How to apply for Nigeria’s Resident Permit

A resident permit is a legal document issued by a country to a foreign national, allowing an individual to reside within its borders for a specific period of time. It’s essentially a permission slip to live in a country.

Who Can Apply 

• ECOWAS Residence
• Expatriates or Foreigners
• Foreign Government Officials (GOs)
• Accredited Diplomats
• Staff of International non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

How to Apply as an ECOWAS Residence

ECOWAS means the Economic Community of West African States. It is a regional organisation of 15 West African countries established to promote economic integration among its members. ECOWAS member states are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, and Togo.

Citizens of ECOWAS countries who desire to come to Nigeria for business or personal purposes are not required to apply for a visa. However, in order to stay in the country for the desired period of time, they must obtain a residence permit from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). This is known as the Ecowas Residence Card.

Requirements

1. Application letter for ECOWAS Residence Card by Individual, Embassy, High Commission, or 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 the 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 the application ID and reference number.
2. Submit the completed ECOWAS Residence Card application form with other requirements to the immigration office chosen during the online application process.

How to Apply as an Expatriate or Foreigner

Eligibility

1. Expatriate employees of Companies and their dependents
2. Expatriate Technical officials of Missions
3. Foreign Students
4. Missionaries / Clerics and their dependents
5. Research Fellows
6. Expatriate Staff of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and their dependents
7. Expatriate Staff of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and their dependents
8. Government Officials (GOs) and their dependents
9. Expatriates employed by companies operating in Free Trade Zones (FTZ) and their dependents

Requirements

1. Letter of Application for Regularisation of Stay and Acceptance of Immigration Responsibilities by the
   employer, school, embassies,  high commission, international organisations, INGOs, NGOs, MDAs (for Government officials)
2. The 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 apply to each category of applicants:

1. Expatriate employees of Companies and their dependents
   • 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 dependents
   • 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 1-6 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 a 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 working days from the date of receipt of application (if all requirements are met)