There are several types of visas depending on the purpose of your visit to Nigeria.
- Transit and Direct Transit (airside) Visas: This is for passengers transiting to other countries through Nigeria, with valid travel documents.
- Tourist Visas: For foreign nationals who wish to visit Nigeria for leisure or tourist purposes. It can also be used for individuals who are visiting family members in Nigeria.
- Business Visas
Business Visa: For foreign investors and business persons coming for business meetings or prospecting opportunities. Valid for 90 days and not valid for employment purposes.
Temporary Work Permit (TWP): For foreign nationals engaged by a business entity (Ltd or FZE) to provide specialized skilled services for a period of time. Valid for 90 days and renewable for another 60 days.
Subject-to-regularisation (STR): For foreign nationals employed in Nigeria. Valid for 1 year (sometimes 2 years) and renewed annually.
- Diplomatic Visas: This is for foreign Heads of State, government officials, and their families. It also applies to members of accredited international organisations, and non-government organisations.
Note that the Visa types are currently the same for CAC and FZE entities. The difference is the Expatriate Quota requirements and the mode of processing (through NEPZA for FZE to qualify for the quota exemption).
Companies incorporated with CAC are subject to Expatriate Quota requirements and must obtain an Expatriate Quota before employing foreign nationals, whereas FZEs have no Expatriate Quota requirements.
In the future, we aim to work with the Government to introduce a new type of Visa (e.g. remote worker visa or nomad visa) for Digital Free Zone entities (DFZE).
Yes, if you’d like to get a Business Visa for your employees or invitees of an FZE registered with Itana, you can send us a message at support@itana.africa.
You can apply for and obtain a Subject-to-regularisation (STR) business visa at the Nigerian Embassy or High Commission in your country of residence or birth. This application will include a letter of introduction from the Free Zone Authority, an application letter by the Employer requesting the approval of the STR and accepting the responsibility of the foreign national, along with the application fee (which varies depending on the country).
The STR Visa is valid for 3 months from the date of arrival in Nigeria and must be regularised by obtaining a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), within that period. A CERPAC application will be to the Nigerian Immigration Service through the Zone Administrator/NEPZA, including the STR package from the Embassy, the STR Visa and the International passport. CERPAC is valid for a year (2 years in some cases) and is renewed annually. The process typically takes 3-4 weeks.
Alternatively, you can apply for a Temporary Work Permit visa (to provide specialised skilled services) or a Business Visa (for businesspersons or investors coming for business meetings or prospecting for opportunities), valid for 90 days. There is also a Visa-on-Arrival option for business travellers.
The quickest way to obtain a business visa is via Visa on Arrival. It is a mode of processing the visa which allows you to get the Visa at the airport upon arrival. The process for application for Visa on Arrival is:
- Complete the application process online here.
The application must include evidence of a return ticket, accommodation reservation and/or address, and a clearly stated purpose of the visit.
- The response time for the application varies between 24 to 72 hours. If the application is successfully approved, an official document will be generated. This document must be presented to immigration officials at the airport for the Applicant's passport to be stamped.
