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Federal Republic of Nigeria · work sponsored

CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card)

By · Last reviewed:

The core residence-and-work permit for expatriates living in Nigeria for a year or more, issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service and renewable while the underlying employment and expatriate quota remain valid.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyIssued for a fixed period (commonly up to two years) and renewable; an indefinite-validity CERPAC card has also been introduced - confirm current validity on the official portal.In flux
Processing time
Indicative only - processing times vary by case; confirm current timelines on the official Nigeria Immigration Service e-CERPAC portal.
Government fees
Indicative only - government fees apply and vary by category; confirm current amounts on the official e-CERPAC portal.
Typical duration
Issued for a fixed period (commonly up to two years) and renewable; an indefinite-validity CERPAC card has also been introduced - confirm current validity on the official portal.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Nigeria Immigration Service ↗

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) for Federal Republic of Nigeria is a sponsor-led Nigeria immigration route. Sources: official Federal Republic of Nigeria government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/nigeria/cerpac-residence-permit#answer

What is the CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) in Federal Republic of Nigeria?

CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) is a sponsor-led Nigeria route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply and vary by category; confirm current amounts on the official e-CERPAC portal; indicative processing time is Indicative only - processing times vary by case; confirm current timelines on the official Nigeria Immigration Service e-CERPAC portal; typical duration is Issued for a fixed period (commonly up to two years) and renewable; an indefinite-validity CERPAC card has also been introduced - confirm current validity on the official portal. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Nigeria Immigration Service on 1 June 2026.

Overview

CERPAC is the combined residence permit and aliens card that proves a foreign national is lawfully resident in Nigeria, and it is the document that allows an expatriate to work for the company that holds the relevant expatriate quota slot. It is normally obtained after a company secures an expatriate quota, the worker enters on a Subject to Regularisation (STR) employment visa, and the stay is then regularised into a CERPAC. The permit is tied to the sponsoring employer and is renewable rather than permanent, so it does not by itself lead to settlement. Applications moved onto a fully digital process, and the Nigeria Immigration Service operates a formal adviser scheme, the Nigeria Certified Immigration Agent (NCIA), if you choose to use a registered agent.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm the sponsoring company holds an expatriate quota slot and that the role qualifies for a CERPAC rather than a short business visa.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Assemble the employment letter, quota approval, passport, entry visa and supporting company documents before filing.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    File the application through the digital e-CERPAC portal and attend a designated Nigeria Immigration Service office for biometric capture.

  4. After approval

    Collect the CERPAC card, keep it valid for the duration of your stay, and renew before expiry while the employment and quota slot continue.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Nigeria

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Nigeria. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card).

    Nigeria Immigration Service · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Is CERPAC a permanent residence permit?+

No. CERPAC is a renewable residence-and-work permit tied to your employer and expatriate quota slot; it is not permanent residence. Nigeria has a separate Permanent Residence permit category with its own requirements. Confirm the current rules on the official Nigeria Immigration Service e-CERPAC portal.

Can I still file a paper CERPAC form?+

The process moved to a fully digital one, and physical forms submitted after the cut-over date are treated as void. Always file through the official digital e-CERPAC portal and confirm the current filing channel there before you start.

Can I work in Nigeria on a visit or business visa while I look for a job?+

No. Entry on a visit or business visa does not permit employment or regularisation into a CERPAC, which is the document that authorises an expatriate to work. To work lawfully you need the expatriate quota, STR visa and CERPAC chain. Confirm the rules on the official e-CERPAC portal.

How does the Nigeria work-permit process flow once I have a job offer?+

The employer first secures an expatriate quota slot, you enter Nigeria on a Subject to Regularisation (STR) employment visa, and your stay is then regularised into a CERPAC residence-and-work permit, which you renew before expiry while the employment and quota slot remain valid. Confirm the current sequence on the official e-CERPAC portal.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Nigeria

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Nigeria Immigration Service

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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