Nigeria
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
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Other Digital Nomad Visas in Africa
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇴 Angola | Investor Visa | — | — | ||||
🇧🇼 Botswana | Investor Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇮 Burundi | Investment Code Residence | — | — | ||||
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Green Card (Residence by Investment) | — | — | ||||
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Remote Working Program | — | — | ||||
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Retired Foreigner Residence Authorization | — | — | ||||
🇨🇩 Congo (DRC) | Special Establishment Visa (Visa d'Établissement Spécial) | — | — | ||||
🇨🇬 Congo (Republic) | Investor Residence Card | — | — | ||||
🇩🇯 Djibouti | Investor Resident Card | — | — | ||||
🇪🇬 Egypt | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | ||||
🇪🇬 Egypt | Real Estate Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇸🇿 Eswatini | Class I Entry Permit | — | — | ||||
🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Investment Visa | — | — | ||||
🇬🇲 Gambia | Residence Permit Type A | — | — | ||||
🇬🇭 Ghana | GIPC Automatic Expatriate Quota Permit | — | — | ||||
🇬🇭 Ghana | Retiree Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Class C Prescribed Profession Permit | — | — | — | |||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Class G Investor Permit | — | — | ||||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Class K Ordinary Residents Permit | — | — | ||||
🇰🇪 Kenya | Digital Nomad Work Permit (Class N) | — | — | ||||
🇱🇾 Libya | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇲🇬 Madagascar | Investor Visa | — | — | ||||
🇲🇬 Madagascar | Retiree Long-Stay Visa | — | — | ||||
🇲🇼 Malawi | Business Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇲🇼 Malawi | Permanent Residence Permit (Retiree) | — | — | ||||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Innovator Occupation Permit | — | — | ||||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Occupation Permit (Investor) | — | — | ||||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Premium Visa | — | — | ||||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Residence Permit by Real Estate Investment | — | — | ||||
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens | — | — | ||||
🇾🇹 Mayotte | Entrepreneur/Profession Liberale Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇲🇦 Morocco | Carte d'Immatriculation Visiteur | — | — | ||||
🇲🇿 Mozambique | Investment Activity Visa | — | — | ||||
🇳🇦 Namibia | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | ||||
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | |||
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Investor Visa | — | — | ||||
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Retirement Visa (Retiree from Abroad) | — | — | ||||
🇷🇪 Reunion | Temporary Residence — Entrepreneur / Liberal Profession | — | — | ||||
🇷🇪 Reunion | Talent Visa — Business Creation | — | — | ||||
🇷🇪 Reunion | Talent Visa — Direct Economic Investment | — | — | ||||
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Assured Income Permit (Category K) | — | — | ||||
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Business Entrepreneur Permit | — | — | ||||
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Business Investor Permit | — | — | ||||
🇸🇭 Saint Helena | Entrepreneur Permit | — | — | ||||
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | Citizenship by Investment Program | — | — | ||||
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Permanent Residence Permit (Investor) | — | — | ||||
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Workcation Retreat Programme | — | — | ||||
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | GO-FOR-GOLD Citizenship by Investment | — | — | ||||
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | GO-FOR-GOLD Permanent Residency Program | — | — | ||||
🇿🇦 South Africa | Business Visa | — | — | ||||
🇿🇦 South Africa | Remote Work Visitor Visa | — | — | ||||
🇿🇦 South Africa | Retired Person's Visa | — | — | ||||
🇸🇩 Sudan | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇹🇿 Tanzania | Residence Permit Class A | — | — | ||||
🇹🇿 Tanzania | Residence Permit Class C for Retired Persons | — | — | ||||
🇹🇳 Tunisia | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇹🇳 Tunisia | Retiree Residence Card | — | — | ||||
🇺🇬 Uganda | Class H Entry Permit | — | — | ||||
🇿🇲 Zambia | Investor's Permit | — | — | ||||
🇿🇲 Zambia | Residence Permit for Retirees | — | — | ||||
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Investor Residence Permit | — | — |