Nigeria · Talent schemes
Nigeria Highly Skilled (N4A)
First stay: 5 yrs
Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa – N4A
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Highly Skilled (N4A) is a talent schemes route for Nigeria. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 10 days
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Time and long term
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
Apply online and enrol at a Nigerian embassy; the residence permit is issued on entry or regularisation.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Nigeria, not after arriving
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant has a letter of recommendation by the Nigerian Skills Gap Assessment (under the ITF).
Documents2
- Vetted credentials and a CV or skill profile are required.
- A police report from the place of residence 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
5 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
Visa for foreign nationals whose specialised knowledge or technical expertise is relevant to Nigeria's economic needs, backed by a Skills Gap Assessment recommendation. 1 2
Requirements
- The applicant has a letter of recommendation by the Nigerian Skills Gap Assessment (under the ITF). 1
- Vetted credentials and a CV or skill profile are required. 1
- A police report from the place of residence is required. 1
Stay
- Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; residence permit for 5 years, multiple entry.
- Initial permitted stay: 60 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
- Entry visa up to 90 days: Visa is valid 90 days from issuance and is extendable.
- Residence permit up to 60 months: Issued on entry or regularisation.
Work
Permitted to work and reside in Nigeria.
Family
Spouse, minors, adult children and aged parents apply under N6A, N6B, N6C and N6D.
Official sources
- Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa – N4A · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) category · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- 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
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Highly Skilled (N4A)?
Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; residence permit for 5 years, multiple entry.
How long does the Highly Skilled (N4A) 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 Highly Skilled (N4A)?
Yes. Permitted to work and reside in Nigeria.
Can I bring my family on the Highly Skilled (N4A)?
Spouse, minors, adult children and aged parents apply under N6A, N6B, N6C and N6D.
More in Nigeria
≈ 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 4 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.
- Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa – N4A · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) category · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10
- 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
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.