Africa: Stricter Compliance and Enforcement of Business Visa and Work Permit Applications for Nigerian Nationals

Immigration authorities across Sub-Saharan Africa and other jurisdictions have recently increased their compliance and enforcement activity for business visa and work permit applications submitted by Nigerian nationals for professional and business-related purposes. Employers are reporting increased internal reviews and security checks by immigration authorities, even where applications are submitted through employers. Moreover, immigration authorities appear to be placing greater emphasis on verifying the integrity of Nigerian nationals' documentation, leading to more frequent requests for notarized or certified documents and detailed evidence of financial means, where applicable. These developments are contributing to longer processing times, additional compliance requirements, and, in some cases, refusals or rejections. Given that requirements and review practices may differ by country, employers and applicants should contact their immigration professional for case-by-case guidance.