What Is CERPAC ?

CERPAC IS THE ACRONYM FOR COMBINED EXPATRIATE RESIDENCE PERMIT AND ALIENS CARD.


Who qualifies

Expatriates resident or working in Nigeria
 

INTRODUCTION AND REQUIREMENTS

CERPAC FORMS:

1.1 CR (Concessionary) forms are meant for Missionaries, Students,
      Non ECOWAS African Nationals and Cameroonians

1.2 AO forms are for other Nationals and persons with special
      Immigrant status..

1.3 AR forms are for Exempted Persons (Diplomats, Government
     officials, NGO’s and Niger-wives).

1.3.1 AR forms are issued at the Immigration Service
         Headquarters and State Commands all over the Federation.
1.3.2 CR & AO forms are obtainable from Afribank Nigeria Plc.


CERPAC GUIDELINES

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

1.5 Two forms are endorsed with this Booklet Guidelines as sample
      at the point of collection of the CERPAC pack.

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


2. Please Note the following:
2.1 The envelope containing this CERPAC Pack should be preserved
    and used in submitting your forms and documents after
    completion.

2.2 All fees paid to obtain forms are not refundable.

2.3 In the event of loss of form(s), replacement will be treated as a
     new issue and will attract the original fees.

2.4 Any erasures, cancellation, or defacement of any sort shall
     render the form(s) void.

2.5 Any form(s) voided as in 2.4 (above) must be returned as a
     complete set to the bank of purchase for replacement. Such
   replacement will attract a service charge and pack cost of            
   N2,500(Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) payable to the Bank.

3.1 Three (3) Nos. “2 x 2” passport  photographs on white
     background should be submitted with the completed forms.  
    One of the photographs should be attached to the bottom right-
    hand side of the CERPAC form titled “Receipt and Temporary
    Card
     
3.2 You are required to append your signature beside
      your photograph attached on the form (as in 3.1 above)

3.3 Enclose also one (1) No. facial portrait measuring 4' x 3' (inch)
      white background

4. All completed forms and documents should be submitted to the
    Immigration State Command where your file(s) is (are) located,
    for Verification and Clearance.

5. At the time of submitting the completed forms and documents,
   you will be required to present your original Passport for
   Verification of the documents presented.

6.When your forms and documents are received, verified and
   endorsed by the relevant Immigration State Command, an
   Immigration/CERPAC Stamp will be applied to your
  Receipt/Temporary Card. Please ensure that the Receipt/
  Temporary Card is authenticated and returned to you. You will
  also be required to physically come into a CERPAC office
  for the capture of your Digital Personal Identification.

Special Immigrant Status
6.1.0 Special Immigrant Status:
          These are expatriates married to Nigerian Women
6.1.1 Formal letter of request from Nigerian wife accepting
           Immigration Responsibility.
6.1.2 Formal letter of request from the husband.
6.1.3 Photocopies of the first five (5) pages of wife’s
          Nigeria Standard passport.
6.1.4 Photocopy of marriage Certificate.
6.1.5 Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with three
         (3) recent passport photographs.
6.1.6 Applicant’s National Passport.

7 CERPAC FEES
 

Payment in Naira Equivalent.

8. Exempted Persons: Exempted Persons (Diplomats, Government
    Officials (GO’s), Niger-wives, Non Governmental Organization
   (NGO’s) are to be issued CERPAC Gratis.
9. CERPAC validity: The validity of CERPAC is two (2) years.


Requirements  :

10. In addition to the above guidelines, the following are additional requirements for the issuance of CERPAC in the various categories.

10.1 Regularisation of Stay:
10.1.1 Application letter from the employer requesting
         Regularization of stay and accepting Immigration
         Responsibility (IR) on behalf of the expatriate.
10.1.2 Letter of Appointment/Employment
10.1.3 Acceptance of offer of Appointment/Employment.
10.1.4. Form IMM22 with three (3) Passport –size photograph.
10.1.5 Quota Approval
10.1.6 VettedCredentials
10.1.7 Valid Passport with STR (Subject to Regularization)
          (Employment) visa and photocopies of relevant pages.


10.2 REGULARIZATION OF FOREIGN STUDENTS AT OUR HIGHER
      INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING

• Formal letter of application for regularization from student
• Letter of recommendation from the Institution and acceptance of
  Immigration responsibility
• A copy of his Admission letter
• A copy of letter of acceptance
• Evidence of payment of School fees.

Photocopy of relevant pages of the applicant's passport including the page of relevant visa.


