Federal Republic of Nigeria · work sponsored
Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
A Ministry of Interior authorisation that grants a Nigerian company a fixed number of slots to employ expatriates in named positions, underpinning each worker's STR visa and CERPAC.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - government fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official Ministry of Interior page.
- Typical duration
- Granted for a defined period in the first instance (commonly three years) and renewable within a maximum lifespan; confirm current terms on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 9 July 2026, the Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation) 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/expatriate-quota#answer
What is the Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation) in Federal Republic of Nigeria?
Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation) is a sponsor-led Nigeria route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official Ministry of Interior page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page; typical duration is Granted for a defined period in the first instance (commonly three years) and renewable within a maximum lifespan; confirm current terms on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Expatriate Quota is granted by the Federal Ministry of Interior to a registered company, allowing it to employ foreign nationals in specified positions for a defined period. Each quota position must include a job description and an understudy plan showing how Nigerian employees will be trained to take over the role. The quota is a company-level authorisation, but it is the foundation for each individual expatriate's STR employment visa and CERPAC. It is granted for a set period in the first instance and is renewable rather than permanent, so it does not lead to settlement.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A company registered in Nigeria, normally holding a business permit where foreign ownership applies.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- ✓Each quota position defined with a job description and an understudy or training plan for Nigerian staff.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- ✓Application to the Federal Ministry of Interior through the relevant department or digital system.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- ✓Evidence that the roles genuinely require expatriate skills.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
Common blockers
- !No business permit in place where foreign ownership requires one first.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- !Quota positions submitted without a job description or understudy plan.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- !Seeking to employ an expatriate before the relevant quota slot is approved.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Company incorporation and business permit documents.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- ·Job descriptions and understudy plans for each quota position.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- ·Evidence of the company operations and need for expatriate skills.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
- ·Completed expatriate quota application through the official channel.Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the company holds (or is eligible for) a business permit and identify the positions that genuinely need expatriate skills.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare job descriptions, understudy plans and the corporate documents the Ministry of Interior requires for each quota slot.
Submit through the official channel
File the expatriate quota application with the Ministry of Interior through the official department or digital system.
After approval
Use approved quota slots to apply for STR employment visas and CERPACs for the named expatriate staff, and renew the quota before expiry.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorUse official Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation).
Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) · verified
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Related routes
Business Permit (foreign-owned company)
The Ministry of Interior authorisation a wholly or partly foreign-owned company needs to operate legally in Nigeria, and the precondition for obtaining an expatriate quota and CERPAC permits.
Subject to Regularisation (STR) Employment Visa
The entry visa a foreign worker uses to come to Nigeria for employment and then regularise their stay into a CERPAC residence-and-work permit.
CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card)
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the understudy plan on an expatriate quota?+
Each quota position typically requires a plan showing how Nigerian employees will be trained to take over the role over time. The exact requirements are set by the Ministry of Interior - confirm them on the official Citizenship and Business Department page.
Is the expatriate quota the same as a personal work permit?+
No. The quota is a company-level authorisation; the individual expatriate still needs an STR employment visa and a CERPAC against an approved quota slot. Confirm the current process on the official Ministry of Interior page.
Why does the company hiring me need an expatriate quota before I can work in Nigeria?+
The expatriate quota is a Ministry of Interior authorisation granting a Nigerian company a fixed number of slots to employ foreign nationals in named positions, and each position must include a job description and an understudy plan to train Nigerian staff to take over the role. Your individual STR visa and CERPAC can only be issued against an approved quota slot. Confirm the current process on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page.
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 NigeriaHow 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: Ministry of Interior (Nigeria)
Last checked: 1 June 2026