Investor Visa

Nigeria's Investor Visa programme provides permanent residence permits to foreign nationals who make qualifying capital investments in the Nigerian economy. Established under the Immigration Act 2015 and the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2020, the programme comprises five tiers classified by investment scale: N3A (Small Scale Enterprise), N3B (Medium Scale Enterprise), N3C (Large Scale Corporations), N3D (Ultra Large Scale Corporations), and N3E (Oil, Gas & Power Sector). Capital importation must be channelled through an authorised dealer bank, which issues a Certificate of Capital Importation.

• Minimum capital investment ranging from USD 250,000 to USD 100,000,000+ depending on the tier:
  • N3A (Small Scale): USD 250,000 to USD 500,000
  • N3B (Medium Scale): USD 500,000 to USD 1,000,000
  • N3C (Large Scale): USD 1,000,000 to USD 10,000,000
  • N3D (Ultra Large Scale): USD 10,000,000 and above
  • N3E (Oil, Gas & Power): USD 100,000,000 and above
• Capital must be imported through an authorised dealer bank under the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Act
• Business registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a Limited Liability Company
• Registration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
• Police clearance from countries of residence in the last 5 years
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required

• Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI) from an authorised dealer bank
• Documentary proof of investment retained in Nigeria
• Police clearance certificates from countries of residence in the last 5 years
• Application letter
• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Business plan and company registration documents (CAC and NIPC registration)
• Proof of financial capacity
• Audited financial statements

The visa itself is valid for 90 days for entry into Nigeria. Residence duration depends on the investment tier: 3 years for N3A, 4 years for N3B, 6 years for N3C, 8 years for N3D, and 5 years for N3E. All tiers are renewable upon demonstrating that investment capital remains retained in Nigeria. After entering Nigeria, holders must apply for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), which costs USD 2,000 and includes biometric registration.

Dependants may apply under four categories: N6A for spouses, N6B for children under 18, N6C for adult dependants (18 and above), and N6D for aged parents (65 and above). Dependant residency is tied to the principal visa holder's valid permit. Dependant visa holders (N6B, N6C, N6D) are not permitted to work in Nigeria; adult dependants who wish to work must apply for a separate appropriate visa category.

Nigeria taxes residents on worldwide income, while non-residents pay tax only on Nigerian-sourced income. Tax residency is triggered by presence of 183+ days or domicile with economic ties. Progressive personal income tax rates range from 7% on the first NGN 300,000 to 24% on income above NGN 3,200,000. Nigeria has double taxation treaties with multiple countries. Enterprises registered with NIPC are guaranteed unconditional repatriation of capital, profits, dividends, and loans out of Nigeria.

The process involves multiple steps across several agencies:

1. Register a business entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a Limited Liability Company
2. Register with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) to obtain a Business Permit. The NIPC's One-Stop Investment Centre co-locates 27 government agencies to streamline the process
3. Import capital through an authorised dealer bank, which issues a Certificate of Capital Importation
4. Apply for the investor visa at a Nigerian consular mission abroad with all required documentation
5. Upon visa approval (valid 90 days for entry), travel to Nigeria
6. Apply for CERPAC through the NIS portal, undergo medical tests, and provide biometrics

The investor visa is obtainable only through Nigerian consular missions abroad, not through online portals or on arrival.

• Investment capital must be retained in Nigeria for the duration of the visa; withdrawal may result in visa revocation
• Naturalization as a Nigerian citizen is possible after 15 years of continuous residence, subject to good character and financial stability requirements, but there is no direct citizenship-by-investment programme
• The NIS introduced the Expatriate Administration System (EAS) in 2025, linking Ministry and Immigration records for enhanced compliance monitoring
• A mandatory insurance scheme covering repatriation and emergencies was introduced in 2025, payable with CERPAC purchases
• Overstay penalties include daily fines and potential entry bans