Special Immigrant Status (SIS) for foreign spouses of Nigerian citizens
Official name: Special Immigrant Status (SIS) - Citizenship and Business Department, Federal Ministry of Interior
Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Interior (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 in Nigeria without the employer-tied expatriate quota and CERPAC used by other foreign workers. The fee is N10,000,000. Nigeria has no general points-based or long-residence permanent residence route described on an official page; this is the closest long-term status.
1 entry rule for Nigeria based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from, or having transited through, a yellow fever risk country need a valid yellow fever certificate. Without one: vaccination at the point of entry may be offered; not definitively stated.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria: FAQs NCDC: Yellow Fever Public Health Advisory for International Travel Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Nigeria
Finance
3
Currency
Nigerian Naira
NGN
Nigerian Naira
Cost of living
21
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
15–25%
Income tax (national)
VAT 7.5%
Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (from 1 Jan 2026): 0% on first NGN 800,000, rising to 25% above NGN 50m.
Living
1
Happiness
#104 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Premium
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign spouses of Nigerian citizens living in Nigeria.
Eligibility
Married to a Nigerian citizenForeign spouse
Sign in to check this route against your profileThe marriage must be legal. The Ministry also issues a Confirmation of Marriage for LGA, Islamic or customary marriages that need formal proof.
Five years' residence in NigeriaForeign spouse
Sign in to check this route against your profileThe applicant must have resided in Nigeria for five years.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklist
- Fees
- Steps to apply
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 2 documents
- 1 fee
- 3 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Want a licensed advisor to check your case?
Connect with a licensed legal advisor for Nigeria. They set their own price and you pay them directly.
Before you pay anyone, check their licencePlaces to visit in Nigeria
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Nigeria
- Visit & tourismShort Visit e-Visa - Business (F4A/F4B) and Tourism (F5A) visas
- StudyStudent Visa (R7A) and student residence permit
- Work permitsSubject to Regularization (STR) Visa (R2A Employment - Expatriate) and CERPAC / e-CERPAC residence permit
- 3 more routes with Premium
