Nigeria STR Visa & CERPAC Guide 2026: Steps and Costs

The standard route to working legally in Nigeria has three stages. Your employer secures an expatriate quota, you apply for an STR (Subject to Regularisation) visa at a Nigerian embassy or consulate in China, and within 90 days of arrival you obtain a CERPAC, the residence and work permit. Since 2025 the CERPAC process is fully online: you receive an e-CERPAC first, and the physical card is delivered to your employer’s registered address.

The STR visa cannot be obtained by converting a business or tourist visa inside Nigeria, and it is not renewable. What actually lets you live and work there is the CERPAC, usually valid for one year and renewable.

From quota to CERPAC: Nigeria work permit timeline

—Employer obtains expatriate quota
~10 working daysApply for STR at a mission abroad
STR valid ≤90 daysEnter Nigeria on STR
Within 90 days; ~1 monthApply online for CERPAC
~2 weeksAnnual renewal

Source: KPMG Nigeria (2025); Mondaq; MOFCOM 2025 country guide · Data as of 2026-10 · Niriliya Huaren

Key points

Prerequisite: your employer must hold an expatriate quota slot for your position.
Where to apply: at a Nigerian mission abroad, including in China. Approval is centralised at NIS headquarters in Abuja and takes about 10 working days.
After arrival: the STR is typically valid for up to 90 days, and you must apply for the CERPAC within 90 days of entry.
Online: the CERPAC is handled on the NIS portal. You get an e-CERPAC, and the card goes to your employer.
Cost and time (approximate): China’s MOFCOM 2025 country guide puts the e-CERPAC at about US$3,200, about one month to issue and about two weeks to renew. Check the latest NIS notice.
New obligations: at least two Nigerian understudies per expatriate post, and planned repatriation insurance of US$500–1,000 a year.

The process at a glance

Stage	Who	Output	Typical time
1. Company registration and business permit	Employer	CAC certificate, business permit	Several weeks
2. Expatriate quota	Employer, Ministry of Interior	Quota approval	Several weeks
3. STR visa	Employee, at a mission abroad	STR visa	About 10 working days at HQ
4. Arrival	Employee	Landing card, STR	Within visa validity (usually ≤90 days)
5. CERPAC	Employee and employer, online	e-CERPAC, then card	Apply within 90 days, about 1 month
6. Annual renewal	Employer	Renewed CERPAC	About 2 weeks

Step 1: make sure your employer qualifies

You cannot apply for an STR visa on your own. The Nigerian company hiring you, which can be the local subsidiary of a Chinese group, must already have an approved expatriate quota, and your job must match a position on that approval. Foreign-owned companies also need a business permit, which is tied to share capital rules; see our company registration guide.

Since the Ministry of Interior’s April 2025 reforms, quota reviews are stricter. Quotas are approved only for roles Nigerians cannot fill. Each expatriate post needs at least two Nigerian understudies with a degree or HND. The Expatriate Administration System (EAS) links immigration, employment and tax records to check how quotas are used.

Step 2: apply for the STR visa

You apply outside Nigeria, at a Nigerian embassy or consulate; Chinese citizens can apply in China. According to KPMG’s summary of the 2025 reforms, missions still receive STR and business visa applications, but approval now happens centrally at NIS headquarters in Abuja and takes about 10 working days.

Typical documents (follow the mission’s own checklist):

Valid passport and photos
Employment letter from the Nigerian employer and your acceptance letter
Copy of the expatriate quota approval
The employer’s incorporation documents and invitation letter
Academic certificates and police clearance
Medical report and yellow fever certificate

The STR is usually valid for up to 90 days and cannot be renewed. If you are already in Nigeria on a business or tourist visa, you cannot switch to an STR there; you have to apply from abroad. For short visits, see the e-Visa guide.

Step 3: get your CERPAC after arrival

CERPAC stands for Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card. It is the document that makes your residence and employment legal. Apply within 90 days of entering on an STR visa.

Since 2025 the process is automated. You complete the form on the NIS portal, upload documents and submit. After initial checks you receive an electronic confirmation and an e-CERPAC. The old routine of buying forms at designated banks and queueing at immigration offices is gone, and the physical card is delivered to your employer’s registered business address.

MOFCOM’s 2025 country guide for Nigeria gives reference figures of about US$3,200 for the e-CERPAC, about one month to issue and about two weeks to renew, with one-year validity and renewal possible. Treat these as approximate and confirm with the NIS.

Staying compliant

Renew on time. Your employer handles renewal before expiry.
Monthly expatriate returns. Employers report expatriate staff and their understudies to the Ministry each month.
Landing and exit cards are still required for every trip in and out.
Repatriation insurance. The Ministry plans personal liability cover of US$500–1,000 a year to pay for removal if a person is non-compliant; employers without it may bear the cost.
Changing jobs. The CERPAC is tied to your employer’s quota slot, so a new employer must apply again.
Tax. CERPAC holders working in Nigeria generally pay local income tax; see our Nigeria Tax Act 2026 guide.

Consequences of getting it wrong

Employers using foreign staff without valid permits risk fines and loss of their quota. Individuals face US$15 a day in overstay fines, removal and entry bans from five years to life. Nationwide enforcement against undocumented foreigners began on 1 August 2025, so the “come first, sort papers later” habit seen on some project sites is now a real risk.

Practical tips for Chinese employers and staff

Plan backwards. From quota application to CERPAC often takes two to three months or more, so build that into project mobilisation schedules.
Keep job titles consistent. The title and qualifications on the employment letter, quota approval and STR application should match, or the file may be returned.
Start documents early. Degree verification and police clearance from China take time; begin before the quota is approved.
Keep copies. Save the e-CERPAC, STR visa and landing card confirmations digitally and on paper; you may be asked for them at checkpoints.
Assign one person. MOFCOM notes that every entry and exit has had to be declared since September 2025. Have HR or admin track every expatriate’s document expiry dates centrally.
Family members. Spouses and children follow different residence arrangements from the main applicant. Ask the mission or an immigration lawyer, and follow the latest official notice.

Short assignments

For installation, commissioning or short technical support, consider the Temporary Work Permit (TWP) e-visa, available online since 2025 at US$600 for three months or US$1,100 for six months. It does not replace the STR and CERPAC for long-term employment. More on jobs and permits in our work section.

Sources

FAQ

Can I convert a business visa to an STR visa inside Nigeria?

No. The STR visa is issued only by Nigerian missions abroad; visitor and business visas cannot be converted in Nigeria.

How soon after arrival must I apply for a CERPAC?

Within 90 days of entering on an STR visa. The STR itself is usually valid for up to 90 days and is not renewable.

How much does a CERPAC cost and how long does it take?

MOFCOM's 2025 guide cites about US$3,200 for the e-CERPAC, about one month to issue and two weeks to renew. Confirm current figures with the NIS.

Where do I collect the CERPAC card?

You don't. Since 2025 you receive an e-CERPAC online and the physical card is delivered to your employer's registered address.

Facts checked: 2026-10-22 · Niriliya Huaren Editorial Team · How we check facts