Nigeria work permit sponsorship through a Global Employer of Record
Employing an expatriate in Nigeria requires an authorised Nigerian employer, an approved expatriate quota position and the appropriate immigration permission.
Acumen International enables companies without their own Nigerian entity to employ expatriate talent in Nigeria. We become the legal employer, provide the employer-side sponsorship and manage the employment, immigration and payroll requirements around the hire.
Acumen International employs and sponsors your hire in Nigeria
Through Global EOR, Acumen International becomes the employee’s legal employer in Nigeria while your company directs their day-to-day work.
We manage:
- Employment: locally compliant employment documentation and onboarding.
- Expatriate quota: confirmation and management of the appropriate quota position for the role.
- Work authorisation: preparation and filing of the e-CERPAC application and employer documentation accepting Immigration Responsibility.
- Payroll and tax: Nigerian payroll, PAYE withholding and applicable employer obligations.
- Immigration compliance: permit tracking, renewals and closure when employment ends.
- Employee support: insurance and additional benefits appropriate to the role and assignment.
This keeps the legal employment, immigration sponsorship and payroll relationship with the same Nigerian employer.
The principal employment route: expatriate quota and e-CERPAC
Foreign nationals taking employment in Nigeria generally require an approved expatriate quota position held by their Nigerian employer.
The employer then applies for the relevant e-CERPAC employment permission, currently classified as R2A for expatriate employees of companies.
Under Nigeria’s current immigration system, e-CERPAC is processed before the expatriate enters Nigeria. This replaces the previous process in which an employee entered under an STR visa and completed regularisation after arrival.
For a typical hire, Acumen coordinates:
- assessment of the role, nationality and appropriate immigration route;
- confirmation of the required expatriate quota position;
- employment documentation;
- the employer’s Immigration Responsibility documentation;
- submission of the e-CERPAC application;
- entry and biometric requirements;
- ongoing immigration and employment compliance; and
- renewal or closure of the permission when required.
Processing time depends on the case, the quota position and government processing. We confirm the expected route, documentation and timing before employment begins.
Oil and gas roles
Additional requirements apply in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Companies operating in the sector must obtain approval from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board before applying for an expatriate quota through the Federal Ministry of Interior.
Acumen assesses sector-specific requirements as part of immigration feasibility.
e-CERPAC or Temporary Work Permit?
The correct route depends on what the person will be doing in Nigeria.
| e-CERPAC employment route | Temporary Work Permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Ongoing employment in Nigeria | Defined specialist or project work |
| Nigerian employer | Required | Person remains employed outside the normal Nigerian employment route |
| Expatriate quota | Required for the standard R2A route | Different approval process |
| Typical activity | Employment in an approved expatriate role | Installation, commissioning, maintenance, specialist training, audits or similar short-term work |
| Duration | Residence/employment permission subject to the approved route and renewal | R10: up to 30 days; R11: up to six months |
A Temporary Work Permit should not be used as a substitute for local employment where the individual is in fact taking up an ongoing role in Nigeria.
Documents commonly required for e-CERPAC
Requirements vary by case, but an R2A application currently includes:
- passport with at least six months’ validity;
- employment contract or appointment letter;
- employee’s acceptance of employment;
- employer application accepting Immigration Responsibility;
- expatriate quota verification;
- educational and professional qualifications;
- CV;
- police clearance;
- applicable security or professional clearances; and
- board resolution for certain senior management appointments.
Nigeria Immigration Service currently publishes a USD 2,000 CERPAC fee, together with separate applicant comprehensive insurance and card-delivery charges.
Acumen confirms the complete government and employment cost before proceeding.
Support for employees and families
Where family members relocate with the employee, Acumen International can coordinate the applicable dependant immigration process.
We can also support practical relocation requirements including accommodation, schooling and local settling-in services where required.
Employ in Nigeria without setting up an entity
We bring the employment, immigration, payroll and ongoing compliance requirements together under one legal employer — and manage the hire throughout the employment lifecycle.
Share the role, candidate nationality and expected start date. Our specialists will confirm the employment route, immigration requirements, timing and total employment cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can a company without a Nigerian entity employ an expatriate in Nigeria?
Yes. A company can use a Global Employer of Record such as Acumen International. Acumen becomes the Nigerian legal employer and manages the employer-side immigration, payroll and employment requirements while the client directs the employee’s day-to-day work.
Is the STR visa still required for a new expatriate hire?
Nigeria’s current e-CERPAC system removes the previous post-arrival STR regularisation process for new cases. The appropriate employment and residence permission is processed before entry.
Can an expatriate move to another employer using the same permission?
Employment immigration permission is tied to the sponsoring employer and the relevant approved employment route. A move to another employer therefore requires a new assessment and immigration process.
Do ECOWAS nationals follow the same process?
No. ECOWAS nationals benefit from separate rights under the ECOWAS free-movement framework. The appropriate residence and employment requirements depend on the individual’s nationality and circumstances.
Can a Temporary Work Permit be used instead of employment sponsorship?
Only where the assignment genuinely qualifies as short-term specialist work. Nigeria currently provides both a 30-day R10 route and a six-month R11 route for qualifying specialist assignments. They are not substitutes for the normal employment route.
Does Acumen International arrange Nigerian work permits for individuals looking for jobs?
No. Acumen provides immigration sponsorship as part of the employment solutions we deliver for client companies. We do not provide standalone job-seeker work permit sponsorship.
Official sources
- Nigeria Immigration Service — e-CERPAC and R2A employment requirements
- Nigeria Immigration Service — Temporary Work Permit R10 and R11
- Federal Ministry of Interior — Expatriate Quota administration