How to Successfully Apply for Nigerian Citizenship

How to Obtain Nigerian Citizenship

The Federal Republic of Nigeria's 1999 modified Constitution (the CFRN or Constitution) lists three ways to become a citizen of Nigeria⁚ birth, registration, and naturalisation. You can find more information on each method in the sections below.

Citizenship by Birth

The most popular form of citizenship in Nigeria is citizenship by birth. The qualifications for citizenship under this category are outlined in Section 25 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended. According to Section 25 of the Nigeria Constitution, you can become a Nigerian citizen by birth in the following ways⁚

  • If you were born in Nigeria before Independence Day (October 1st 1960) and one of your parents or grandparents belongs to an indigenous community in Nigeria.
  • You can also become a Nigerian citizen if you were born after October 1, 1960, and have either a Nigerian parent or grandparent.

Dual citizenship is also allowed for persons who were born in Nigeria after October 1, 1960, and have either a Nigerian parent or grandparent. As applicable in Section 28 of the Constitution, a citizen who holds Nigerian Citizenship, by means other than birth, but acquires or retains the citizenship of another country by means other than birth may have their Nigerian citizenship revoked.

Citizenship by Registration

Nigerian citizens can also become citizens by registering. Only two classes of people are eligible for this type of Nigerian citizenship, which is regulated under Section 26 of the constitution in Nigeria.

  1. Women from other countries who are married to Nigerian men.
  2. People of legal age and ability who were born outside of Nigeria but have either one or both of their grandparents who are citizens of that country.

People who fall into the second category must also meet certain conditions in order to be qualified to apply for Nigerian citizenship through registration. To qualify, a person must first be of good character and have two credible references attest to their moral integrity. The second need is that the person must have made it apparent that Nigeria is where they want to live. Finally, the person in question must have sworn the Oath of Allegiance required by the Nigerian Constitutions Seventh Schedule.

Each group of candidates must have specific documentation in order to proceed with the registration procedure for this sort of citizenship. Women from other countries who are married to Nigerian men fall within the first group of qualified applicants for citizenship by registration and must meet the following requirements⁚

  • Receipt for the application fee payment.
  • 24 photos from a passport.
  • Appropriately filled out the application and information form.
  • Evidence of a source of income.
  • Evidence of a source of income.

There are specific requirements for registration for people in the second group, which refers to people of legal age and ability who were born outside of Nigeria but have either one or both of their grandparents who are citizens of that country. These are a few of them⁚

  • Birth certificate.
  • A copy of their parent's or grandparent's Nigerian citizenship certificates.

Citizenship by Naturalization

Another type of citizenship in Nigeria is citizenship via naturalization. Individuals who have resided in Nigeria for a significant amount of time and integrated themselves into the local Nigerian culture typically receive this sort of citizenship. To become a citizen by naturalization, a person must file an application to the Ministry of Interior, which will then forward the necessary documents to the State Security Service, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Governors office of the state, the police, and the head of the local governing body. The application would then be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for a recommendation following this round. An individual must fulfill a number of requirements before the Nigerian President issues them with a Certificate of Naturalization. These consist of⁚

  • Must be a person of full age and capacity.
  • Should be a person of good character.
  • Has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria.
  • Such a person, in the opinion of the Governor of the state where he is or he proposes to reside, is a person of good character and has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria.

The following papers must be submitted by the applicant in order to apply for citizenship by naturalization⁚

  • A completed application form.
  • A birth certificate.
  • A police clearance certificate.
  • An affidavit of good character.
  • A letter of recommendation from the applicant's employer or community leader.
  • A letter of acceptance from the applicant's proposed sponsor.
  • A letter of acceptance from the applicant's proposed sponsor.
  • A copy of the applicant's passport, including the data page and any visa stamps.
  • A copy of the applicant's marriage certificate, if applicable.
  • A copy of the applicant's divorce decree, if applicable.
  • A copy of the applicant's medical report.
  • A copy of the applicant's financial statement.
  • A copy of the applicant's educational certificate, if applicable.

Requirements for Citizenship by Naturalization

Citizenship by naturalization is one of the most common ways of acquiring citizenship in Nigeria. If a person cannot apply to become a Nigerian citizen by birth or registration, he can still apply to become a naturalized Nigerian citizen if he meets these requirements⁚

  • This person is of full age.
  • They are a person of good character.
  • They have lived in Nigeria for at least 15 years.
  • They have a clear intention of making Nigeria their permanent home.

The applicant must also be able to speak, read, and write in English, and they must have a basic understanding of Nigerian culture and history. In addition, they must have a source of income and be able to support themselves financially.

Once the applicant has met all of the requirements, they must submit an application to the Ministry of Interior. The application will be reviewed by the Ministry, and if it is approved, the applicant will be granted a Certificate of Naturalization.

Requirements for Citizenship by Registration

There are specific requirements for registration for people who were born outside of Nigeria but have either one or both of their grandparents who are citizens of that country.

  • The applicant must be of legal age and ability.
  • They must be of good character and have two credible references attest to their moral integrity.
  • The applicant must have made it apparent that Nigeria is where they want to live.
  • They must have sworn the Oath of Allegiance required by the Nigerian Constitutions Seventh Schedule.

In addition to these general requirements, there are some specific documents that the applicant must submit with their application. These include⁚

  • A birth certificate.
  • A copy of their parent's or grandparent's Nigerian citizenship certificates.
  • A police clearance certificate.
  • An affidavit of good character.
  • A letter of recommendation from the applicant's employer or community leader.
  • A letter of acceptance from the applicant's proposed sponsor.
  • A copy of the applicant's passport, including the data page and any visa stamps.
  • A copy of the applicant's marriage certificate, if applicable.
  • A copy of the applicant's divorce decree, if applicable.
  • A copy of the applicant's medical report.
  • A copy of the applicant's financial statement.
  • A copy of the applicant's educational certificate, if applicable.

Once the applicant has met all of the requirements, they must submit an application to the Ministry of Interior; The application will be reviewed by the Ministry, and if it is approved, the applicant will be granted a Certificate of Registration.

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