IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENT GUIDE

 

1.       A Guide for Entry Requirement into Nigeria for:

 

(a)     Foreign Employee(s) of University of Ilorin

(b)     Foreign Students who wish to study in the university

(c)     Foreign Exchange Programme Staff

(d)     Foreign University Guests/Visitors

(e)     Foreign Professional/Technical Resource Persons etc.

 

(i)      You must be in possession of a dully signed and authorized letter of appointment/admission stating the purpose of your requiring to enter Nigeria/the University of Ilorin . This should be clearly stated in your correct names as used in your travelling documents.

 

(ii)      If you are arriving as an employee/student of the university, you need to arrive with a valid travelling documents and a visa or entry permit (for aliens and commonwealth citizen), endorsed with ‘STR VISA/ENTRY PERMIT’ (i.e Subject to Regulation) to enable you upgrade your immigration status on being granted entry.

 

2.       For ECOWAS citizens, you must be in possession of a valid travelling documents and offer of employment or admission letter from the University of Ilorin. You will be given a visitor’s pass at the point of entry for a period not exceeding three months (90 days) within which period you will report to the immigration authority to upgrade your immigration status either as an employee or student of the university.

 

3.       For those who come for Exchange Programme, invitation letters issued by the University Authorities is required at the Nigerian Embassy to facilitate your visa/permit entry into Nigeria. A valid travelling document is also required before approval is effected at the Nigerian Embassy abroad.

          The following is the guideline during the process of your application for entry visa/permit.

 

STEP 1.       (a)     Completed online visa/entry permit application form

(b)     Acknowledgment slip (this is obtainable after you click submit button)

                   (c)     Proof of online payment (This is obtainable after payment)

 

STEP 2.       An appointment is booked online by you with the embassy for document submission and interview.

 

Visa/Entry Permit Procedure:

 

The purpose of visa/entry permit system is to assist the Immigration Authorities in Nigeria the proper administration of regulations regarding your entry into Nigeria.

 

i.        Nigeria Embassies, consulates are the outposts of Nigeria Immigration Authorities outside Nigeria responsible for the issuing of visa/entry permit to those who wish to enter Nigeria .

 

ii.       Advantage of the visa system is that it deters unapproved or illegal journeys into Nigeria and save you the inconveniences of being refused permission to enter Nigeria at the point of entry.

 

iii.      Being in possession of entry visa/permit is not a final right to enter Nigeria. You are required to comply with immigration law on arrival because the immigration officer at the point of entry has the final right to grant or reject entry permission.

 

Entry Visa Application

 

You are required to have:

 

(i)      Complete visa/entry permit application form (1mm. 22)

(ii)      Valid passport

(iii)     3 passport-sized photographs

(iv)     Appropriate visa or entry permit fee.

(v)     Visa/entry permit application form to be submitted in triplet in respect of all visa/entry permit application requiring reference. (This may not be applicable to you).

 

Return visa for Nigeria:

 

You are required to be supported by letter from the university authorities certifying that you are returning to the university and that the university accepts your immigration responsibilities.

 

 

Description of visa/entry permit:

 

It is a stamped impressible on an aliens/foreigners passport, Travel document or occasionally other documents and with inked insertion usually containing the following:

 

(i)      Serial number

(ii)      Place of issue

(iii)     Type of visa/entry permit

(iv)     Territory for which valid

(v)     Period of validity

(vi)     Endorsement and/or reference number of that authority

(vii)    Signature of the officer

(viii)   Date

In brief, it is an authority of government of a country to a foreigner (Alien) for the purpose of allowing such person enters the country.

 

Types of visa:

 

(i)      Ordinary visa (most of you will require this visa type)

(ii)      Diplomatic visa (issued only to Head of Missions)

(iii)     Gratis Courtesy visa (for Foreign Government Officers on official business trip)

 

Note that using:

 

(a)     ordinary visa, you may require a single journey visa, valid for single entry into Nigeria or

          multiple journey visa which state the number of journeys you     intend to make to and from Nigeria for a period of validity not exceeding 'twelve months'.

