NIS Automates Visa on Arrival, Temporary Work Permit (TWP) in Nigeria

NIS Automates Visa on Arrival, Temporary Work Permit
(TWP) in Nigeria

NIS hosted over 100 business stakeholders in a virtual meeting
where issues of travel concern during COVID-19, procedures for
residency and entry of migrants affected by the suspension of
International flights and Closure land borders were addressed.

The Honourable Minister of Interior was represented by the
Director of Citizenship and Business Mr. Stephen Okon, and the
Senior Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and
Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole participated in the virtual
discussion.

The Nigeria Immigration Service in a bid to deliver better
services to its publics in line with the reform policy of the
current administration and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing
Business, has successfully automated the processing of Visa on
Arrival (VoA) and Temporary Work Permit (TWP).

2. Addressing stakeholders in the virtual meeting on Wednesday
2nd September 2020, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration
Service, Muhammad Babandede, MFR, said applicants can now apply and
pay for Visa on Arrival online and also receive their approvals
online. He said NIS has commenced online processing of Temporary
Work Permit to remove third party, where officers are involved
directly which negates transparency and Ease of Doing Business. It
is also in furtherance of the attainment of the Reform target set
for NIS by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council
(PEBEC) in its National Action Plan (NAP 5.0) on Entry and Exit of
People.

3. Babandede further stated that automation reduces the cost of
travelling, extra cost incurred by Human Resource Managers and
Public Relation Officers of companies and organizations who travel
to Abuja in an effort to process Visa on Arrival and Temporary Work
Permit.

4. He said today marks the end of such unnecessary cost and
delays witnessed in the process and delivery of services. NIS has
taken the steps of removing bottlenecks in the spirit of Ease of
Doing Business by ensuring that all applicants for VoA and TWP are
treated online.

5. The CGI directed that an e-mail address, [email protected]^[1]
be dedicated for the process of TWP.

6. All categories of visas for work must be obtained from
Missions not in Nigeria. The Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 is explicit
on the categories of visas to be obtained at the point of entry
into Nigeria and from the Missions. VoA are of 2 categories, for
Africans which can be issued at the point of entry and for business
which should be applied for online, paid for online and approval
received online. There shall be no extensions for TWP and other
short visit visas except on special cases to be approved by the
Comptroller General of Immigration.

7. In line with Federal Government’s approval to commence
international flight operations from 5th September, 2020, at
Murtala Mohammed International Airports (MMIA) Lagos and Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airports (NAIA) Abuja, and the earlier
approval of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, vide
letter Ref. No. MI/PM/16012/S.366/Vol.ll/ dated 6th April, 2020 on
waiver for visa payment due to COVID-19, closure of land borders
and suspension of international flights, the Service in exercise of
its statutory mandate wish to implement as follows:

i. All Migrants in Nigeria whose permits expired from 23rd March
to 5th September, 2020 with evidence of confirmed return tickets
scheduled to travel out of the country are to be issued with free
extensions to enable them depart on or before 15th September,
2020;
ii. All Migrants whose permit/visitor’s pass expired before 23rd
March, 2020 shall pay overstay penalty for the number of days
stayed before the lockdown on 23rd March, 2020;
iii. All resident Migrants, whose permits expired outside the
country from 23rd March, 2020 shall be allowed entry into Nigeria
with the expired permits on or before 25th September, 2020. Such
returning holders of expired permits and their dependents are to
renew the permits within thirty (30) days of arrival to Nigeria to
avoid sanctions under relevant Immigration laws;
iv. All migrants who processed payments for Visa on Arrival and
other categories of visas from the Nigerian Missions before 23rd
March 2020, are to apply for revalidation by uploading copy of the
previous payments via [email protected]^[2]
not later than 15th September, 2020; and
v. All migrants who obtained Visa on Arrival Pre-approval Letters
and other categories of visas from the Nigerian Missions before
23rd March, 2020, whose approvals/visas expired before 5th
September, 2020 are also to apply for revalidation without fresh
payments by uploading copies of the expired pre-approval
letters/visas via [email protected]^[3]
not later than 15th September, 2020.

8. The Service has equally activated Visa on Arrival and e-Visa
payment portals to enable the intending migrants to Nigeria process
entry visas as from 5th September, 2020.

9. In a situation where migrants have obtained a TWP approval
and the Mission where such visas are to be issued are closed, they
should submit the complaint through [email protected]^[4]
10. These two (2) International Airports, MMIA and NAIA are to
commence issuance of visas in line with Nigeria Visa Policy 2020
with effect from the period of the opening of the designated
Airports.

11. Any violation will attract penalties. The Comptroller
General has approved that the meeting will be quarterly with
stakeholders.

Signed

DCI Sunday James pcc
Service Public Relations Officer
For: Comptroller General of Immigration