10.2.0 EXEMPTED PERSONS:

DIPLOMATS
10.2.1 Diplomats:
10.2.2 Formal letter of request from Embassy
10.2.3 National Passport of Diplomat with diplomatic visa
          endorsement and photocopies of relevant pages.
10.2.4 Letter of Accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
10.2.5 Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicates with three (3)
          recent Passport photographs.


GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
10.3.0 Government Officials (GO’s)
10.3.1 Formal letter of request from employer accepting
           Immigration Responsibility (I.R.)
10.3.2 Personal letter of request from applicant.
10.3.3 Letter of offer of employment
10.3.4 Personal letter of acceptance of offer
10.3.5 Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with three
          (3) recent Passport photograph.
10.3.6 National Passport of applicant with GO visa Endorsement
          and photocopies of relevant pages of passport.
10.3.7 Photocopies of vetted credentials


NIGER-WIVES
10.4.0 Niger-wives:
10.4.1 Formal letter of request from Nigerian husband accepting
           Immigration Responsibility.
10.4.2 Formal letter of request from the wife.
10.4.3 Photocopies of the first five (5) pages of husband’s
          Nigeria Standard passport.
10.4.4 Photocopy of marriage Certificate.
10.4.5 Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with three
         (3) recent passport photographs.
10.4.6 Applicant’s National Passport.



NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
10.5.0 Non Governmental Organizations (NGO'S)
10.5.1 Formal letter of request from the NGO accepting
           Immigration Responsibility I.R.
10.5.2 Personal letter of request from applicant.
10.5.2 Letter of offer of employment
10.5.3 Personal letter of acceptance of offer.
10.5.4 Duly completed form IMM22 in
          triplicates with three (3) recent passport photographs.
10.5.5 National Passport of applicant with STR visa endorsement
          and photocopies of relevant pages of passport.
10.5.6 Letter from National Planning Commission (NPC).


OTHERS: FREE ZONES
10.6.0 Others: FREE ZONES (EPZ,ETC,PTZ,GTZ)
10.6.1 Formal letter of request from the Free Zones accepting I.R.
10.6.2 Personal letter of request from applicant.
10.6.3 Letter of offer of employment.
10.6.4 Personal letter of acceptance of offer.
10.6.5 Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate with three (3)
          passport photographs
10.6.6 National Passport of applicant with STR visa endorsement
          and photocopies of relevant pages of passport.
10.6.7 Photocopy of Certificate of Grant of Status


RENEWAL/REPLACEMENT OF CERPAC
10.7.0 Renewal/Replacement
10.7.1 Application letter from the Employer requesting for
          renewal/replacement of Residence Card and accepting I.R.
10.7.2 Quota approval
10.7.3 The Expiring Resident Card (Original)
10.7.4 Valid Passport and photocopies of relevant pages.



CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT
10.8.0 Change of Employment:
10.8.1 Application from the new Employer requesting change
         of employment and accepting Immigration Responsibility I.R.
10.8.2 Letter of Appointment/Employment
10.8.3 Acceptance of offer of Appointment/Employment.
10.8.4 Letter of no objection from the previous Employer.
10.8.5 Quota Approval
10.8.6 Valid Passport.
10.9.0 Re-designation:
10.9.1 Application letter from Employer requesting Re-designation
          and accepting Immigration Responsibility I.R.
10.9.2 Quota Approval
10.9.3 Current Residence Immigration Responsibility (Original)
10.9.4 Valid Passport and photocopies of relevant pages.


DEPENDANTS
10.10.0 Dependants:
10.10.1 Application  from the Employer of the Principal
            Immigrant requesting Regularization or Renewal.
10.10.2 Valid Passport (with STR visa) and photocopies or relevant
           pages in case of Regularisation.
10.10.3 Valid Passport of the Principal Immigrant.
10.10.4 Current CERPAC of the Principal Immigrant.
10.10.5 Photocopy of Marriage Certificate case of the wife of the
            Principal Immigrant)
10.10.6 Form IMM22 with three (3) Passport photographs (in
            the case of Regularisation).


ALIENS REGISTRATION
10.11.0 ALIENS REGISTRATION
10.11.1 Application from the Employer indicating acceptance
           of Immigration Responsibility I.R.
10.11.2 Valid Passport and photocopies of relevant pages.
10.11.3 Letter of Appointment.
10.11.4 Quota Approval of the Company.
10.11.5 Photocopy of the Applicant’s credentials
10.11.6 Duly completed Forms IMMA.21 and E.20
10.11.7 Four (4) Passport-size photographs.
10.11.8 Current CERPAC (where applicable)
10.11.9 Physical Presence of the applicant.



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.