Your first 90 days in Nigeria: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The CERPAC is tied to your employer's expatriate quota, so leaving the job puts your residence status at risk immediately rather than at renewal. Understand the quota position you occupy before you accept a role, and never let the CERPAC lapse — regularising an expired permit is far harder than renewing a live one.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Regularise your status with the Nigeria Immigration Service — the CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) for most working residents
Within 90 days of arriving on a Subject To Regularisation (STR) visa — the STR is obtained abroad and converted after entry
The employer holds an expatriate quota position that your CERPAC is issued against, so the permit is genuinely tied to the company rather than to you. The Nigeria Immigration Service portal handles the application and the annual renewal.
Get your TIN (tax identification number), with the NIN as the national identity number
The TIN is required for tax filing and business; the National Identification Number (NIN) is now demanded for SIM cards, bank accounts and most government services.
TIN from the Federal Inland Revenue Service or your state internal revenue service; NIN enrolment is through NIMC, and the SIM-NIN linkage requirement makes it effectively unavoidable.
Open a bank account
GTBank, Zenith and Access open accounts on the CERPAC, NIN and proof of address, with a Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolment as a hard prerequisite. The BVN, NIN and CERPAC chain is the sequencing to plan for. Naira convertibility and foreign-exchange access remain constrained, so keep cross-border funds outside the country.
Enrol in healthcare
The NHIS/NHIA scheme has limited reach; expatriates and the middle class use private hospitals and HMO plans, with the best facilities in Lagos and Abuja. Serious cases are routinely flown to South Africa, India, the UK or the Gulf — international insurance with a real evacuation limit is the standard arrangement, not an upgrade.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for a limited period; residents obtain a Nigerian licence through the FRSC, which involves capture at a licensing centre and a driving-school certificate for many applicants. Driving is on the right.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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First 90 days in Nigeria: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Nigeria?
Regularise your status with the Nigeria Immigration Service — the CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) for most working residents — Within 90 days of arriving on a Subject To Regularisation (STR) visa — the STR is obtained abroad and converted after entry. The employer holds an expatriate quota position that your CERPAC is issued against, so the permit is genuinely tied to the company rather than to you. The Nigeria Immigration Service portal handles the application and the annual renewal. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (tax identification number), with the NIN as the national identity number is Nigeria's personal tax/ID number. The TIN is required for tax filing and business; the National Identification Number (NIN) is now demanded for SIM cards, bank accounts and most government services. TIN from the Federal Inland Revenue Service or your state internal revenue service; NIN enrolment is through NIMC, and the SIM-NIN linkage requirement makes it effectively unavoidable.
Can I drive in Nigeria on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for a limited period; residents obtain a Nigerian licence through the FRSC, which involves capture at a licensing centre and a driving-school certificate for many applicants. Driving is on the right. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Nigeria?
The NHIS/NHIA scheme has limited reach; expatriates and the middle class use private hospitals and HMO plans, with the best facilities in Lagos and Abuja. Serious cases are routinely flown to South Africa, India, the UK or the Gulf — international insurance with a real evacuation limit is the standard arrangement, not an upgrade. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Nigeria's system treats foreign residents.