Retirement Visa (Retiree from Abroad)
Nigeria's Retirement Visa (N5B) is a Permanent Residence Visa that allows foreign nationals aged 65 and above who have retired abroad to relocate to and reside in Nigeria. Introduced under the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2020 and administered by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the visa grants renewable residence without the right to engage in any form of employment. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources through pensions, savings, or investments to support themselves for an indefinite stay.
- Minimum age of 65 years
- Must have officially retired in a foreign country
- Sufficient financial resources (pensions, annuities, savings, or investment returns) to support yourself in Nigeria
- Bank documentation showing funds transfer into Nigeria
- Proof of accommodation in Nigeria
- Health insurance from an approved financial institution
- Police clearance certificate from country of residence
- Must not engage in any form of employment in Nigeria
- Completed online visa application form (printout from visa.immigration.gov.ng)
- Online payment acknowledgement slip (printout)
- Two recent passport-sized photographs (35mm x 40mm)
- Valid travel document with minimum 6 months validity and at least 2 blank pages
- Proof of retirement (retirement letter, pension documentation)
- Bank documentation showing funds transfer into Nigeria
- Evidence of adequate financial resources for sustenance
- Proof of accommodation in Nigeria
- Police clearance certificate from country of residence
- Health insurance from an approved financial institution
The visa itself is valid for 90 days for initial entry into Nigeria. Upon arrival, holders must obtain a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), which is valid for 2 years and infinitely renewable. The CERPAC costs USD 2,000 and involves biometric data capture at a designated NIS office. Renewal requires updated financial statements, a valid passport, and continued medical insurance coverage. Processing typically takes 3-5 working days for the initial visa.
Eligible dependants may apply under the N6 series: N6A for spouses, N6B for minor children under 18, N6C for adult children (18 and above), and N6D for aged parents (65 and above). Dependant visas are 2-year renewable permits tied to the principal visa holder's status. Dependant visa holders other than spouses are not permitted to work in Nigeria without a separate work visa. Proof of relationship, valid passport, medical clearance, and police clearance are required for each dependant.
Nigeria taxes residents on worldwide income under the Personal Income Tax Act. Individuals resident in Nigeria for 183 days or more in a 12-month period are considered tax residents. Pension income may be subject to Nigerian tax obligations depending on the source and any applicable double taxation agreements. Progressive personal income tax rates apply, ranging from 7% to 24%.
The application process begins online via the NIS portal (visa.immigration.gov.ng). Applicants complete the form, upload documents, and pay the applicable visa fee. The application must then be submitted to a Nigerian consular mission (Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate) in the applicant's country of residence. The N5B visa can only be obtained through consular missions abroad and cannot be applied for from within Nigeria. Upon approval, the holder has 90 days to enter Nigeria. After arrival, the CERPAC application is submitted online via the NIS portal, followed by medical tests and biometric registration.
- Employment is strictly prohibited, including remote work for foreign employers
- The minimum age requirement of 65 years is firm with no exceptions
- The N5B should not be confused with the N5A visa, which is for foreign nationals who retired in Nigeria after a minimum of 20 years of service and grants indefinite residence without renewal
- Visa fees vary by the applicant's passport nationality
- The CERPAC fee of USD 2,000 is a significant additional cost payable upon arrival
- The N5B is a multiple-entry visa, allowing holders to leave and re-enter Nigeria freely during its validity
- Under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, overstay penalties include a daily fine of USD 15; overstaying 3 months to 1 year results in a one-year entry ban, while overstaying beyond one year triggers a three-year entry ban
Other Visa Programs in Africa
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | Citizenship↕ | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇴 Angola | Investor Visa | — | Approved private investme... | — | 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇧🇼 Botswana | Investor Work Permit | — | No legislated minimum. As... | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇧🇮 Burundi | Investment Code Residence | — | $500,000 one-time | — | 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Green Card (Residence by Investment) | — | €80,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Remote Working Program | €1,500 / month | — | — | 6 months — 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Retired Foreigner Residence Authorization | €1,200 / month | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇨🇩 Congo (DRC) | Special Establishment Visa (Visa d'Établissement Spécial) | — | $200,000 one-time | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇨🇬 Congo (Republic) | Investor Residence Card | — | $160,000 one-time | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇩🇯 Djibouti | Investor Resident Card | — | $28,000 one-time | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes | ||
🇪🇬 Egypt | Citizenship by Investment | — | $250,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇪🇬 Egypt | Real Estate Residence Permit | — | $50,000 one-time | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇿 Eswatini | Class I Entry Permit | SZL 5,000 / year | — | — | 1 month — 5 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Investment Visa | — | $200,000 one-time | — | 3 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇬🇲 Gambia | Residence Permit Type A | Must demonstrate sufficie... | — | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes | ||
🇬🇭 Ghana | GIPC Automatic Expatriate Quota Permit | — | $200,000 one-time | — | 1 year — 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇬🇭 Ghana | Retiree Residence Permit | No fixed minimum; must de... | — | — | 1 year — 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Class C Prescribed Profession Permit | — | — | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Class G Investor Permit | — | $100,000 one-time | — | 2 years | Yes | Yes (7yr) | ||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Class K Ordinary Residents Permit | $24,000 / year | — | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Digital Nomad Work Permit (Class N) | $2,000 / month | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇱🇾 Libya | Investor Residence Permit | — | LYD 5,000,000 one-time | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇲🇬 Madagascar | Investor Visa | — | No legislated minimum inv... | — | 1 year — Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇲🇬 Madagascar | Retiree Long-Stay Visa | €500 / month | — | — | 1 year — Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇲🇼 Malawi | Business Residence Permit | — | $50,000 one-time | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇲🇼 Malawi | Permanent Residence Permit (Retiree) | No fixed minimum specifie... | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Innovator Occupation Permit | — | — | No minimum capital invest... | 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Occupation Permit (Investor) | — | $50,000 one-time | — | 10 years — 20 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Premium Visa | $1,500 / month | — | — | 1 year | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Residence Permit by Real Estate Investment | — | $375,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens | $2,000 / month | — | — | 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇾🇹 Mayotte | Entrepreneur/Profession Liberale Residence Permit | — | — | €1,415 / month | 1 year — 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇦 Morocco | Carte d'Immatriculation Visiteur | No fixed statutory minimu... | — | — | 1 year — 10 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇲🇿 Mozambique | Investment Activity Visa | — | $500,000 one-time | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇳🇦 Namibia | Digital Nomad Visa | $2,000 / month | — | — | 6 months — 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Investor Visa | — | $250,000 one-time | — | 3 years — 8 years | Yes | Yes (15yr) | ||
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Retirement Visa (Retiree from Abroad) | No fixed minimum; must de... | — | — | 2 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇷🇪 Reunion | Temporary Residence — Entrepreneur / Liberal Profession | — | — | No minimum capital. Must ... | 1 year — 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇷🇪 Reunion | Talent Visa — Business Creation | — | — | €30,000 one-time | 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇷🇪 Reunion | Talent Visa — Direct Economic Investment | — | €300,000 one-time | — | 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Assured Income Permit (Category K) | $5,000 / month | — | — | 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Business Entrepreneur Permit | — | — | No minimum capital requir... | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Business Investor Permit | — | No minimum capital for RD... | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇸🇭 Saint Helena | Entrepreneur Permit | — | — | No fixed capital threshol... | Yes | — | |||
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | Citizenship by Investment Program | — | $90,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Permanent Residence Permit (Investor) | — | $1,000,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Residence Permit | $1,500 / month | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes (15yr) | ||
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Workcation Retreat Programme | No specific minimum incom... | — | — | 1 month — 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | GO-FOR-GOLD Citizenship by Investment | — | $100,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | GO-FOR-GOLD Permanent Residency Program | — | $65,000 one-time | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇿🇦 South Africa | Business Visa | — | ZAR 5,000,000 one-time | — | 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇿🇦 South Africa | Remote Work Visitor Visa | ZAR 650,976 / year | — | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇿🇦 South Africa | Retired Person's Visa | ZAR 37,000 / month | — | — | 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇸🇩 Sudan | Investor Residence Permit | — | $250,000 one-time | — | 3 years | Yes | — | ? | |
🇹🇿 Tanzania | Residence Permit Class A | — | $300,000 one-time | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇿 Tanzania | Residence Permit Class C for Retired Persons | Assured income sufficient... | — | — | 2 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇳 Tunisia | Investor Residence Permit | — | No fixed minimum investme... | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇳 Tunisia | Retiree Residence Card | €400 / month | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇺🇬 Uganda | Class H Entry Permit | $3,000 / month | — | — | 6 months — 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇿🇲 Zambia | Investor's Permit | — | $250,000 one-time | — | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇿🇲 Zambia | Residence Permit for Retirees | Must demonstrate sufficie... | — | — | Permanent | Yes | — | ||
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Investor Residence Permit | — | $100,000 one-time | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | Yes |