Nigeria
NGANigeria is Africa's most populous nation and largest economy, a cultural powerhouse with one of the world's most entrepreneurial populations and a dynamic diaspora that spans every major global city. Lagos serves as the commercial capital and a thriving hub for technology, entertainment, and finance, while Abuja functions as a planned federal capital with modern infrastructure. The country's rich ethnic diversity — over 250 recognised groups — and vibrant creative industries in music, film (Nollywood), and fashion have given Nigeria an outsized cultural footprint on the global stage.
- Naturalisation
- 15 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Nigerian Naira (NGN)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Abuja
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 220,000,000
- Cost-of-living
- 18 /100
Passport Rank
#94
Visa-Free
41
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Nigeria passport has visa-free access to 41 destinations. See the full Nigeria passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Nigeria without a prior visa (18)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Nigeria
Current IRCC processing times for Nigeria nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 100 days |
| Super visa | 37 days |
| Study permit | 10 weeks |
| Work permit | 10 weeks |
| Sponsor a dependent child | 22 months |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-10-07 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Abuja
- Currency
- Nigerian Naira (NGN)
- Languages
- English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo
- Population
- 220,000,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 15 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical / Semi-arid
- English Proficiency Rank
- #88
- GDP per capita
- $1,224
- Life expectancy
- 54.64 yrs
- Population growth
- 2.06%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
18
Safety
30
Healthcare
40
Quality of Life
105
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 15 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | $950 | $520 | $290 | $85 | $30 |
| Abuja | $700 | $400 | $270 | $80 | $28 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Lagos
Rainfall range: 25–385 mm/month · Daylight 12h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Abuja
Rainfall range: 3–280 mm/month · Daylight 12h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist eVisa
- Business eVisa
- Subject to Regularisation (STR)
- Temporary Work Permit (TWP)
- Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card - Employee (CERPAC)
- Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card - Investor (CERPAC)
- Family Visa
- Student Visa
- Transit Visa
- Authority
- Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
- Official Portal
- www.immigration.gov.ng
- Phone
- +234 9 523 5701
- info@immigration.gov.ng
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 15
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $300
- Processing
- ~36 months
Real Estate
- Avg price/sqm (capital)
- $3,500
- Transaction taxes
- 5%
Foreign buyers: Foreign nationals may own property in Nigeria with some restrictions — land ownership is technically vested in state governments via the Land Use Act 1978, so buyers acquire leasehold rights (Certificate of Occupancy, 99-year C of O). Victoria Island and Ikoyi (Lagos) NGN 3,500,000-7,000,000/sqm ($2,500-5,000) represent premium pricing. Lekki corridor is popular for expat housing. Governor's consent required for property transfers adding 3-8% cost. Stamp duty 1.5%. Infrastructure reliability (power, roads) is a key consideration.
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| American International School of Lagos | Lagos | US + IB | $18,000–$32,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
30 Mbps median
20% fibre coverage
eSIM: MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Glo Mobile, 9mobile
Driving
IDP required
Local licence required after 12 months
Exchange eligible: Drives on the RIGHT. IDP valid for foreign visitors. Expatriate residents must obtain Nigerian driving licence from FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps). No widely recognised bilateral exchange agreements — local test required for residents.
Pet Relocation
Quarantine: none
Rabies titre required
EU pet passport: not accepted
Safety
GPI Rank
#144
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠advance-fee (419) fraud attempts via email and WhatsApp targeting foreigners
- ⚠fake investment schemes in Lagos business districts
- ⚠police impersonation and roadblock extortion outside major cities
- ⚠SIM swap fraud targeting mobile banking customers
Examples of areas to avoid: Ajegunle, Mushin and Oshodi in Lagos after dark, Wuse Market area in Abuja at night, Any travel outside major cities in the north-east (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa states) — active insurgency
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Not recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- No
- ILGA Rank
- #160
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Sample Citizenship Test Questions
Q1. In which year did Nigeria gain independence from British colonial rule?
Answer: 1960
Source: Nigeria Immigration Service — Citizenship
Q2. What is the name of Nigeria's federal capital, which replaced Lagos as capital in 1991?
Answer: Abuja
Source: Nigeria Immigration Service — Citizenship
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Nigeria, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Nigeria Certified Immigration Agent
NCIAOfficial Nigeria Immigration Service certification and registry for immigration and visa agents — a rare government-run adviser register. Verify any agent against the NCIA registry.
Nigerian Bar Association
NBARegulates legal practitioners in Nigeria who may provide immigration representation.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Nigeria, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Permanent Residence (Nigeria)
ResidenceNigeria's permanent-residence visa group for highly skilled immigrants, investors, retirees and spouses of citizens or permanent residents, granting long-term residence beyond the renewable CERPAC.
Short-term / business
Visa on Arrival / e-Visa (business and urgent travel)
Short-term / businessA short-term entry facility for business and urgent travel that, under the 2025 Nigeria Visa Policy, is now delivered mainly through an electronic visa applied for before travel rather than issued at the airport.
Work (sponsored)
CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card)
Work (sponsored)The core residence-and-work permit for expatriates living in Nigeria for a year or more, issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service and renewable while the underlying employment and expatriate quota remain valid.
Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation)
Work (sponsored)A Ministry of Interior authorisation that grants a Nigerian company a fixed number of slots to employ expatriates in named positions, underpinning each worker's STR visa and CERPAC.
Subject to Regularisation (STR) Employment Visa
Work (sponsored)The entry visa a foreign worker uses to come to Nigeria for employment and then regularise their stay into a CERPAC residence-and-work permit.
Investor
Investor Visa (multiple-entry)
InvestorA multiple-entry visa category of the Nigeria Immigration Service for foreign nationals investing in a Nigerian enterprise, with stay duration scaling by the size of the investment and sitting within the permanent-residence family of visas.
Entrepreneur
Business Permit (foreign-owned company)
EntrepreneurThe Ministry of Interior authorisation a wholly or partly foreign-owned company needs to operate legally in Nigeria, and the precondition for obtaining an expatriate quota and CERPAC permits.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-10-15. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified