Nigeria · Work
Nigeria Employment · INGO (R5A)
First stay: 2 yrs
Employment Visa (INGO) – R5A
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Employment · INGO (R5A) is a work route for Nigeria. 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
Section 37 of the Immigration Act lets the Comptroller-General grant residence permits of up to two years, subject to renewal.
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
Your employer first secures an MOU and clearances. You then apply online through a Nigerian embassy.
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
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.
Documents4
- An INGO employment contract is required.
- An MOU with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is required.
- An employer letter accepting immigration responsibility is required.
- Security clearance may be 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 working for an international NGO that holds an MOU with the Nigerian Government. 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 INGO employment contract is required. 1
- An MOU with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is required. 1
- An employer letter accepting immigration responsibility is required. 1
- Security clearance may be required. 1
Stay
- Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; work permit 2 years, multiple entry.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Entry visa up to 90 days: Visa valid 90 days from issuance and not extendable.
- Residence permit up to 24 months: Issued on entry or regularisation.
Work
No formal employment beyond INGO activities.
Family
Spouse, minors, adult children and aged parents apply for R5B to R5E.
Official sources
- Employment Visa (INGO) – R5A · 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
- 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
- Service Level Agreement, revised edition (April 2026) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration Act 2015, section 37 · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11
Employment · INGO (R5A) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment · INGO (R5A) | – | 2 yr | – |
| Employment · Cleric (R6A) | – | 2 yr | – |
| Employment · Expatriate (R2A) | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Employment · Free zone (R3A) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Employment · Government (R4A) | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Employment · INGO (R5A)?
A fee of $2,000. CERPAC residence permit card fee for employed foreigners, paid online.
How long can I stay on the Employment · INGO (R5A)?
Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; work permit 2 years, multiple entry.
How long does the Employment · INGO (R5A) 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 · INGO (R5A)?
No formal employment beyond INGO activities.
Can I bring my family on the Employment · INGO (R5A)?
Spouse, minors, adult children and aged parents apply for R5B to R5E.
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
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 6 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 (INGO) – R5A · 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
- 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
- Service Level Agreement, revised edition (April 2026) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration Act 2015, section 37 · Nigeria Immigration Service · 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.