Everything You Need to Know About FG’s Digital Expatriate Permit Portal
On July 16, 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) launched a digital platform for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), effective August 1, 2025. The portal, accessible at https://cerpac.immigration.gov.ng, allows expatriates and organizations to submit applications online, eliminating physical forms.
This move, announced by NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi, aligns with the Federal Government’s reforms to enhance transparency, efficiency, and user experience in immigration services. Physical CERPAC forms will be discontinued after July 31, 2025, and applicants with paid but unsubmitted forms must complete submissions by that date to avoid losing their application status and fees.
The initiative follows other digital reforms, including an e-visa system processing over 14,000 applications in six weeks and an amnesty portal for visa overstayers launched in July 2025.
🏛️ FG Launches Digital Expatriate Residence Permit Portal
- The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), under the Federal Government’s reform agenda, has launched a fully digital Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) portal, accessible at cerpac.immigration.gov.ng.
- Beginning August 1, 2025, all CERPAC applications must be submitted exclusively online. Physical forms will no longer be accepted after July 31.
- Applicants—including individuals and corporate sponsors—who have already paid via old forms are urged to complete and upload their submissions by July 31, or risk forfeiting their fees and application status.
✨ Purpose & Benefits
- This move aligns with FG’s digital-first strategy, aimed at reducing red tape, boosting transparency, and streamlining immigration services.
- It enhances the user experience for expatriates and employers by eliminating manual processes, improving efficiency, and ensuring consistent service delivery .
🧭 Broader Immigration Digitization Context
- These efforts build on earlier e‑migration reforms, including:
- The e‑Visa system launched May 1, 2025, which processed over 14,000 applications in just six weeks.
- Plans by Minister Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo to fully digitize the CERPAC and Temporary Work Permit (TWP) process to curb graft and improve border security.
✅ Bottom Line
Nigeria is set to overhaul expatriate residency applications with a fully digital CERPAC portal live from August 1, 2025. This marks another step in the FG’s push for transparency, speed, and modernization in immigration—reducing bureaucracy and supporting both individuals and corporate stakeholders.
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