Nigeria Reciprocity Schedule


Visa Classification Fee Number of Applications Validity Period
A-1 None Multiple 24 Months
A-2 None Multiple 24 Months
A-3 [1] None Multiple 24 Months
B-1 None Multiple 24 Months
B-2 None Multiple 24 Months
B-1/B-2 None Multiple 24 Months
C-1 None Multiple 24 Months
C-1/D None Multiple 24 Months
C-2 None Multiple 12 Months
C-3 None Multiple 24 Months
D None Multiple 24 Months
E-1 [2] No Treaty N/A N/A
E-2 [2] No Treaty N/A N/A
F-1 None Multiple 24 Months
F-2 None Multiple 24 Months
G-1 None Multiple 24 Months
G-2 None Multiple 24 Months
G-3 None Multiple 24 Months
G-4 None Multiple 24 Months
G-5 [1] None Multiple 24 Months
H-1B None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-1C None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-2A None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-2B None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-2R None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-3 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-4 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
I None Multiple 24 Months
J-1 [4] None Multiple 24 Months
J-2 [4] None Multiple 24 Months
K-1 None One 6 Months
K-2 None One 6 Months
K-3 None Multiple 24 Months
K-4 None Multiple 24 Months
L-1 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
L-2 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
M-1 None Multiple 24 Months
M-2 None Multiple 24 Months
N-8 None Multiple 24 Months
N-9 None Multiple 24 Months
NATO 1-7 N/A N/A N/A
O-1 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
O-2 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
O-3 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-1 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-2 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-3 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-4 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
Q-1 [6] None Multiple 15 Months [3]
R-1 None Multiple 24 Months
R-2 None Multiple 24 Months
S-5 [7] None One 1 Month
S-6 [7] None One 1 Month
S-7 [7] None One 1 Month
T-1 [9] N/A N/A N/A
T-2 None One 6 Months
T-3 None One 6 Months
T-4 None One 6 Months
T-5 None One 6 Months
TD [5] N/A N/A N/A
V-1 None Multiple 120 Months
V-2 None Multiple 120 Months [8]
V-3 None Multiple 120 Months [8]

Documents

Birth and Death Certificates

Generally available, particularly for events occurring after 1970. Registration of births and deaths is compulsory in Lagos. The National Population Commission issues birth certificates for births after 1992.

For Lagos records, certified copies of records for dates ending with 1979 can be obtained at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Old Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos. For records after 1979, contact the local government that issued the original certificate directly. Most births and deaths outside of Lagos are also registered at the time of the event. Applicants can obtain certified true copies of certificates directly from the local government. Alternatively, acceptable identity/parentage documents are infant baptismal certificates and hospital or maternity clinic records of birth. Home births are rare in Nigeria and medical records are available in most cases. Affidavits may be acceptable as substitutes for documents for those born outside Lagos prior to 1960 or born in the eastern part of Nigeria in the 1960’s at the time of the Biafran War, when presented in combination with convincing secondary evidence of relationship.

Adoption Certificates

Available. Non-Nigerians may not adopt children in Nigeria. True adoptions in Nigeria are very rare. Adoption in Nigeria must be initiated from the Ministry of Social Services, not directly with the court by the adoptive parents. Any adoption not done under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Services is not valid. Nigerians who adopted children under the Eastern Adoption Law of 1965 should apply directly to the court, which granted the adoption *in order to obtain certificates.

Note: Documents for the former Cameroonian Trust Territories are not available in Nigeria and should be sought through the Cameroonian Government.

Marriage Certificates

Available from local government bodies if the couple performed civil marriage at the Marriage Registry. Traditional marriages may also be recorded with the local government and a certificate of marriage issued. Places of worship that are registered with the Nigerian Government may also issue marriage certificates for ceremonies performed there. It is obligatory that every registrar and religious minister furnish such documents to the Lagos Marriage Registry, but some fail to do so. Records are generally available through the local government where the marriage took place. The Marriage Registry in Lagos has marriage records dating back to 1802. They are filed by year and place of marriage and can be obtained by writing to the Marriage Registry, 19 Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Since both parties to the marriage technically must be physically present at the same location with witnesses to sign certain marriage documents, proxy marriages have ceased to be valid but still occur.

Divorce Certificates

Civil Divorce: Only high courts have jurisdiction over civil divorces in any state in Nigeria except Imo state, where the Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction. The proper documentation for the dissolution of a civil marriage is a “Decree Absolute” issued by the high court granting the divorce. Three other divorce documents, the “Enrolment of Order”, the “Decree Nisi” and the “Certificate of Decree Nisi Having Become Absolute” mark steps in the divorce process but do not indicate final divorce.

Customary Divorce: Marriage under native law and custom can only be dissolved by the customary court having jurisdiction over the area where the marriage took place. The proper documentation for customary divorce is a certificate of divorce rendered by a customary court, which will contain a true and certified copy of the proceedings”. There are two exceptions. Between 1971 and 1976, Anambra and Imo states, then known as “East Central State”, permitted Chief Magistrate’s Courts there to grant customary divorces. As of 1976, Imo state is the only state where Chief Magistrate’s Courts can issue customary divorce decrees.

Islamic Divorce: Islamic courts are the only courts having jurisdiction in dissolution of Islamic marriages.

Divorce by traditional rulers, affidavits and statutory declarations of divorce, even when authentic, have no standing under Nigerian law.

Police Records

Available, for those in-country.  The Nigerian Police Force no longer accepts requests made through the American Embassy.  Applicants need to contact the Deputy Inspector General, Criminal Investigation Department, Nigeria Police Force, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.  Fee should be in the form of a bank draft payable to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Fingerprint Section, Nigeria Police Force.  The applicant should bring information regarding their full name, place and date of birth, nationality, passport number, date and place of issuance (for current passport or passport used during applicant’s stay in Nigeria), exact periods of residence in Nigeria and addresses where applicant resided.  Each applicant 16 years of age and over must also provide (1) a copy of the first three data pages of his or her passport, (20) the pages containing Nigerian visas, entry and departure stamps and (3) a complete set of fingerprints taken by the police in the district where the applicant resides.

Applicants outside the country are advised that mailed requests for police certificates are not an effective method of obtaining the records.  It is recommended that applicants outside Nigeria obtain a police certificate upon their next visit, or enlist the assistance of a friend or relative able to physically visit the Deputy Inspector General.

Prison Records

Unavailable. The police record gives all prison sentences, although reliability is questionable.

Military Records

Available. There is no compulsory military service in Nigeria. If military service has been performed, a certificate to that effect can be obtained from an adjutant or company commander of the unit concerned except for veterans of World War II. Veterans of World War II should have a military discharge book.

Education Credentials

Those who have successfully completed high school must take the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations to receive their diplomas or enter a university. The examinations are scored on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being the best and 9 the worst. To enter a university, the applicant must have received credit (a score of 1-6) in five subjects. For diploma programs, he or she must have received 3 or 4 credits. Scores of 7 or 8 are only ordinary passes and give no credit. A score of P8 or F9 indicates failing. There is a national WAEC office in Lagos where all results can be checked to verify educational level.

Note: Since fraudulent documents can be easily obtained in Nigeria, the consular officer may wish to consider referring suspect documents to the Anti-Fraud Unit, U.S. Embassy Lagos, for investigation.

Special Clearance and Issuance Procedures

None.

Visa Issuing Post

Abuja, Nigeria (Embassy) -- NIV only

Lagos, Nigeria (Consulate General) -- All visa categories

 

Visa Services

All visa categories for all of Nigeria.