Nigeria · Work
Nigeria Employment · Government (R4A)
First stay: 2 yrs
Employment Visa (Government Official) – R4A
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Employment · Government (R4A) is a work route for Nigeria. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $2,000
- Processing
- Up to 10 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee $2,000; decision: up to 10 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees$2,000
- $2,000CERPAC residence permit card fee for employed foreigners, paid online.
RenewalRenewable
The 2-year permit issued when you regularise your status is renewable.
CitizenshipAfter 15 years of residence
Naturalisation under section 27 of the Constitution needs 15 years of continuous residence in Nigeria, or 12 months of continuous residence plus at least 15 years in total in the 20 years before that. You must also show good character and an intention to be domiciled in Nigeria.
ProcessingUp to 10 days
The Nigeria Immigration Service Service Level Agreement sets a target of 10 days for the visa, counted from enrolment (interview and biometric capture).
Where to applyFrom abroad
The government agency secures approval first. You then submit the application at a Nigerian embassy and finalise your permit after entering Nigeria.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Nigeria, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Nigeria
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of $2,000 · CERPAC residence permit card fee for employed foreigners, paid online.
Documents3
- An official employment letter from the government agency is required.
- An acceptance letter is required.
- A formal application by the employer accepting immigration responsibility is required.
What happens at day 183
How Nigeria decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in 12-month period including leave and temporary absenceSojourn in Nigeria counts as one of six alternative limbs of resident individual status; a person with none of the limbs and fewer than 183 days is non-resident.
- Foreign-source income
Resident status turns on any one of the domicile, permanent place, habitual abode, family-and-economic-ties, 183-day or diplomat limbs; the Act taxes residents on worldwide income without a remittance condition (s.12).
All tax rules for Nigeria Tax records checked
Full official text
Employment visa for expatriates employed directly by the Nigerian Government under an official employment contract. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $2,000 · CERPAC residence permit card fee for employed foreigners, paid online. 3
Requirements
- An official employment letter from the government agency is required. 1
- An acceptance letter is required. 1
- A formal application by the employer accepting immigration responsibility is required. 1
Stay
- Visa valid 90 days from issuance. Residence or work permit of 24 months, renewable.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
- Entry visa up to 90 days: Visa valid 90 days from issuance.
- Residence permit up to 24 months: Issued on entry or regularisation.
Work
Only employment as a government official.
Family
Spouse, children and aged parents apply for R4B to R4E.
Official sources
- Employment Visa (Government Official) – R4A · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) category · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-12
- Service Level Agreement, revised edition (April 2026) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), sections 26 and 27 · Federal Republic of Nigeria (published by the National Human Rights Commission) · checked 2026-10-11
Employment · Government (R4A) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment · Government (R4A) | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Employment · Cleric (R6A) | – | 2 yr | – |
| Employment · Expatriate (R2A) | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Employment · Free zone (R3A) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Employment · INGO (R5A) | – | 2 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Employment · Government (R4A)?
A fee of $2,000. CERPAC residence permit card fee for employed foreigners, paid online.
How long can I stay on the Employment · Government (R4A)?
Visa valid 90 days from issuance.
How long does the Employment · Government (R4A) take to process?
The Nigeria Immigration Service Service Level Agreement sets a target of 10 days for the visa, counted from enrolment (interview and biometric capture).
Can I work on the Employment · Government (R4A)?
Limited. Only employment as a government official.
Can I bring my family on the Employment · Government (R4A)?
Spouse, children and aged parents apply for R4B to R4E.
More in Nigeria
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Employment Visa (Government Official) – R4A · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) category · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-12
- Service Level Agreement, revised edition (April 2026) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), sections 26 and 27 · Federal Republic of Nigeria (published by the National Human Rights Commission) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.