Nigeria Launches Digital Work Permits, Joining Global Tech-Forward Nations

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Nigeria has officially joined a growing list of nations, including Namibia, Mexico, Slovenia, and Canada, by launching a fully digital platform for Temporary Work Permit (TWP) applications. This modernisation effort revolutionises the country’s work permit and travel systems, allowing foreign workers to complete their applications and payments online before they even arrive. This shift eliminates the need for physical endorsements upon arrival, representing a significant efficiency gain.

By implementing these digital solutions, countries are dramatically improving the transparency, speed, and accessibility of their work permit systems. This change offers a smoother, more predictable experience for both employers and foreign talent, ultimately strengthening global mobility.

According to Travel and Tour World, this initiative is part of a worldwide technological embrace, as numerous countries modernise their immigration and work permit infrastructures. The digitalisation of Temporary Work Permits (TWPs) and visas represents one of the most significant recent shifts, aiming to simplify procedures for international workers and their employers. Nigeria’s new digital platform, alongside similar initiatives in South Africa, Thailand, and others, signals a major transformation in global travel and employment frameworks.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially rolled out a comprehensive online system for Temporary Work Permit (TWP) applications. This move represents a significant departure from the previous manual system, which required applicants to be physically present in Nigeria to finalise their applications.

Topping the lists of key features of the new system is the online application and payment. Employers and foreign workers can now submit all necessary documentation and process payments through the digital portal before the applicant travels to Nigeria.

Once approved, the TWP is digitally linked to the applicant’s entry visa, removing the requirement for a physical passport stamp or endorsement on arrival.

For the first time, foreign workers can secure their Nigerian work permits from outside the country, making the process far more efficient for both the individual and the hiring company.

The NIS aims to significantly reduce processing times, making the entire procedure faster and more transparent for expatriates and the companies that depend on their skills.

In parallel with this digital platform, the Nigerian government has also introduced a mandatory Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance scheme. Employers are now required to cover personal liability and repatriation costs for their foreign employees. This new insurance mandate, which applies to several categories of foreign workers, requires companies to take full responsibility for the welfare of their expatriates while in Nigeria.

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With the new online system, foreign workers no longer face the uncertainty of waiting until they arrive in Nigeria to begin their work permit process. They can now complete the application from their home country, enabling employers to plan project timelines and assign tasks with greater confidence and efficiency. This digital process also drastically reduces paperwork, eliminates the need for in-person appointments, and improves overall operational efficiency.

The introduction of the digital Temporary Work Permit (e-TWP) is not an isolated event but rather the latest milestone in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) ‘s aggressive and comprehensive digitalisation strategy. This push is a core component of the government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which prioritises efficiency and automation in public services.

This “spate” of digitalisation includes several interconnected reforms. For one, the NIS has moved to merge the “Subject to Regularisation” (STR) visa and the “Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card” (CERPAC) into a single, streamlined Electronic Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permit and Automated Cards (e-CERPAC). This, along with others like the e-TWP, reduces paperwork and simplifies life for long-term expatriates.

 Nigeria has also been actively implementing e-gates at its major international airports, such as Lagos and Abuja. This enables automated passport scanning and facial recognition, speeding up entry and exit for eligible travellers and reducing queues.

This concerted effort has not gone unnoticed. In early October 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was recognised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and awarded the prestigious “Best Federal MDA in Public Service Automation”. This award validates the tangible success of its technology-driven reforms.

The digitalisation of work permits and visas has a profound and direct impact on tourism, far beyond just facilitating business travel. Historically, a lack of ICT integration and a reputation for challenging bureaucratic entry processes have hindered the development of Nigeria’s tourism sector. The new e-TWP and the broader e-visa system directly address these critical pain points.

A simple, transparent online visa process is a powerful marketing tool. It tells the world, from investors and skilled professionals to tourists, that Nigeria is accessible, modern, and serious about welcoming foreign visitors.

Foreign workers on TWPs are now more likely to combine their assignments with leisure activities (“bleisure”). A smooth entry process encourages them to arrive early or stay later, spending tourist dollars on hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.

While the e-TWP is for formal employment, the infrastructure and mindset it represents (alongside initiatives in South Africa and Kenya) position Nigeria as a potential future hub for digital nomads. This new class of long-stay travellers injects sustainable revenue into local economies.

Furthermore, by reducing hurdles and enhancing security, the digital system helps combat negative perceptions. It builds trust, making “destination Nigeria” a more appealing and competitive choice for both business and leisure.

Liked this news story? Keep tabs on Rex Clarke Adventures for more essential insights on global mobility, travel technology, and immigration updates from around the world.

 

FAQs

1. What is Nigeria’s new digital work permit system?

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a fully online platform for Temporary Work Permit (TWP) applications. This allows foreign workers and their employers to apply and pay for the permit online before travelling to Nigeria.

2. How does the new Nigerian e-TWP process work?

Applicants submit all documents and payments through a new digital portal. Once the application is approved, the TWP is digitally linked to the person’s entry visa, eliminating the need for a physical stamp or endorsement in their passport upon arrival in Nigeria.

3. Is there a new insurance requirement for foreign workers in Nigeria?

Yes. The Nigerian government has also introduced a mandatory expatriate comprehensive insurance scheme. Employers are now required to cover personal liability and repatriation costs for their foreign employees.

4. What other countries are digitising their work permits?

Nigeria joins a long list of countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, Slovenia (with a new digital nomad visa), South Africa, Kenya, Canada, and Mexico, all of which have implemented digital systems for work permits or remote work visas.

5. What are the main benefits of these digital work permit systems?

The primary benefits are improved efficiency (faster processing), better transparency (real-time application tracking), cost-effectiveness (less paperwork and no in-person visits), and increased flexibility for workers and employers.