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Business · Nigeria

Hire a foreign worker (Expatriate Quota & CERPAC)

Employ an expatriate legally: obtain an Expatriate Quota (Ministry of Interior) → STR visa → enter Nigeria → CERPAC residence/work permit (Nigeria Immigration Service).

3
steps
3
agencies involved
Who you will deal with
Federal Ministry of InteriorNigeria Immigration Service (embassy/consulate)Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
The steps
  1. 1Obtain an Expatriate Quota
    Agency
    Federal Ministry of Interior
    What is required
    The incorporated company applies for an Expatriate Quota authorising a number of foreign-national positions; must justify the need and often commit to knowledge transfer.
    Documents
    Certificate of Incorporation; TIN; sector licence; justification
    Typical timeline
    Quota approval
  2. 2Issue offer and obtain STR visa
    Agency
    Nigeria Immigration Service (embassy/consulate)
    What is required
    With a quota position available, the employer issues a job offer; the expatriate applies for a Subject-to-Regularisation (STR) visa at a Nigerian embassy/consulate and enters Nigeria on it.
    Documents
    Job offer; quota approval; valid passport; qualifications
    Typical timeline
    Weeks
  3. 3Apply for CERPAC and regularise
    Agency
    Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
    What is required
    Within the required timeframe after arrival, the employer applies for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit & Aliens Card (CERPAC). CERPAC fee USD 2,000 for employed foreigners. Total STR+CERPAC typically 1-3 months.
    Documents
    STR visa; employment letter; passport; quota approval
    Typical timeline
    ~1-3 months total

Primary source: https://immigration.gov.ng/combined-expatriate-residence-permit-and-aliens-card-cerpac/ · confidence: high

Also in business
Certify a locally-made product (SON MANCAP)Comply with data protection (NDPA / NDPC)Obtain an ISP / telecoms licence (NCC)Open a restaurant / food businessRegister a business for tax (TIN & VAT)Register a limited liability company (CAC)

The numbers behind the decision

Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.

ONYX publishes what the responsible agencies publish, with a link to each source. Requirements, fees and timelines change, and an officer's reading of a rule can differ from the published text. Verify against the linked source before you commit money — this is reference information, not legal advice.

ONYX Data & Intelligence · hello@onyxdata.io