In this post, we explained how to do Nigerian business visa extension/ renewal for your already obtained Nigerian Business Visa. The procedures, eligibility and requirements. Click this link if you are looking for information on how to obtain a Nigeria Visa.
Business visa is meant for business relations and meetings. It is solely for conducting business in Nigeria and not an employer-employee type of visa or for labour or gainful employment purpose. A business visa also applies to airline and ships’ crew members, the staff of NGOs, INGOs and researchers.
Read: Foreigners Guide to Start Business in Nigeria
A business visa is one of the categories of visas issued to foreigners by the Nigerian Immigration Service. It is a major immigration requirement of an expatriate intending to conduct business in Nigeria. Applications must be made at a Nigerian Diplomatic Mission, and a foreigner wishing to come to Nigeria for business must have a valid visiting permit not exceeding 90 days.
Nigerian Business Visa Extension
The Nigerian business visa is a Single Entry travel document. However, business visas are valid for a period of 90 days and the business visa on arrival is valid for 14 days after issued. Business visa can be extended.
Eligibility
It is important to note that under the new Nigeria Visa Policy 2020, some visa classes like the Transit Visas and the 6-month R11 – Temporary Work Permit Visa are non-extendable/ renewable. That means holder of these visa classes must leave the territory of Nigeria before expiry of the visa. For most other classes of visa, please note that is advisable to extend your visa at least 30 days before expiry. The process is straightforward and less cumbersome than obtaining a new Nigeria visa.
Read: How to Start Oil & Gas Business
The maximum validity of a business visa to Nigeria is 90 days. If you are willing to extend the validity of your business visa, you cannot. The Nigerian government does not allow the extending of the business visa. You need to have a compelling business-related reason to convince the authorities to get the visa extended.
How Renew or Extend Nigerian Business Visa
However, if you are far from a major city or border state where there is an immigration office, or if you have a health condition that prevents you from physically showing up at the NIS office, there are reputable travel agencies that could handle the process.
Benefits of Business VISA in Nigeria
- You can either buy an existing business or set one up from scratch
- You can choose a business that matches your entrepreneurial background
- Your business can be located anywhere in Nigeria
- Minimum investment can be waived
- To visit Nigeria for the purpose of meetings, conferences, seminars, bid for contract or contract negotiations.
- Marketing, sales, purchase distribution of goods, trade fairs,
- Musical concerts, job interviews, emergency/relief work or to train Nigerians in areas such as humanitarian services.
Once an expatriate has obtained a business visa from the Nigerian Embassy/High Commission in their jurisdiction, the next step is to obtain a business permit, which will enable them to conduct business in Nigeria.
A work permit is for people who wish to earn an income or compensation overseas. They are for expatriates who wish to earn a living in another jurisdiction or be remunerated, and will be under the work permit category and therefore require the above-mentioned visa.
The Temporary Work Permit (TWP) is the most common type of work permit in Nigeria. It is specifically for immigrants who enter Nigeria to undertake a specific job for a temporary period, usually three months.
A Temporary Work Permit needs to be approved by the Minister of Interior before the expatriate travels and is only for specific jobs that meet the Nigerian local content act. This visa is available to skilled workers and contractors whose skills are being paid for by corporations or non-profits.
Long-term Work Permits
Long-term work permits are called Subject to Regulation Permits (STRs). They are a variant to Temporary Work Permits. This visa is normally issued to expatriates working for non-profit organisations, corporate bodies, private firms, private investors and even private individuals. To ensure that the applicant is in the country solely for the purpose of work, the Nigerian Immigration Service will issue the visa based on the dates specified in the applicant’s employment contract.