STEPS FOR WORK PERMITS IN NIGERIA - 2024

The primary way of obtaining a work permit in Nigeria is through work. It is also possible to obtain a Nigerian work permit via the marriage route. Nigeria is an open country that allows foreigners from any country in the world to set up or secure employment in the country subject to regulatory guidelines. In this article, we shall focus on the procedure to obtain a Nigerian work permit via work/business route. The Nigerian permit, officially known as the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), permits a foreign national to live and work in Nigeria for one year and can be renewed when it expires, subject to certain conditions.

STEPS FOR WORK PERMIT CARD IN NIGERIA

To obtain a work permit in Nigeria through work route, the first step is to register a company in Nigeria or secure an offer of employment from a Nigerian company. An existing Nigerian company offering a job opportunity to an expatriate must ensure it has a minimum of N10 Million authorized share capital. If the company is to be incorporated directly by the foreigner who requires the work permit, the minimum authorized share capital must not be less than N100,000,000 (One Million Naira only).

Upon getting a job offer from Nigeria or incorporating a new company, such a company must now apply to the Federal Ministry of Interiors for an Expatriate Quota (EQ). The EQ is issued in favour of the company based on the number of expatriates required to be brought into Nigeria. All foreigners aiming to work in Nigeria must obtain EQ, even if such a person is a shareholder or director of the company. Where the company registered is wholly foreign-owned, it must also apply for a Business Permit with the EQ.

After obtaining the quota for the expatriate, the next step is to apply overseas for a work visa, otherwise known as a Subject to Regularization (STR), at the Nigerian Embassy where the expatriate resides.

Below are the main requirements for an STR visa application overseas:

• Duly completed STR visa application form
• A valid international passport for at least six months.
• Completed the visa application in quadruplicate and four current passport photographs.
• Certificate and other incorporation documents of the company requesting for the expatriates
• Expatriate Quota Approval
• Business Permit issued by the Ministry of Interiors (where applicable).
• Curriculum vitae of the expatriate
• Employment offer letter.
• Signed copies of the foreign worker’s letter of acceptance of employment.
• Payment Receipt from the Nigeria Immigration Service.
• Letter of Invitation

The expatriate must submit all the above documents to the Nigerian Mission or Embassy. If all the documents are duly presented, the expatriate will successfully obtain an STR Visa accompanied by a brown envelope or packet from the Embassy. The STR Visa is usually valid for 90 days, so the expatriate must arrive in Nigeria before the expiration of the visa to obtain CERPAC. Upon arrival in Nigeria with an STR Visa, the expatriate is automatically entitled to obtain a work permit (CERPAC), which must be processed via the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The following documents must be attached to an application for work permit processing on arrival of the expatriate in Nigeria:

• International passport with an endorsement for the STR visa.
• An accurately filled-out CERPAC statutory form must be purchased through the bank.
• A packet of STR documents was obtained from the Nigerian Embassy overseas.
• A letter of application from the employer asking for the expat’s stay to be regularised and accepting Immigration Responsibility (IR).
• The payment of the required fees.?The official fee for CERPAC as of 2004 is 2,000 USD or Naira equivalent.

Nigerian work permits, when issued, last for one year. It can be renewed annually by the expatriate by paying another $2,000 through the NIS.

TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT IN NIGERIA

CERPAC is not the only work permit expatriates in Nigeria can use to work. The expatriate seeking temporary work in Nigeria can also apply for a temporary work permit (TWP).

The processing of a TWP visa involves two key stages. First, the applicant must obtain a TWP Pre-Approval Letter (Cablegram) ?from the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS). The second stage involves securing the TWP Visa from a Nigerian Embassy abroad. The procedure for each stage will be summarized below

TWP Pre-Approval (Cablegram)

The first stage in processing a temporary work permit is the Pre-Approval authorization from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).?The Pre-Approval (also known as Cablegram) will be communicated to the Nigerian Embassy overseas?directly?by the NIS.?Below are the requirements and steps for the pre-approval application:

1. The company inviting the foreigner into Nigeria for temporary work will submit an application on behalf of the expatriate to the Comptroller General of NIS, and the application must state the expatriate’s reason for the visit and the location of the Nigerian Embassy where the expatriate will collect the visa.
2. The following documents must be attached to the application:?

• Certificate and other of incorporation of the company?
• Expatriate’s international passport (data page)?
• Company profile
• Payment of fees by the applicant

The period for obtaining the pre-approval is about weeks from the date the application is submitted, provided all the required documents are correctly submitted.

TWP Entry Visa

The second stage involved obtaining the Entry Visa at the Nigerian Embassy closer to the applicant. The Embassy where the applicant is visiting to obtain the visa would have been informed via the Cablegram ahead of time by the NIS.

The applicant will apply for an entry visa to the Nigerian Embassy specified in the Cablegram. The following documents shall accompany the application:

• International Passport of the expatriate
• An invitation letter from a Nigerian citizen assuming immigration responsibility for the expatriate. The invitation letter must be accompanied by the identification card of the Nigerian citizen inviting the expatriate.
• Incorporation documents of the accompany that applied for Cablegram
• Payment of prescribed fee.
• The expatriate must contact the Nigerian Embassy to book an appointment?to submit?the relevant documents.

The TWP visa lasts for two months and may be renewed within Nigeria for about two times or more if the expatriate has yet to conclude his assignment before the expiration of the permit

Rounding up, obtaining a Nigerian work permit is not an arduous task. There are two types of work permits in Nigeria: CERPAC, which is for a long duration, and TWP, designed for temporary workers on a specialized assignment. To obtain either work permit, a company must be duly incorporated in Nigeria requesting the services of the expatriate.

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By Immigration Law Team at Resolution Law Firm

Email: [email protected]

Tel/WhatsApp: +2348099223322