Nigeria
Corporate Guide
What are the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Nigeria?
TWP/STR – Pre-approval letter
The application is made by the hiring / inviting organisation and should indicate the following:
- name of contractor / employee;
- contractor / employee nationality;
- contractor / employee passport number;
- contractor / employee purpose and duration of visit;
- copy of contractor / employee passport bio-data page;
- hiring organisation company profile;
- copy of the certificate of incorporation from CAC;
- copy of the status report from CAC;
- memorandum and articles of association;
- letter of invitation to the expatriate on the company’s letterhead indicating acceptance of immigration responsibility; and
- country where a visa is to be issued.
The visa approval letter usually takes two to three days and must be used within three months from the date it is issued. Once the pre-approval letter is obtained from the Nigerian Immigration Service, the expatriate can proceed to apply for a TWP/STR visa at the Nigerian Embassy/High Commission in their home country.
TWP visa
- passport with a minimum of six months validity and more than two leaves;
- a letter from the hiring organisation in Nigeria addressed to the Nigeria Consulate in the country the applicant is applying from;
- completed application form;
- certificate of incorporation of the hiring company in Nigeria;
- copy of the passport bio-data page;
- evidence of flight itinerary;
- evidence of hotel / accommodation;
- stamped bank statements of the hiring organisation for the last three months;
- two passport photographs of the expatriate;
- employment offer letter;
- letter of employment acceptance signed by the expatriate;
- Nigeria Immigration Service visa payment receipt; and
- a pre-approval letter from the Nigeria Immigration Service.
STR visa
- passport with at least six months validity;
- completed visa form in quadruplicate with four recent passport photographs;
- completed IMM22 form in quadruplicate;
- copies of the letter of expatriate quota approval from the Ministry of Interior;
- copies of the letter of business permit approval from the Ministry of Interior;
- copies of the application letter applying for an STR visa on the company’s letterhead;
- copies of flight itinerary to Nigeria;
- copies of the certificate of incorporation of the company from CAC;
- copies of credentials, certificates and curriculum vitae, all vetted by a relevant official of the Nigerian High Commission / Embassy (English-certified translated copy where applicable);
- copies of the offer letter of employment;
- four copies of the letter of acceptance of employment, signed by the expatriate;
- Nigeria Immigration Service visa payment receipt; and
- pre-approval letter from the Nigeria Immigration Service.
CERPAC
- application letter from the employer requesting regularization of stay and accepting immigration responsibility on behalf of the expatriate;
- copies of the letter of expatriate quota approval from the Ministry of Interior;
- copies of the letter of business permit approval from the Ministry of Interior;
- copies of offer letter of employment;
- international passport with STR visa endorsement;
- a duly completed CERPAC statutory form;
- an STR package containing STR documentation received from the Nigerian Embassy / Consulate;
- copy of the certificate of incorporation for the company from the CAC;
- company’s board of directors’ resolution confirming the appointment as director (where applicable);
- two recent passport photographs of the expatriate; and
- payment of prescribed fees.