How to Become a Nigerian Citizen

Overview of types of Citizenships

The Ministry of Interior has been charged with the duty of granting Citizenships in Nigeria. The eCITIBIZ portal has been developed to make the process of applying for various Citizenship Services easier and more efficient. The following are the various types of citizenship available:

Citizenship by Naturalization: This Service applies to foreigners that have lived in Nigeria for 15years and above and wish to apply for Nigeria Citizenship.

Citizenship by Confirmation: This Service applies to individuals of Nigerian descent who wish to gain the Nigerian Citizenship. The descendants could also have acquired their Citizenship through Naturalization. 

Citizenship by Registration: This Service applies to persons of full age (18 years and above) and capacity born outside Nigeria of whose grandparent is a Citizen of Nigeria.

Citizenship by Registration: This Service applies to foreign women (Naija Wife) who is or have been married to a Nigerian and wish to acquire the Citizenship of Nigeria.

Special Immigrant Status : In accordance with the Official Gazette No. 51 VOL. 95 of 1st September, 2008, this is a service for foreigners married to a Nigerian (Male or Female) for a minimum of five (5) years and above.

Temporary Residence Permit: This is a service offered to foreigners that allows them to reside in Nigeria temporarily.

Renunciation of Nigerian Citizenship : This is a service provided for citizens who wish to renounce their Nigerian Citizenship, in order to take up the Citizenship of another country.

Confirmation Of Marriage Certificate Issued By Local Government: This service is applicable to couples who got married not in line with the provision of the Marriage Act (2004) and wish to obtain in Federal Marriage Certificate of Confirmation in accordance with the MARRIAGE ACT, CAP M6, VOLUME 8, LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA (2004).

Requirements for each of the Citizenship Types

Requirements for Citizenship by Naturalization (Under The Section 27 of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 As Amended):

• Passport Photograph.
• Birth Certificate.
• Evidence of Means of Livelihood.
• Tax Clearance Certificate.
• Residence Permit.
• First 5 pages of International Passport including Data Page.
• Guarantors’ Downloaded Form.
• Guarantors’ Passport Photograph.
• Guarantors’ Curriculum Vitae.
• ID Card (Driver’s License/International Passport/National ID Card) of Guarantors’.
• Evidence of Socio-Economic Contributions.
• Signed Application Letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary

 * All these documents should be uploaded 

Requirements for Citizenship by Registration (Under Section 26 (2B) of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 As Amended):

• Passport Photograph.
• Applicant’s Birth Certificate.
• Marriage Certificate where applicable.
• Residence Permit.
• First 5 pages of International Passport including Data Page.
• Upload evidence of Nigerian Citizenship of either Parent/ Grand Parent/Great Grand Parent.
• Letter from Guarantors’.
• Guarantors’ Passport Photograph.
• Guarantors’ Downloaded Form.
• Guarantors’ Curriculum Vitae.
• ID Card (Driver’s License/International Passport/National ID Card) of Guarantors’.
• Signed Application Letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary

 * All these documents should be uploaded

Requirements for Citizenship by Registration (Under The Section 26 (2A) of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 As Amended):

• Passport Photograph.
• Birth Certificate.
• Evidence of Means of Livelihood.
• Marriage Certificate.
• Residence Permit.
• First 5 pages of International Passport including Data Page.
• Letter of Consent from Husband/Children/Relatives in case of deceased husband.
• Particular of previous Marriage(s) where applicable.
• Evidence of Husband/Relatives Citizenship in case of deceased husband (Local Government Certificate of Origin or Naturalization Certificate).
• Upload Court Judgment.
• Letter from Guarantors’.
• Guarantors’ Downloaded Form.
• ID Card (Driver’s License/International Passport/National ID Card) of Guarantors’.
• Signed Application Letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary

* All these documents should be uploaded

Requirements for Special Immigration Status (SIS) (In Accordance with Chapter III, Section 32 of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 As Amended):

