Nigeria spouse visa (N1A) for spouses of Nigerian citizens

N1A is for foreign spouses of Nigerian citizens and rests on section 37(10) of the Immigration Act 2015. The marriage must be legal. The Ministry of Interior can issue a confirmation of marriage for couples married at a local government registry, under Islamic law or traditionally, which helps when the marriage must be proved for official purposes.

Spouses of Nigerians by birth who renounced Nigerian citizenship use a separate class, N2B, which NIS states does allow employment.

The NIS Service Level Agreement lists a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages, a recent photograph on a white background, an attested marriage certificate, a copy of the Nigerian spouse’s passport or national identity document, evidence of a stable residence in Nigeria such as a utility bill or lease, and a police clearance certificate.

Apply online at visa.immigration.gov.ng, upload the documents and pay, then attend an interview and biometric capture at a Nigerian embassy. NIS targets 10 days from enrolment, and the visa allows entry within 90 days. Once in Nigeria the spouse holds a CERPAC, which NIS issues free of charge to foreigners married to Nigerian citizens.

The Ministry of Interior’s Citizenship and Business Department grants Special Immigrant Status to foreign men and women legally married to Nigerian citizens who have lived in Nigeria for five years. It lets them live and work without an employer-tied expatriate quota. The reviewed fee is NGN 10,000,000.

Citizenship is a separate step. The Ministry lists citizenship by registration and by naturalisation, each with a fee of NGN 15,000,000; naturalisation requires at least 15 years of continuous residence, good character and proof of integration.

The April 2026 Service Level Agreement gives N1A a four-year multiple-entry residence permit and the restriction “no employment, to reside in Nigeria only”. The NIS Information Centre FAQ, written earlier, describes N1A among classes granting indefinite residence; ask NIS which rule it applies when you collect the permit. Employment is possible only if separately authorised.