What a Nigeria Temporary Work Permit is for
Nigeria’s Temporary Work Permit is for foreign experts invited by a Nigerian company to carry out a short, specialized assignment. Typical examples include installation or commissioning of equipment, maintenance and repairs, technical audits, training of Nigerian staff and other project-based work.
It is not a general job-search visa and it should not be used to fill an ordinary long-term position. The Nigerian host company starts the process by seeking approval from the Comptroller General of Immigration.
R10 and R11 are not the same permit
| Category | Visa validity | Authorized stay | Entries | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R10 | 30 days from issuance | Work not exceeding 30 days | Single entry | Extendable where applicable |
| R11 | 90 days from issuance | Six-month work period | Multiple entry | Not extendable |
The difference between visa validity and permitted stay is important. An R11 is not described by the Nigeria Immigration Service as a visa that remains unused for six months. It is valid for 90 days from issuance and, once used correctly, permits the approved six-month assignment.
Who should use each category?
R10
R10 suits a genuinely short assignment that can be completed within 30 days. It is single entry. The Nigeria Immigration Service says it may be extended where applicable, but the company should not build a project around an extension that has not been approved.
R11
R11 suits specialized work that requires several months and repeated travel during the approved six-month period. It is multiple entry and is not extendable. Where the work will continue beyond six months or becomes an ordinary continuing role, the company should examine the correct residence and work authorization rather than repeatedly using a temporary category.
The application sequence
- The Nigerian company defines the assignment. The contract and supporting explanation should identify the technical work, location, duration and why the foreign expert is needed.
- The host seeks immigration approval. The Nigeria Immigration Service publishes a Visa Authority Letter or pre-approval as a core requirement.
- The applicant uses the approval for the visa application. Follow the online and mission instructions attached to the approved category.
- The expert travels within the visa validity. Do not confuse the date by which the visa must be used with the length of the authorized work assignment.
- The company monitors the permitted stay. The host remains responsible for compliance with the category and project duration.
Core official requirements
The Nigeria Immigration Service lists:
- the Visa Authority Letter or pre-approval;
- a passport valid for at least six months; and
- a return or onward ticket.
The approval application and the Nigerian mission handling the visa may ask for more. In practice, a clear corporate submission often includes the invitation letter, project or service contract, company registration records, the expert’s qualifications or technical experience, assignment schedule, accommodation and contact information. Those supporting items should be presented as case documents, not invented as one universal statutory checklist.
Family members
The official R10 and R11 pages state that family or group applications are not available under these categories. A spouse or child should not be added to the TWP as though it were a dependant residence route. Check the proper visitor or dependant category separately.
Common mistakes
- Using a TWP for routine employment rather than a temporary specialized task.
- Applying for R10 when the work plainly needs several months.
- Calling the R11 visa “valid for six months” without explaining its 90-day entry validity and six-month authorized work period.
- Assuming an R11 extension will be granted even though NIS describes it as non-extendable.
- Allowing the invitation, contract and approval request to show different job titles, dates or project locations.
- Using an old Nigeria Immigration Service address or unofficial application portal.
Current official sources
- Nigeria Immigration Service R10 page
- Nigeria Immigration Service R11 page
- Nigeria Immigration Service TWP portal
The NIS headquarters is on Umar Musa Yar’Adua Express Way, Airport Road, Sauka, Abuja. Do not use an older headquarters address copied from a stale article.