MOVING TO IMO
Nigeria has certain entry regulations that might require different types of visas and permits.
TYPES OF ENTRY PERMIT FOR OVERSEAS INVESTORS AND EXPATRIATES
1. Visa on Arrival
2. Business Visa
3. Subject to Regularization (STR) Visa
4. Temporary Work Permit (TWP)
VISA ON ARRIVAL: WHO QUALIFIES?
• Business people, investors or tourists. Obtainable at the arrival point of entry in Nigeria
VISA ON ARRIVAL GUIDELINES:
• Visit the Home page of Nigeria Immigration Service Portal at www.portal.immigration.gov.ng
• Locate and click on the appropriate application form to start the process.
• Fill the application form and submit.
• Proceed to make online payment. You will be re-directed to an approved payment platform to complete your application and make your payment in United States dollars.
• You will be expected to take your Visa on Arrival program, payment receipts and other required documents to the Arrival Point of Entry in Nigeria on your slated interview date for further processing.
• Please note that you can reschedule your interview date to any next available date.
BUSINESS VISA: WHO QUALIFIES?
• Business people and investors coming to Nigeria for business discussions.
• Obtainable from Nigerian Missions abroad.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BUSINESS VISA
• Passport valid for at least 6 months.
• Duly completed visa application form.
• Evidence of sufficient funds
• Letter of invitation from a company/host in Nigeria accepting immigration responsibility.
• Self-sponsored business men do not require letter of invitation but will be required to show evidence of sufficient funds
• Evidence of on-line payment for visa fee.
SUBJECT TO REGULARIZATION (STR) VISA: WHO QUALIFIES?
• Expatriates employed by individuals, corporate bodies or governments (i.e. to take up employment in Nigeria).
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF STR VISA / ENTRY PERMIT
• Valid passport with minimum of 6 months validity
• Letter of employment
• Expatriate quota approval
• Credentials of the applicant
• Duly completed form IMM 22
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• For Chief Executive Officers (C.E.O) of corporate organizations, there is need for extract of the minutes of the Board’s resolution
• Evidence of online payment for visa fee
• Obtainable only Nigerian Missions in the countries where applicants are domiciled for at least six (6) months
TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT (TWP): WHO QUALIFIES?
• Experts invited by corporate bodies to provide specialized skilled services, such as after sales installation, maintenance, repairs of machines & equipment
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT (TWP)
• Confirmed Airline Return ticket
• Acceptance of IR (Immigration Responsibility) by inviting organizations or individual.
• Obtainable only from the office of the Controller General of Immigration in the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja.
IR means acceptance of Immigration Responsibility which includes but not limited to:
• Accommodation/feeding
• Transportation
• And if need be the cost of repatriation or deportation
OBTAINING BUSINESS PERMIT AND EXPATRIATE QUOTA
ISIPA consultancy department will assist investors and foreign companies obtain Business Permit and Expatriate Quota from the Nigerian Immigration Service. Expatriate personnel do not require work permits, but they remain subject to needs quota of their employer company requiring them to obtain residence permits.
BUSINESS PERMIT
Business permit is the authorization for the operation of a business with foreign capital either as a parent company or a subsidiary of a foreign company. A wholly foreign owned company must obtain business permit as well Expatriate Quota for its foreign staff. ISIPA Consultancy department will process this for you.
EXPATRIATE QUOTA
Expatriate Quota is the authorization to a company to employ individual expatriates to specifically approved job designations, and also specifying the permissible duration of such employment. The expatriate quota is the work permits for expatriate employees to fill the expatriate quota obtained by the employer company.
Limited quota positions are granted as Permanent until Reviewed (PUR) for senior executive positions such as the Chief Executive, Managing Director, or General Manager. ISIPA Legal Department will assist you.