Nigeria · Retire or live on savings
Nigeria Retiree from abroad (N5B)
First stay: 2 yrs
Retirement Visa (Retiree from Abroad) – N5B
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Retiree from abroad (N5B) is a retire or live on savings route for Nigeria. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 10 days
- First stay
- 2 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
- Work isn't allowed on this route
- Only from age 65
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant is aged 65 or over.
Documents5
- A letter of retirement is required.
- A verifiable place of residence in Nigeria is required.
- A passport valid for at least six months is required.
- A medical insurance certificate is required.
- Security clearance from the country 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
2 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 residence permit for foreign retirees aged 65 or older who retired abroad and wish to live in Nigeria. 1 2
What you must show
- Income · Proof of retirement income (pension payments where applicable) and importation of funds by bank statement. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is aged 65 or over. 1
- A letter of retirement is required. 1
- A verifiable place of residence in Nigeria is required. 1
- A passport valid for at least six months is required. 1
- A medical insurance certificate is required. 1
- Security clearance from the country of residence is required. 1
Stay
- Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; residence permit for 2 years, multiple entry.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Entry visa up to 90 days: Visa is valid 90 days from issuance and not extendable.
- Residence permit up to 24 months: Issued on entry or regularisation.
Work
Not permitted to work; residence only.
Family
Dependants apply under N6A, N6B, N6C and N6D.
Official sources
- Retirement Visa (Retiree from Abroad) – N5B · 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
Retiree from abroad (N5B) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retiree from abroad (N5B) | – | 2 yr | No |
| Own-means residence card Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| PR · Financially independent South Africa | Needs assets of ZAR 12M+ ≈ $725k | – | – |
| Retired non-citizen permit Mauritius | Needs income of $2,000+ a month | 10 yr, renewable | No |
| Retiree permanent residence Cabo Verde | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Retiree from abroad (N5B)?
Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance; residence permit for 2 years, multiple entry.
How long does the Retiree from abroad (N5B) 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 Retiree from abroad (N5B)?
No. Not permitted to work; residence only.
Can I bring my family on the Retiree from abroad (N5B)?
Dependants apply under N6A, N6B, N6C and N6D.
More in Nigeria
Retirement and live-on-savings 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 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.
- Retirement Visa (Retiree from Abroad) – N5B · 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.