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When traveling to Nigeria, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you must obtain work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Nigeria, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Nationals of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries are generally permitted to perform short-term, non-remunerated professional activities in Nigeria without obtaining work authorization. Please consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel to determine your eligibility for a short-term work authorization exemption.
Most foreign nationals, including nationals of European Union member states and the United States, are required to obtain a Business Visa from a Nigerian Consulate or Embassy or an e-Visa through the online portal, prior to travel.
Business visitors may also be eligible for a Visa on Arrival, provided that a pre-approval letter from the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service has been obtained. However, to avoid risk of complications at the port of entry, it is recommended that an e-Visa or consular Business Visa be obtained prior to travel.
Nationals of select African countries, including member states of ECOWAS, are eligible to perform business activities under a visa waiver.
Please consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel to determine your eligibility for a Business Visa, e-Visa, Visa on Arrival or visa waiver.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Nigerian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Nigeria, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Nigeria. The most common forms of work authorization in Nigeria are:
There are no long-term exemptions from work authorization requirements in Nigeria.
Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.