Nigeria: New Indefinite CERPAC Card; New Comptroller-General of Immigration

The Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) has introduced a non-renewable ‘Brown’ Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens (CERPAC) card that allows eligible foreign nationals who are; of African descent; foreign investors; experts in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, sports and other specific industries; or the spouse of a Nigerian woman for at least one year, to reside and work in Nigeria indefinitely. The government has not published ‘Brown’ CERPAC card application details and procedures. Prior to the development of the separate ‘Brown’ CERPAC card, foreign nationals were eligible for a ‘Green’ CERPAC card, which has a definitive validity depending on the activities performed. The ‘Green’ CERPAC will remain available to applicants not eligible for the ‘Brown’ CERPAC card. In addition to this change, the NIS has appointed an acting Comptroller-General of immigration, which may result in delays in pending immigration application processing times and forthcoming changes to immigration policies and processes. We will report on related developments.