THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING CERPAC CARD,APPLICATION REQUIREMENT IN 2022. & HOW TO GET A RENEWAL FOR YOUR EXPATRIATE CARD IN NIGERIA.

What is CERPAC? CERPAC   Is the  acronym  for  COMBINED EXPATRIATE RESIDENCE PERMIT AND ALIENS CARD. it is a card issued by nigeria immigration service to expatriates willing to stay in Nigeria for residential and employment purpose.

Who is Qualified for Cerpac?  The category of persons qualified for cerpac card application are person (foreigners) resident or working in Nigeria.

if you Have a need to employ a  foreigner, or   offered a job to a foreigner through your company in Nigeria, if the foreigner is to reside and work in Nigeria ,the foreigner need a cerpac  card.

The Guidelines for the Application: The following are the guidelines for a successful cerpac application.

i.  The CERPAC form as endorsed is  valid for three (3) months from the date of purchase.

Two forms are endorsed with this Booklet Guideline(s) as sample at the point of collection of the CERPAC pack.

Please read through both forms carefully before completing them.Use a black ball point pen and complete the forms in capital letters

The cerpac forms is obtained at the immigration office or Nigerian embassy.

What are Cerpac Fees:

HOW TO REGISTER A FOREIGNER/ALIEN FOR CERPAC: The company is to submit the following

1. CERPAC ALIENS REGISTRATION
   

    

   1. Application from the Employer indicating acceptance of Immigration Responsibility I.R.
   2. Valid Passport and photocopies of relevant pages.
   3. Letter of Appointment.
   4. Quota Approval of the Company.
   5. Photocopy of the Applicant’s credentials
   6. Duly completed Forms IMMA.21 and E.20
   7. Four (4) Passport-size photographs.
   8. Current CERPAC (where applicable)
   9. Physical Presence of the applicant.

It is important to note that the alien must have a subject to regularization visa,if he/she is applying or a valid visa with the payment receipt.

CATEGORIES OF EXEMPTED PERSONS AND HOW TO GET THEIR CERPAC:

Exempted Persons are (Diplomats, Government Officials (GO’s), Niger-wives, Non Governmental Organization (NGO’s) are to be issued CERPAC Gratis,they need cerpac but will not pay official fees.

1. EXEMPTED PERSONS-How to obtain Cerpac for DIPLOMATS
   • Diplomats shall do the following:
   • Write a Formal letter of request from Embassy
   • Attach a National Passport of Diplomat with diplomatic visa endorsement and photocopies of relevant pages.
   • Attach a Letter of Accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
   • Fill a Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicates with three (3) recent Passport photographs.
2. Government Official:

1. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALSGovernment Officials (GO’s) shall do the following:
   1. Write a Formal letter of request from employer accepting Immigration Responsibility (I.R.)
2. Personal letter of request from applicant.
3. Letter of offer of employment
4. Personal letter of acceptance of offer
5. Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with three (3) recent Passport photograph.
6. National Passport of applicant with GO visa Endorsement and photocopies of relevant pages of passport.
7. Photocopies of vetted credentials

NIGER WIVES: How a Niger wive can obtain cerpac

1. NIGER-WIVES  can obtain cerpac through the following: write a Formal letter of request from Nigerian husband accepting Immigration Responsibility.
2. Formal letter of request from the wife.
3. Photocopies of the first five (5) pages of husband’s Nigeria Standard passport.
4. Photocopy of marriage Certificate.
5. Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with three (3) recent passport photographs.
6. Applicant’s National Passport.

NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION GETTING CERPAC

1. NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONSNon Governmental Organizations (NGO’S)
2. Formal letter of request from the NGO accepting Immigration Responsibility I.R.
3. Personal letter of request from applicant.
4. Letter of offer of employment
5. Personal letter of acceptance of offer.
6. Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicates with three (3) recent passport photographs.
7. National Passport of applicant with STR visa endorsement and photocopies of relevant pages of passport.
8. Letter from National Planning Commission (NPC).

ALIENS FROM FREE ZONES

1. OTHERS: FREE ZONES (EPZ,ETC,PTZ,GTZ)Formal letter of request from the Free Zones accepting I.R.
2. Personal letter of request from applicant.
3. Letter of offer of employment.
4. Personal letter of acceptance of offer.
5. Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate with three (3)passport photographs
6. National Passport of applicant with STR visa endorsement and photocopies of relevant pages of passport.
7. Photocopy of Certificate of Grant of Status

VALIDITY OF CERPAC; Every cerpac has two years validity.

HOW TO RENEW CERPAC

1. TO RENEW/REPLACE A CERPAC,follow the steps.
   1. Renewal/Replacement
   2. Application letter from the Employer requesting for renewal/replacement of Residence Card and accepting I.R.
   3. Quota approval
   4. The Expiring Resident Card (Original)
   5. Valid Passport and photocopies of relevant pages.

WHAT IS CERPAC GREEN CARD ?

The CERPAC GREEN CARD is a bonafide document that allows a non-Nigerian to reside in Nigeria and carry out an approved activity as specified in the permit, or to accompany a resident or citizen of Nigeria as a dependant. Possession of a valid CERPAC GREEN CARD does not exempt the holder from having a valid entry or re-entry permit/visa. Holders of resident status in Nigeria who are proceeding on leave or temporary duty outside Nigeria should apply for re-entry permit/visa prior to their departure from Nigeria.
The validity is Two (2) years.

WHAT IS CERPAC BROWN CARD?

Every Alien resident in Nigeria or visiting with the intention to remain in Nigeria in excess of 56 days and crew members leaving their ship and staying ashore in excess of 28 days are required by law to register. Unlike the CERPAC GREEN CARD, the BROWN CARD is, essentially, a movement chart.

Under the new CERPAC Scheme, registration is valid for two years, after which application for revalidation must be made.

cerpac processing fee is $2600 subject to dollar naira rate.

BUSINESS PERMIT FOR COMPANIES IN NIGERIA : Business permits and expatriate quota are for foreign owned companies in Nigeria. the minimum share capital for foreign owned company is ten million naira share capital.

Every enterprise, desirous of obtaining Business Permit and Expatriate Quota, is to submit an application to that effect to the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs on Form T/1 designed for that purpose Companies are, however, to note that emphasis would be placed on employment of Nigerians to understudy the foreign experts for the purpose of training them, to enable the understudies acquire relevant skills for the eventual take-over of the expatriate quota positions. Renewal of quotas granted will not be automatic but considered on merit based on submission of the required documents, as specified in paragraph 3 (C) of this Handbook.

GRANT OF BUSINESS PERMIT / EXPATRIATE QUOTA POSITION

All applications by companies for Business Permit and expatriate Quota should be accompanied by the following documents:

1. BUSINESS PERMIT
   For only Joint Venture and wholly Foreign owned Companies.
   
   1. Completed Immigration Form T/1
   2. Certificate of Incorporation
   3. Memorandum and Article of Association
   4. Feasibility Report (should be certified or registered with Corporate Affairs commission (CAC)
   5. Corporate Affairs Commission’s Form CAC 2.3 ^ 2.5 of CAC C02 & C07
   6. Joint Venture Agreement for partnership venture between Nigerian and foreigners (original to be presented for sighting)
   7. Company’s Current Tax Clearance Certificate (Original to be presented for sighting)
   8. Lease agreement for C of O for opening premises (original to be presented for sighting)
      NOTE:
      For Business permit, the Authorized share capital must not be less than N10 million in respect of each Company.
2. GRANT OF EXPATRIATE QUOTA ONLY
   Same documents as in (a) above plus:
   
   1. Evidence of imported machinery, such as, Form M, Proforma invoice, Shipping documents and Clean Certificate of Inspection issued by Government appointed Pre-shipment Inspection Agents.
   2. License / Permit / Certificate from relevant Government Agencies / department / ministries for the operation or execution of project if company is engaged in oil services, health care services, fishing, mining, constructions (Work Registration Board), etc (original to be presented for sighting)
   3. Evidence of work at hand, its duration and value attached to the contract(s) if the company is engaged in building, civil engineering, construction, etc (original to be presented for sighting)
   4. Proposed annual salaries to be paid to the expatriates to be recruited indicating designation, names, jobs description and qualifications (CV and copies of credentials of expatriate to be attached).
3. RENEWAL OF EXPATRIATES QUOTA
   
   1. Completed Immigration Form /T2
   2. Corporate Tax Clearance Certificate (original to be presented for sighting)
   3. Current Tax Clearance certificate of the expatriate (original to be presented for sighting)
   4. Expatriate Quota Returns for the three months preceding the date of approval.
   5. Detailed Training programme for Nigerians
   6. List of Nigerians understudying expatriate on prescribed formats showing date employed, qualification, etc.
   7. List of Nigerian Senior/Management Staffs showing names, designations, qualifications, salaries per annum
   8. Certificate Current Audited Accounts
   9. Annual income tax Clearance certificate of the Expatriate staff (original to be presented fro sighting);
4. ADDITIONAL EXPATRIATE QUOTA
   Same documents as for renewal of expatriate quota plus:
   1. Evidence of acquired machinery or expansion of company is engaged in manufacturing in the form of Clean Certificate of inspection (CCI) issued by Government appointed Pre shipment inspection Agents
   2. Evidence of new contract if Company is engaged in construction/engineering and oil (original to be presented for Sighting) see  b (ii) for guidance
   3. Evidence of acquired farm / factory if Company is engaged in agro-allied business (original to be presented for sighting).
5. RESTORATIONS OF QUOTA
   In applying for restoration, there must be reasons and proof for the reactivation and revitalizing the company i.e. previously depressed economy, increased demand for the Company’s product / services and acquisition of new machinery i.e. Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) issued by Government appointed Pre-shipment inspection
   AGENTS.
6. REDESIGNATION OF QUOTA
   In case where a Company has difficulty in filling or owing to exigency of Operations, it is at liberty to apply for the re-designation of the affected position and this will be considered, purely on its own merit.
7. PERMANENT UNTIL REVIEWED QUOTA – (P.U.R)
   The main reason for the granting of P.U.R quota slot for which a Certificate would be issued, is to enable the foreign subscriber(s) adequately protect their interest and to give them a sense of greater commitment. The criteria and documents required for P.U.R are:
   
   1. Minimum share capital should be N10 Million
   2. Appreciable net profit of which not less than N2 million has been paid as Corporate Tax (original to be presented for sighting)
   3. Certified and Detailed Audited Account
   4. Certificate of Incorporation
   5. Monthly Returns of Expatriate Quota
   6. Company Organisation Structure
   7. Individual Income tax Clearance Certificate of the expatriates (original to be presented for sighting).
      NOTE:
      Other factors that would also be considered when considering P.U.R request include:
   1. political / policy direction of Government.
   2. company’s area of business to fall within priority sectors of the economy.
   3. Evidence that P/U.R would guarantee Technology transfer.
   4. Company should have large quota portfolio and Corresponding share holding as an added qualification.
8. QUOTA FOR INDIGENOUS COMPANY (FULLY-OWNED BY NIGERIANS
   Same documents as in (b) above except Joint Venture Agreement
9. WHOLLY-OWNED FOREIGN COMPANY
   
   1. Same documents as in (a) & (b) above except Joint venture Agreement
   2. Share Capital must not be less than N10 Million.
10. AMENDMENT OF BUSINESS PERMIT
    
    1. Board Resolution on the changes in either the composition of the Board of directors, location of business or line of activities duly registered with Corporate Affairs Commission
    2. Extract of Minute of Board of Directors Meeting showing decision taken and attendance.
    3. Evidence of resignation / appointment of Directors (old & new) where applicable
    4. Company Current Tax Clearance Certificate (original to be presented for sighting);
       
       NOTE:
       Board Resolution should indicate names of Directors present at the meeting and must be fully signed by the Chairman and Company Secretary.
11. FEES PAYABLE FOR SERVICES RENDERED
    From time to time, fees payable for services rendered are subject to review. The currently reviewed fees are as follows: