PROCURING FREE ZONE/ EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES VISA TO NIGERIA

Expatriates who wish to work in Free Zone-licensed companies in Nigeria are not exempted from the immigration regulations and requirements. Though the application process is almost the same as other visas, this visa is different in terms of documentation, authorized places of work and activities.

What are free or export processing zones? 

They can be described as designated areas, where businesses are exempt from the normal legal regime applicable in Nigeria, particularly about some aspects of immigration procedure and customs duty and tax. Free zones are usually organized around major seaports, international airports, and national frontiers—areas with many geographic advantages for trade.

Activities carried out in free zones include: manufacturing of goods for export, warehousing freight forwarding and customs clearance, handling of duty free goods (transhipment, sorting, marketing, packaging, etc.), banking, stock exchange and other financial services; insurance and re-insurance, import of goods for special services, exhibitions and publicity, International Commercial Arbitration Services Activities relating to integrated zones, and other activities deemed appropriate by the Authority.

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