 

(b)     Also note that one visa fee can be issued to a husband and wife and their children who are minors if they are using one passport and with their particulars affixed. i.e marked with ‘Accompanied by wife’ or ‘Accompanied by children'.

 

(c)     Again, separate visa fees are issued for children above 16 years of age if they are included in their parents' passport.

 

Information on short visit visa (e.g visitor’s visa):

(a)     You will carry visa endorsee (S/105/C/Visitor Pass)

(b)     Your duration of stay in Nigeria will not exceed 90 days (subject to local security clearance).

(c)     You should be in possession of return ticket or onward transportation ticket from Nigeria.

(d)     You cannot use it for employment or to study in Nigeria.

 

Information on visa abolition agreement:

 

Where Government of two or more countries may agree to abolish the application of visa system between their nationals (e.g as with Commonwealth or ECOWAS members which include the Cameroons, TChad and Morocco or any other country that may come to such agreement with the country.

 

Entry permit (for commonwealth citizens):

 

Applicants are required to complete an entry permit application form (1mm.22A) and submit with valid passport, three passport size photographs (now online in Nigeria Immigration Website or Embassy Website as already indicated). See also the requirement for visa permit with similar procedures.

 

Re-entry permit for Nigeria :

 

Application should be supported by letters from the university or the employer, stating acceptance of immigration responsibilities on behalf of the applicant.

 

Other conditions for entry permission for "Accompanied by wife or children" who are minors and those children over 16 years of age has the same entry requirement as with the case of visa entry permit as already noted.

 

Entry permit application outside Nigeria :

 

(i)      This is issued by Nigerian Embassy online or Nigerian Immigration website. Entry permits is endorsed thus "CW/year/serial number" with type of visit specification.

(ii)      You must be in possession of return ticket or onward transportation ticket from Nigerian and evidence of adequate fund for your maintenance in Nigerian.

 

Operation of the quota system:

 

Does not normally apply to Educational Institutions, Universities or Government Cooperations, except Commercial Companies wholly or partly owned by any of the Federal or State Government of Nigeria. Possession of valid entry permit is required of you if you are a commonwealth citizen or Entry Visa in the case of Aliens or persons who are from non-commonwealth/non ECOWAS countries.

 

Validity of travelling document:

 

i.        Residence permit are valid for two years with effect from the date of your entry into the country after which you are subjected to renew it if you wish to validate your stay in Nigeria.

ii.       Submit your application for replacement or variation at least one month before the date of expiration to the immigration authorities.

iii.      No residence permit will be extended without the approval of immigration authorities.

 

Extension of Residence Permit:

 

This may be extended for a further period with reference to immigration authorities if you are a:

 

(a)     staff of Approved Missions

(b)     staff of Universities

(c)     staff of Government Cooperations

(d)     dependants of exempted persons

 

Employment:

 

1.       No person, not being a citizen of Nigeria, is permitted to take up any employment in Nigeria, temporary or otherwise without the consent of immigration authorities (except with Federal or State Governments of Nigeria).

2.       Holders of visiting or transit pass will not be permitted to undertake employment in Nigeria without the consent of the immigration authorities.

3.       All expatriates married to Nigerians (Niger wife) require the permission of the immigration authorities to accept temporary employment. They are not to be counted against the company’s quota.

 

Extension of Visiting Pass:

 

No extension of a visiting pass;

a.       unless there is written application by the visitor to immigration authorities and

b.       a letter of accepting his/her immigration responsibilities is stated.

 

Yellow Card:

 

Medical record of smallpox, cholera and yellow fever inoculation and vaccination certificate is required from you.

 

Contact:

 

You can contact:

a.         Nigeria Immigration on:    www.immigration.gov.ng

and

b.       Nigerian Embassy on: www.nigerianembassy.org

   

Note:

That valid travelling documents and compliance with immigration law is a necessary requirement for your stay in Nigeria. You are welcome. Nigeria is a peaceful, friendly and loving country. Thank you.