The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a circular titled “Abolition of Re-entry Visa” indicating that the Minister of Interior has approved the discontinuance of re-entry visas for purpose of re-entering Nigeria for expatriates that have valid residence permits.

Before now, resident expatriates in Nigeria had to obtain re-entry visas to enable them re-enter the country anytime they travelled abroad.
The visas are issued at an extra cost and the fees payable/number of permissible entries is dependent on the nationality of the expatriate.

NIS in a statement signed on Monday 9th March, 2015 by the PRO, Chukwuemeka Obuah, said with effect from April 6, possession of re-entry visa ceases to be a requirement for the purpose of re-admitting into the country.

The following are the considerations and clarification.

That with effect from 6th April 2015, possession of re-entry visa ceases to be a requirement for the purpose of re-admitting into the country, the following categories of foreigners resident in Nigeria;
Holders of valid Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), and their duly documented dependants,
Holders of Temporary CERPAC receipts purchased for the purpose of processing their legal residence,
Niger wife/Persons on Special Immigrant Status. The endorsement of Niger wife or Special Immigrant Status on the passports of foreign women and men married to Nigerians as the case may be shall suffice for purpose of Re-Entry Visa.
Also expatriates who are in the employ of government institutions are also exempted from the requirement of re-entry visa for the purpose of re-admittance into Nigeria.
Re-Entry Visa is issued to this category of persons who are not subject to CERPAC requirement to enable them travel out and return to Nigeria.

Those on business visa and other short visit facilities who wish to travel out and later return within the validity of their visa are to contact the office of the Comptroller General for possible issuance of visa-on-arrival facility.
However, all accredited diplomats and their duly registered dependants in Foreign Missions in Nigeria shall continue to enjoy the issuance of Re-entry Visas (gratis) within the period of their accreditation.
The above reform is in line with global best practice and government’s quest for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)