--- title: "Nigeria Spouse of a citizen requirements 2026: 4-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/spouse-of-citizen/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Nigeria · Spouse visas # Nigeria Spouse of a citizen **First stay:** 4 yrs Spouse of Nigerian Citizen Visa - N1A Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 4 yrs (Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance, not extendable. Stay duration 4 years, multiple entry, as a residence permit.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Work:** No (No employment; residence in Nigeria only.) ## Key facts Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Nigeria. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Processing:** Up to 10 days - **First stay:** 4 yrs ## Time and long term **Citizenship: Conditions** Under section 26 of the Constitution a woman who is or has been married to a Nigerian citizen can be registered as a citizen. Naturalisation under section 27 needs 15 years of residence. [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. [Nigeria Immigration Service](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/spouse-of-nigerian-citizen-visa-n1a/) ## 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 ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is the spouse of a Nigerian citizen. #### What you must show - The CERPAC residence permit card is free of charge for foreigners married to Nigerian citizens. #### Documents - Passport valid for at least 6 months and a passport-size photograph. - Attested marriage certificate. - Copy of the sponsoring Nigerian citizen's valid identification, such as a national ID or passport. - Evidence of stable residence in Nigeria, such as a utility bill or lease agreement. - Police clearance certificate. #### Steps 1. Apply online through the Nigerian embassy, submit the requirements and pay the visa fees. #### After you arrive - The entry visa is valid 90 days from issuance and cannot be extended; the stay is 4 years with multiple entry as a residence permit. ## What happens at day 183 How Nigeria decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **4 years at first** - **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 ## What you need to arrange - **Accommodation** Evidence of stable residence in Nigeria, such as a utility bill or lease agreement - **Police certificate and civil documents** Attested marriage certificate Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Permanent residence visa for the spouse of a Nigerian citizen under section 37(10) of the Immigration Act 2015. The 90-day entry visa leads to a residence permit with a stay of 4 years and multiple entry. (sources 1, 2) #### Requirements - The applicant is the spouse of a Nigerian citizen. (source 1) - The CERPAC residence permit card is free of charge for foreigners married to Nigerian citizens. (source 2) - Passport valid for at least 6 months and a passport-size photograph. (source 1) - Attested marriage certificate. (source 1) - Copy of the sponsoring Nigerian citizen's valid identification, such as a national ID or passport. (source 1) - Evidence of stable residence in Nigeria, such as a utility bill or lease agreement. (source 1) - Police clearance certificate. (source 1) - Apply online through the Nigerian embassy, submit the requirements and pay the visa fees. (source 1) - The entry visa is valid 90 days from issuance and cannot be extended; the stay is 4 years with multiple entry as a residence permit. (source 1) #### Stay - Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance, not extendable. Stay duration 4 years, multiple entry, as a residence permit. - Initial permitted stay: 48 months. - Entry visa up to 90 days: Visa is valid 90 days from issuance and is not extendable. - Residence permit up to 48 months: Multiple entry residence permit. #### Work No employment; residence in Nigeria only. #### Family Family and group applications are not accepted. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Spouse of Nigerian Citizen Visa - N1A](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/spouse-of-nigerian-citizen-visa-n1a/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC)](https://immigration.gov.ng/combined-expatriate-residence-permit-and-aliens-card-cerpac/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-12 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 ## Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a citizen | – | 4 yr | No | | [Spouse of a permanent resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) | – | – | No | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/spouse-of-citizen/) Morocco | – | – | – | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/spouse-of-citizen/) South Africa | – | – | Limited | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/spouse-of-citizen/) Mauritius | – | 2 yr | – | ## Questions people ask ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen? Entry visa valid 90 days from issuance, not extendable. ### How long does the Spouse of a citizen 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 Spouse of a citizen? No. No employment; residence in Nigeria only. ### Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen? Family and group applications are not accepted. ### How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Nigeria? No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: Under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, in force from 1 January 2026, income, gains and profits of a resident individual are chargeable in Nigeria wherever they arise and whether or not brought into Nigeria; rates run from 0% on the first N800,000 to 25% above N50,000,000. ## More in Nigeria [Highly Skilled (N4A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/highly-skilled-n4a/) [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/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇬🇭 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/spouse-of-citizen/) ≈ 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 2026-10-12 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. [Spouse of Nigerian Citizen Visa - N1A](https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/spouse-of-nigerian-citizen-visa-n1a/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC)](https://immigration.gov.ng/combined-expatriate-residence-permit-and-aliens-card-cerpac/) · Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-12 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.