Immigration & Visa
All immigration & visa guides
Every immigration guide we publish, grouped by topic. 12 guides in total. Looking for the highlights first? Start at the immigration hub.
Visa categories
2 guidesNigerian Visa Types — The ECOWAS vs Non-ECOWAS Split (2026)
Every Nigerian visa decision starts with one binary. ECOWAS citizens enter visa-free under the 1979 Free Movement Protocol. Non-ECOWAS travellers route through the e-Visa portal or the NIS visa schedule. The article catalogues the categories under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025.
Reference10 min readUpdated May 2026How to Apply for a Nigerian Visa (2026) — Inbound and Outbound Routes
Two distinct application routes for two distinct audiences. Inbound foreign nationals route through the e-Visa portal or the embassy. Outbound Nigerians applying for non-ECOWAS visas route through the destination-country embassy in Nigeria. The article walks each route separately.
How-to11 min readUpdated May 2026
E-visa
1 guideVisa on arrival
1 guideCERPAC
3 guidesCERPAC Nigeria — Two Documents Bundled into One Residence Framework (2026)
CERPAC is the long-term residence framework for non-ECOWAS foreign nationals in Nigeria. Two documents are bundled together. The Combined Expatriate Residence Permit evidences the residence authorisation under the Immigration Act 2015. The Aliens Card evidences the holder's registered foreign-national status with NIS.
Reference14 min readUpdated May 2026CERPAC Renewal Nigeria — The 30 to 60 Days-Before-Expiry Window (2026)
CERPAC renewal runs against a calendar-driven rhythm. Practitioner guidance is to begin at least 30 to 60 days before expiry. Daily fines accrue from the day after expiry. The article walks the timeline, the documentary refresh, the operational route, and the recovery where renewal has slipped.
How-to12 min readUpdated May 2026CERPAC Requirements Nigeria — Applicant Stack AND Sponsor Stack (2026)
CERPAC documentary requirements split into two stacks that must both be complete. The applicant-side stack carries passport, photographs, entry visa, medical, and police character certificate. The sponsor-side stack carries the sponsor's invitation, CAC documents, expatriate quota, or marriage certificate per category.
Reference13 min readUpdated May 2026
Residence permit
1 guideECOWAS travel
1 guideTroubleshooting
3 guidesHow to Check Nigeria Visa Status (2026) — The Four-State Approval Pathway
An e-Visa application sits in one of four states across its lifecycle. Pending Payment, Pending Review, Approved, or Refused. Each state has a different recovery or next-step route. The article walks all four states and the route per state.
How-to9 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Visa Payment Pending — Which NIS Portal Holds the Queue
Three distinct NIS payment dashboards sit under the same agency. e-Visa, e-CERPAC, and the passport portal each carry their own queue. The article walks the intra-NIS distinction, the wider four-portal landscape, and the recovery sequence for a visa payment held at NIS.
Troubleshooting12 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Visa Application Rejected — Refusal Routes and Recovery (2026)
NIS does not always publish a detailed refusal reason on the e-Visa dashboard. Three recovery routes exist depending on the refusal grounds extracted. The article walks the diagnostic on the limited information NIS provides, the appeal route, the resubmission route, and the sponsor-resubmission route.
Troubleshooting11 min readUpdated May 2026