa page and arrival endorsement page
  10. Form IMM 22 (Visa Application Form)
  11. 2 recent passport photographs
  12. Expatriate’s valid National Passport
How to Apply

Applications for Residence Permit shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters
Abuja or to the Office of the Comptroller of Immigration Service at the State Commands where the expatriate is resident

Fees

Gratis

Timeline

Five (5) working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met)

Accredited Diplomats

Multiple Journey Re-Entry Visa
Eligibility

Accredited Diplomats and their family members

Requirements
  • Note Verbale from Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Letter of request from the Embassy/High Commission/International Agency
  • Form IMM 22 (Visa Application Form)
  • Diplomatic Staff list
  • Photocopies of relevant Bio-data pages of National Passport and Diplomatic entry Visa
  • National Passport
How to Apply

Applications for Residence Permit shall be submitted by the MFA to the Office of the Comptroller General, NIS Headquarters Abuja

Fees

Gratis

Timeline

Ten (10) working days after receipt of application (if all requirements are met)

Non-accredited Staff of Diplomatic Mission, consultants and contractors working for Missions

Applications for Residence Permit shall be submitted by the Employer to the Office of the Comptroller General, NIS Headquarters Abuja.

Fees

$2,000 Per annum

Residence Permit for staff of INGO and NGO

Eligibility

Staff of International non-Governmental Organizations (INGO) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Requirements
  1. Letter of Accreditation from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning
  2. Application letter from the organization accepting Immigration Responsibility
  3. Duly completed Form IMM 22
  4. Memorandum of Understanding /Corporation Agreement with National Planning Commission
  5. Letter of offer
  6. Letter of acceptance of offer
  7. Vetted credentials
  8. Contract Validity
  9. Photocopies of the relevant pages of National Passport and Visa (STR)
  10. 2 recent passport size photographs
  11. National Passport
How to apply

Applications for Residence Permit shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Abuja

Fees
INGO:
Gratis
NGO:
$2,000 per annum

Timeline

Ten (10) working days after receipt of application (if all requirements are met)

Special Immigrant Status and Niger Wives

Eligibility

Foreign spouses of Nigerians

Requirements
  1. Letter of Application for Residence Permit by the Nigerian spouse accepting Immigration Responsibility
  2. Copy of Special Immigrant Status approval letter by the Minister of Interior
  3. Husband’s consent letter requesting for Special Immigrant Status / letter of consent from Niger-wife stating willingness to stay with husband in Nigeria
  4. Nigerian passport bio-data page of spouse
  5. Copy of passport bio-data page of spouse
  6. Marriage Certificate
  7. CERPAC Form
  8. Two (2) recent Passport photographs
How to Apply

Applications for Special Immigrant Status / Niger-Wife shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Abuja
or to the Office of the Comptroller of Immigration Service at the State Commands where the expatriate is resident by the Nigerian spouse

Fees

Gratis

Timeline

Five (5) working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met)

Change of Employment

Eligibility

Expatriate who changed employment from one company to another company

Requirements
  1. Application for change of employment from new company accepting Immigration Responsibility
  2. Letter of offer of Appointment from the company
  3. Letter of acceptance of employment from Expatriate
  4. Letter of no objection from previous employer
  5. Qualification/experience
  6. Photocopy of Passport Bio-Data page and visa page
  7. Current CERPAC
  8. Copy of valid expatriate Quota Approval of the new employer
  9. Evidence of purchase of CERPAC Form (bank teller)
  10. Valid National Passport
  11. Two (2) recent passport photographs
  12. Board of Directors Resolution (for appointment of CEOs and Managing Directors)
How to Apply

Applications for Change of Employment shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters
Abuja or to the Office of the Comptroller of Immigration Service at the State Commands where the expatriate is resident

Fees

$2,000 per annum

Timeline

Five (5) working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met)

Renewal of Residence Permit

Requirements
  1. Application for renewal of Residence Permits by employer accepting Immigration Responsibilities
  2. Copy of the valid Quota Approval
  3. Photocopy of Passport Bio-Data page of the applicant
  4. Expatriate’s current CERPAC
  5. Purchase of CERPAC form (bank teller)
  6. Two (2) recent Passport photographs of the applicant
  7. Valid National Passport
How to Apply

Applications for renewal of Residence Permit shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters
Abuja or to the Office of the Comptroller of Immigration Service at the State Commands where the expatriate is resident

Fees

$2,000 per annum (Naira equivalent) for all categories of expatriates
$400 per annum (Naira equivalent) for students and Missionaries

Timeline

Three (3) working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met

Re-designation of Position

Eligibility

Expatriate changing from one Quota position to another Quota position within the same Company

How to Apply
Requirements
  1. Formal letter of Application for re-designation from the company accepting Immigration Responsibility (IR)
  2. Copy of passport Bio- Data Page of the expatriate
  3. Current Residence Permit
  4. Evidence of purchase of CERPAC Form (New)
  5. Copy of valid Expatriate Quota Approval
  6. Qualifications for the new position
  7. Two (2) recent passport photographs
  8. Letter of appointment for the re-designation (for new position)
  9. Acceptance of offer of the new position
  10. Board of Directors Resolution (for appointment of CEOs and Managing Directors)
  11. Valid National Passport

Applications for re-designation of Position shall be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters
Abuja or to the Office of the Comptroller of Immigration Service at the State Commands where the expatriate is resident

Fees

$2,000 (Naira equivalent) per annum

Timeline

Five (5) working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met)