• Passport Photograph.
• Birth Certificate Beneficiary.
• International Passport Page.
• Evidence of Source of Income.
• Tax Clearance Certificate.
• Residence Permit/ CERPAC Document of Beneficiary.
• Birth Certificate of Children (If any).
• First 5 pages of husband’s International Passport.
• Marriage Certificate.
• Upload Formal Application from Nigerian spouse with Undertaking to shoulder Immigration responsibilities.
• Local Government Certificate of Origin of the Nigeria Spouse.
• Authentic Report from State of Couple’s Domicile.
• Relevant Marriage Photos.
• Signed Application Letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary

* All these documents should be uploaded

Requirements for Renunciation of Nigerian Citizenship (Under The Section 29 of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria As Amended):

• Passport Photograph.
• Birth Certificate.
• First 5 pages of International Passport including Data Page.
• Sworn Affidavit.
• Evidence of Citizenship in the new country.
• Local Government Certificate of Origin with Passport Photograph.
• Certification by the Secretary of the Applicant’s Local Government Area.
• Signed Application Letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary

* All these documents should be uploaded

Requirements for Temporary Residence Permit:

• Passport Photograph.
• Upload Formal Application From Nigerian Spouse With Undertaking To Shoulder Immigration Responsibilities
• Coloured Copy of Marriage Certificate (Original for sighting)
• Evidence of Means of livelihood of the non-Nigerian Spouse eg. letter of employment/genuine business engagement
• Coloured copies of first 5 pages of non-Nigerian spouse International Passport including Data Page
• Coloured copies of first 5 pages of Nigerian spouse International Passport including Data Page
• Certificate of Identification of the Nigerian Spouse from the Local Government Certificate/State (coloured copy)
• Birth Certificate of Children (If any)
• Tax Clearance Certificate of couple (Nigerian and Non-Nigerian spouse) where applicable
• Residence Permit/ CERPAC Document Of Beneficiary
• Authentic Report From State Of Couple’s Domicile
• Upload Attestation Of Residence Status By The Nigerian Embassy In The Spouse Country Of residence
• Relevant Marriage Photos
• Signed Application Letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary

* All these documents should be uploaded

Requirements For Confirmation of Marriage Certificate:

• A Formal Letter Application
• Current Passport Photograph Of Husband
• Current passport Photograph Of Wife
• International Passport Data Page Of Husband
• International Passport Data Page Of Wife
• Certified True Copy Of Marriage Certificate
• Letter Of Attestation Of Marriage By Either Husband Or Wife
• Current Federal Government Identification Which Indicates Residential Address
• Current Identity Issued By Government Of Foreign Residence Showing Current Residential Address (Translate To English If Applicable)
• Pictures Taken As At The Time Of Marriage
• Any Other Documents That May Attest To The Authenticity Of The Marriage

      * All these documents should be uploaded

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FEES

CITIZENSHIP FEES DETAILS

S/NO	SERVICES	REVENUE PROCESSING FEE	PORTAL FEE	APPROVAL FEE	AUTOMATION FEES
1	By Naturalization (Under The Section 27 Of The Constitution Of the Federal Republic Of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 As Amended)	₦ 50,000.00	₦ 250,000.00	₦ 250,000.00	₦ 200,000.00
2	By Registration (Under The Section 26 (2B) Of The Constitution Of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 As Amended)	₦ 50,000.00	₦ 250,000.00	₦ 250,000.00	₦ 200,000.00
3	By Registration (Under The Section 26 (2A) Of The Constitution Of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 As Amended)	₦ 50,000.00	₦ 250,000.00	₦ 250,000.00	₦ 200,000.00
4	By Special Immigration Status (SIS) (In accordance with Chapter III, Section 32 Of The Constitution Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 As Amended)	₦ 50,000.00	₦ 150,000.00	₦ 150,000.00	₦ 150,000.00
5	Renunciation Of Citizenship (Under The Section 29 Of The Constitution Of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 As Amended)	₦ 50,000.00	₦ 200,000.00	₦ 50,000.00	₦ 200,000.00
6	Temporary Residence Permit	₦ 25,000.00	₦ 100,000.00	₦ 25,000.00	₦ 100,000.00
7	Attestation Of Marital Status	₦ 25,000.00	₦ 25,000.00	₦ 25,000.00	₦ 25,000.00
8	Confirmation Of Marriage Certificate	₦ 20,000.00	₦ 15,000.00	₦ 15,000.00	₦ 0.00