Living in Nigeria
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-05)

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Nigeria – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

Getting help with living in Nigeria

Help from the Nigerian government

For any questions about moving to or living in Nigeria, you may be able to get help from the:

Nigeria High Commission in London (https://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/immigration/)

Nigeria Immigration Service (https://immigration.gov.ng/)

The UK government, including the British High Commissions in Abuja and the Deputy High Commission in Lagos, cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Nigeria.

Professional help in Nigeria

You can also get help from professionals (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad) in Nigeria, including:

lawyers

notaries

funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria) to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Nigeria. This includes the latest information on:

visas and entry requirements

laws and cultural differences

safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad).

Get help from the UK government abroad (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/), including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria/entry-requirements) before you travel.

Visas

Check which Nigerian visa (https://immigration.gov.ng/nigerian-visa/) you need to live in Nigeria.

You can get a visa to:

work

study

retire

volunteer

live with family in Nigeria

invest or do business in Nigeria

If you want to extend your visa:

read the visa frequently asked questions from the Nigeria Immigration Service’s visa information centre (https://immigration.gov.ng//info-center/)

contact the Nigeria Immigration Service (https://immigration.gov.ng/)

Residence card

If you want to live or work in Nigeria for one year or more, you must apply for a Combined Expatriate Residence and Alien Card (CERPAC) (https://immigration.gov.ng/combined-expatriate-residence-permit-and-aliens-card-cerpac/).

This serves as proof of legal residency and identity for foreign nationals in Nigeria.

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for a permanent residence visa in Nigeria.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply:

read the frequently asked questions on permanent residence visas, from the Nigeria Immigration Service’s visa information centre (https://immigration.gov.ng//info-center/)

contact the Nigeria High Commission in London (https://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/immigration/) or the Nigeria Immigration Service (https://immigration.gov.ng/)

Citizenship

Nigeria recognises dual citizenship in some cases. This means that you may or may not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship (https://www.gov.uk/renounce-british-nationality) to become a Nigerian citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Nigerian citizenship, read the Nigerian Ministry of Interior’s guidance on:

Nigerian citizenship (https://ecitibiz.evdpl.com/citizenship/overview)

citizenship requirements (https://ecitibiz.evdpl.com/citizenship/requirements)

You can also contact the Nigerian Ministry of Interior (https://ecitibiz.evdpl.com/home/contact).

Help with visa and residency applications

The British High Commission in Abuja and the Deputy High Commission in Lagos cannot help with Nigerian visa and residency applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

the Nigeria High Commission in London (https://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/immigration/)

the Nigeria Immigration Service (https://immigration.gov.ng/)

a lawyer in Nigeria (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=nigeria)

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

apply for a British passport from abroad

travel urgently without your British passport

Resident children travelling without a parent or legal guardian

Children aged 17 or younger who travel out of Nigeria without a parent or legal guardian may need a letter authorising them to do so. This should be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Contact the Nigeria High Commission in London (https://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/immigration/) or the Nigeria Immigration Service (https://immigration.gov.ng/) for more information.

Healthcare in Nigeria

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

plan your healthcare

take medicine abroad

Nigeria does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Nigerian or international providers.

To find out how to get medical treatment:

contact your insurance provider

read guidance on health in Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria/health)

find medical facilities and doctors in Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nigeria-list-of-medical-facilitiespractitioners)

find hospitals in Nigeria (https://health.gov.ng/hospitals/)

Working in Nigeria

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Nigeria, you need a work or employment visa.

The Nigeria Immigration Service explains how to apply for the appropriate visa (https://immigration.gov.ng/nigerian-visa/).

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Nigeria, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised (https://ess.education.gov.ng/).

Driving in Nigeria

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

drive abroad legally

take your UK vehicle abroad

get driving licence letters

For information on driving in Nigeria, including driving licence laws, read about road travel in Nigeria, in safety and security in the travel advice for Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria/safety-and-security).

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nigeria-tax-treaties) so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service (https://www.firs.gov.ng/) for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Nigeria (https://www.firs.gov.ng/individual-income-tax). To do this, find a lawyer in Nigeria (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=nigeria).

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers:

how to claim your UK State Pension

where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming a Nigerian pension

Contact the Nigerian National Pension Commission (https://www.pencom.gov.ng/) to find out whether you can claim a Nigerian pension.

Benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.

Buying and renting property in Nigeria

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers buying and renting property abroad.

There are restrictions on foreign nationals buying property or land in Nigeria. Contact a lawyer in Nigeria (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=nigeria) if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Nigeria

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

vote in UK elections from abroad

register as an overseas voter

Nigerian elections

You cannot vote in Nigerian elections unless you hold Nigerian citizenship.

Studying in Nigeria

If you plan to study in Nigeria, you must meet all student visa requirements (https://immigration.gov.ng/info-center/student-visa-r7a/) before you travel.

For more information:

read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England) (https://www.gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england)

contact your higher education provider in the UK or Nigeria

contact the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education (https://education.gov.ng/)

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers moving abroad with children, including:

getting permission to take your child abroad

claiming UK Child Benefit abroad

child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education (https://education.gov.ng/) provides information about the schooling system in Nigeria.

All children aged 6 to 15 must attend school or home school in Nigeria.

Childcare

Most parents in Nigeria arrange private childcare for their children. Options include daycare centres, nurseries, and live-in nannies. Some employers may also offer on-site or near-site childcare options.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Nigeria, register the birth with the Nigerian authorities (https://www.birthreg-selfservice.nationalpopulation.gov.ng/).

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate

apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers:

what to do after someone dies abroad

how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Nigeria:

read guidance on what to when someone dies in Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nigeria-bereavement-death-abroad)

find funeral directors in Nigeria (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors?country=nigeria)

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You will need a special marriage licence to get married in Nigeria if you’re not a Nigerian citizen. You can apply for the licence at the Marriage Registry Office or through the registry’s online marriage portal (https://candb.interior.gov.ng/marriage/).

Read the Nigerian Ministry of Interior’s guidance on marriage in Nigeria (https://ecitibiz.evdpl.com/marriage/overview).

Same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Nigeria. For information about LGBT+ rights in Nigeria, read guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria/safety-and-security).

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

If you plan to divorce in Nigeria, consider taking legal advice from a lawyer in Nigeria (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=nigeria).

Documents for British people in Nigeria

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/documents-for-british-people-abroad) This covers:

legalising and certifying UK documents

marriage and civil partnership documents

affirmations and affidavits

witnessing signatures

Lawyers and notaries

To find a lawyer or notary in Nigeria, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad).

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Nigeria, you need an import permit. Contact your vet or the Nigeria High Commission in London (https://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/immigration/) for more information.

You can also read guidance on:

taking your pet dog, cat or ferret to a non-EU country (https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-a-noneu-country)

the certificate you need to export cats and dogs to Nigeria (https://www.gov.uk/export-health-certificates/export-cats-and-dogs-to-nigeria-certificate-3713)

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returning-to-the-uk). This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Nigerian authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-commonwealth-development-office-fcdo-consular-information-disclaimer).