Nigeria's Increased Residential Permit Costs Impact Expatriates, Foreign Investment

The Nigerian government has raised the cost of residential permits from N3,000 to N7,500, with an additional N300,000 to N500,000 quota verification fee, affecting expatriates in Nigeria. The Ministry of Interior and Nigeria Immigration Service temporarily suspended issuing permits to expatriates married to Nigerian citizens or vice versa.

Expatriates already in Nigeria are facing difficulties renewing permits due to high fees, leading some to stay illegally. A public relations officer from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Akinsola Akinlabi, clarified that the fee increase for permit applications was implemented in August last year.

The process for obtaining permits for men married to Nigerian women or vice versa has not been suspended. The government aims to ensure transparency in the permit application process despite allegations of expatriates working illegally in Nigeria.