Is it possible to switch jobs upon getting on an STR Visa?

No. Your visa is bound to the Expatriate Quota of your sponsoring employer. To switch jobs, you will normally have to leave the country and re-apply within the quota of the new company.

What is the fines of overstay?

The NVP 2025 came up with a fine of 15 per day in case of minor overstays. But exceeding 90 days may result in a one year ban in Nigeria.

What is the time of the process?

Although the e-Visa approval may require 48-72 hours, the whole process (Quota approval CERPAC) normally takes 4-8 weeks.

Nigeria Employment Visa 2025 Guide

The process of applying the Nigeria Employment Visa may seem like a minefield of abbreviations and websites. Things have however changed with the complete implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 (NVP 2025) as it is now much more digitalized and streamlined.

Types of primary visas What Type of Visa Do you require?

Making an incorrect selection of a visa class is the number 1 cause of denials of entry. According to the NVP 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clear career ladders depending on the length of stay and job description.

STR Visa (Subject to Regularization) -R2A

This is the normal work visa in long term employment. In case you have signed a contract to work and live in Nigeria, you apply to the STR Visa.

To who it concerns: Expatriates recruited by companies in Nigeria.
Key Feature: It is granted with a 90 days term and has to be regularized into residence permit (CERPAC) upon arrival.

Niche Employment Categories

R5A Visa: NGO Employment International.
R3A Visa: It is dedicated to individuals who are in the Free Zone.
F8A Visa: Temporary specialized work (is a replacement of a number of older types).

Compulsory Documentation: The “Big Three”

Make sure that your employer has all these documents before you get in touch of the e-Visa system. Lack of them will make your application rejection instant.

Approval of Expatriate Quota: It is a document issued by the Ministry of Interior that provides a company with an authorization to hire a certain number of foreigners.
Immigration Responsibility (IR): A letter that is signed by your employer and states his readiness to take full responsibility of your well-being and possible repatriation.
CGI Approval Cable: This is a mandatory Visa Authority Letter of the Comptroller General to be submitted by those TWP/F8A applicants.

The Full Document Checklist:

CAC Certificate: Certificate of registration of the company in Nigeria.
Letter of Employment and Acceptance: Both parties signed.
Educational Credentials/ CV: Should be translated to English when needed.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate: This is a rigorous health condition to be taken before entering.
Passport: The passport should be at least 6 months and 2 blank pages.
Screen-by-Screen: The Process of applying through the e-Visa System.

NVP 2025 has transferred nearly all the first moves to the Portal of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). In order to capture smoothly follow the following steps:

Online Application

You need to go to the e-Visa portal and choose the relevant visa code (e.g. R2A in case of STR). Complete the form carefully; mistakes with the passport numbers are the main causes of delays.

Acknowledgment and Payment

Pay the visa fee online. You will take a Payment Acknowledgment Slip and a Visa Receipt. They must be printed at once–they are to be produced at the embassy or port of entry.

Biometric Capture

Depending on your country, you might have to attend a VFS global or OIS Services center to have biometrics done. In other places, the new Contactless Biometric allows you to do it through a mobile application.

Visa Approval Letter (VAL)

In the case of e-Visas and TWPs, a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) will be sent through an email. It is not the visa itself, but the permission to pass and get your sticker on entry to the port or on mission.

FAQs

Is it possible to switch jobs upon getting on an STR Visa?
No. Your visa is bound to the Expatriate Quota of your sponsoring employer. To switch jobs, you will normally have to leave the country and re-apply within the quota of the new company.
What is the fines of overstay?
The NVP 2025 came up with a fine of 15 per day in case of minor overstays. But exceeding 90 days may result in a one year ban in Nigeria.
What is the time of the process?
Although the e-Visa approval may require 48-72 hours, the whole process (Quota approval CERPAC) normally takes 4-8 weeks.

Final Thoughts

The e-Visa system allows obtaining a Nigeria Employment Visa in 2025, but it has to be done with extreme care. Make sure that the Expatriate Quota of your employer is active and your credentials are prepared to be uploaded.

Disclosure

It is informational in nature due to the nature of the article. It is suggested that the users of the information should confront the official Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) portal or a legal expert first.