How To Apply For ECOWAS Permits In Nigeria

What is ECOWAS permit?

ECOWAS permit is an approval given by countries under Economic Community of West African State to citizens of other countries to come into any country within ECOWAS sub-region for a defined period of time and purpose. 

Nigeria is among the countries under the umbrella of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Others member countries include those that are signatory to ECOWAS treaty of  May 1975 such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, and Togo.

The unions of the sovereign nations in Africa made it possible for them to come up with a traveling document designed for movement of people from one ECOWAS country to another.

The traveling documents differ depending on your mission for traveling to the country, for instance, Nigerians traveling to other African countries for business are given business visa while those traveling for tourism are given tourist visa.

The permits are issued upon application for the particular category and payment of approved levies in the designated bank account designed for it; presently, ECOWAS states have adopted biometric identification as a replacement to a resident permit.

Below are ECOWAS traveling documents and their requirements for movement of people among ECOWAS member states.

Right of residence and establishment of business

This traveling document empowers immigrants to reside in Nigeria while transacting businesses.

A non-citizen who secures this traveling document reserves the right to live in Nigeria and engage in any lawful business transaction.

·        A valid international passport is required as proof of originality before Nigerian government will right of residence and establishment of business.

·        Applicants are expected to get clarification that he or she has been admitted through an accredited port of entry.

·        Moreover, such persons will be asked to provide resident permit that is valid for at least 5 years.

 

Nigeria business permit

Foreigners coming into Nigeria for the purpose of a business transaction are expected to secure a valid business permit which authorizes him to carry out a particular kind of business in an approved location.

 

With this type of permit, you are free from the embarrassment of government agencies in charge of it.

·        One can register his or her business in the Board of Internal Revenue of the host Local Government.

·        Such registration is normally backed up with a certificate which serves as proof of registration.

·        However, those into bigger businesses such as importation are to register their business with the Corporate Affairs Commission in accordance with Companies & Allied matters act of 1990.

There are situations where students from other country come to Nigeria to study in one of their institutions of high learning, he or she need to visit the nearest Immigration office within your jurisdiction and apply for an academic permit.

This will enable such a person as to move freely throughout the duration of your academics without fear of embarrassment or any form of molestation. This is also applicable to a foreigner coming into Nigeria.

A whole lot of times, people are jailed while trying to move from one West African country to another without obtaining the necessary permits for that, this if obtained will not only guarantee your safety but will save you the embarrassment that will likely come from government agencies.