--- title: "Nigeria Highly Skilled (N4A) requirements 2026: 5-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/highly-skilled-n4a/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-10 --- Nigeria · Talent schemes # Nigeria Highly Skilled (N4A) **First stay:** 5 yrs Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa – N4A First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 5 yrs (Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; residence permit for 5 years, multiple entry.) - **Renewal:** Renewable - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Work:** Yes (Permitted to work and reside in Nigeria.) ## 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 **Citizenship: After 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. [Federal Republic of Nigeria](https://nigeriarights.gov.ng/files/constitution.pdf) **Processing: Up 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). [Nigeria Immigration Service](https://immigration.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SERVICE-LEVEL-AGREEMENT-2026_.pdf) **Where to apply: From abroad** Apply online and enrol at a Nigerian embassy; the residence permit is issued on entry or regularisation. [Nigeria Immigration Service](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/highly-skilled-immigrant-visa-n4a/) ## 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 apply - The applicant has a letter of recommendation by the Nigerian Skills Gap Assessment (under the ITF). #### Documents - 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 absence** Sojourn 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 **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. (sources 1, 2) #### Requirements - The applicant has a letter of recommendation by the Nigerian Skills Gap Assessment (under the ITF). (source 1) - Vetted credentials and a CV or skill profile are required. (source 1) - A police report from the place of residence is required. (source 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. Checked 2026-10-10 ## Official sources 1. [Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa – N4A](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/highly-skilled-immigrant-visa-n4a/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) category](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/category/permanent-residence-visa-prv/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), sections 26 and 27](https://nigeriarights.gov.ng/files/constitution.pdf) · Federal Republic of Nigeria (published by the National Human Rights Commission) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Service Level Agreement, revised edition (April 2026)](https://immigration.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SERVICE-LEVEL-AGREEMENT-2026_.pdf) · 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 [Retiree from abroad (N5B)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/retirement-n5b/) [Investor · Large (N3C)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/investor-n3c-large/) [Investor · Medium (N3B)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/investor-n3b-medium/) [Investor · Oil & gas (N3E)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/investor-n3e-oil-gas-power/) [Investor · Small (N3A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/investor-n3a-small/) [Investor · Ultra-large (N3D)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/investor-n3d-ultra-large/) [Employment · Cleric (R6A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/employment-r6a-cleric/) [Employment · Expatriate (R2A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/employment-r2a-expatriate/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## 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. 1. [Highly Skilled Immigrant Visa – N4A](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/highly-skilled-immigrant-visa-n4a/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) category](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/category/permanent-residence-visa-prv/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), sections 26 and 27](https://nigeriarights.gov.ng/files/constitution.pdf) · Federal Republic of Nigeria (published by the National Human Rights Commission) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Service Level Agreement, revised edition (April 2026)](https://immigration.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SERVICE-LEVEL-AGREEMENT-2026_.pdf) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.