Investor Presentaiton
Insights
2. Visa abolishment agreement countries;
3. International organisations; and
4. Reciprocity visa waiver agreement countries.
There are 75 new visa mandatory classes (previously six) broadly in three groups as follows:
• Short Visit Visas (24 classes) - Allows people visit for no more than three months on tourism, business travel,
seminars, etc.
•
Temporary Residence Visas (36 classes) - Allows individuals to reside in Nigeria for a period not exceeding two
years on employment, also for students, interns, etc.
Permanent Residence Visas (15 classes) - Caters to long-term stay by retirees, investors, highly skilled immigrants
and their spouses. Permits for principal applicants ranging from five years to an indefinite period.
The purpose of the expansion is to ensure specific visa needs are met by the applicable visa class. Where visitors to
Nigeria were generally categorized as business, work, tourist, or transit persons, the NVP 2020 has created visa classes
to suit the varied status of visitors.
As an example, Nigeria did not have a specific visa class for missionaries or students. These intending visitors had to
apply for the Subject to Regularisation (STR) visa under the old regime.
Transition period
The NIS is yet to confirm how these changes affect existing visa holders. It is expected that visitors with valid visas and
resident expatriates who have regularized STR visas will continue to use them. However, all new applicants will have to
apply for the new visas as applicable.
New visa fees
In a press release issued on September 30, 2020, the Comptroller General of immigration encouraged concerned
stakeholders to visit the official website of the NIS for more details. The new visa fees can be accessed using this link.
The takeaway
The implementation of the NVP 2020 is a welcome development as interested individuals and stakeholders have
anticipated the change since the initial announcement was made in February 2020. We expect the new classes would
enable effective monitoring of visitors, data analysis by the Government to enhance security, and potentially ease travel
ambitions of investors to promote national growth.
Intending visitors and current residents will need to familiarize themselves with the new categories and fees to ensure
accurate applications and avoid penalties or discomfiting travel situations.
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