Nigeria · Investing
Nigeria Investor · Small (N3A)
Investment needed: $250k+
Investor Visa (Small Scale Enterprise) – N3A
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Investor · Small (N3A) is an investing route for Nigeria. Applicants need an investment of $250k+. You can stay 3 yrs. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- $250k+
- Processing
- Up to 10 days
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: investment $250k+; decision: up to 10 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Invested and held$250k+
- $250,000Imported and retained as investor's capital in the tier between USD 250,000 and USD 500,000.
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 previously held or currently holds an F4B or F4C business visa.
What you must show1
- An investment of at least $250,000 · Imported and retained as investor's capital in the tier between USD 250,000 and USD 500,000.
Documents4
- Security clearance from the place of residence is required.
- A business plan is required.
- Proof of investment is required.
- A certificate of incorporation or business registration 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
3 years at first
- 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
Multiple-entry investor visa leading to a 3-year residence permit for an applicant who has imported and retained investor capital between USD 250,000 and USD 500,000 in a qualifying enterprise. 1 2
What you must show
- An investment of at least $250,000 · Imported and retained as investor's capital in the tier between USD 250,000 and USD 500,000. 1
Requirements
- The applicant previously held or currently holds an F4B or F4C business visa. 1
- Security clearance from the place of residence is required. 1
- A business plan is required. 1
- Proof of investment is required. 1
- A certificate of incorporation or business registration is required. 1
Stay
- Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance, not extendable; residence permit for 3 years, multiple entry.
- Initial permitted stay: 36 months.
- Entry visa up to 90 days: Visa is valid 90 days from issuance and cannot be extended.
- Residence permit up to 36 months: Issued on entry or regularisation.
Work
Invest and reside in Nigeria; investor capital must be retained in Nigeria.
Family
Spouse, minors, adult children and aged parents apply under N6A, N6B, N6C and N6D.
Official sources
- Investor Visa (Small Scale Enterprise) – N3A · 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
Investor · Small (N3A) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor · Small (N3A) | Needs an investment of $250k+ | 3 yr | – |
| Investor · Large (N3C) | Needs an investment of $1M+ | 6 yr | – |
| Investor · Medium (N3B) | Needs an investment of $500k+ | 4 yr | – |
| Investor · Oil & gas (N3E) | Needs an investment of $100M+ | 10 yr | – |
| Investor · Ultra-large (N3D) | Needs an investment of $10M+ | 8 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Investor · Small (N3A)?
An investment of at least $250,000. Imported and retained as investor's capital in the tier between USD 250,000 and USD 500,000.
How long can I stay on the Investor · Small (N3A)?
Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance, not extendable; residence permit for 3 years, multiple entry.
How long does the Investor · Small (N3A) 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 Investor · Small (N3A)?
Invest and reside in Nigeria; investor capital must be retained in Nigeria.
Can I bring my family on the Investor · Small (N3A)?
Spouse, minors, adult children and aged parents apply under N6A, N6B, N6C and N6D.
More in Nigeria
Investment visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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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.
- Investor Visa (Small Scale Enterprise) – N3A · 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.