If you are one of the millions of Nigerians trying to get out of the country, whether for study, work, or you want to start a new life away from the country, there are certain documents that you need to help you through.
Getting all your documents and paperwork properly done is at the center of relocating from Nigeria as having a document missing or wrongly processed, can cost the entire process, cause visa denial, travel delays, or see you being turned away at the airport.
Although the country you are going to and the purpose of going there may determine the documents you need, I have brought out all the documents that you will need no matter your reason for wanting to leave the country.
All Documents needed to relocate abroad from Nigeria
1. Valid International Passport
Your gateway out of Nigeria is your international passport which should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended travel date. The passport is a proof of identity and nationality and it allows you entry into various countries.
Your passport should also have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps.
2. Visa
Another document that you need to leave Nigeria is a visa to the particular country you are moving to. There are different type of visas depending on the purpose of your relocation:
- Student visa: This is the type of visa you need for studying abroad
- Work visa or skilled worker permit: This type of visa is needed if you have gotten a job in another country or if you are leaving with the intention of working somewhere else.
- Permanent residency (PR): This visa gives you the legal right to resident status in another country. This is also known as family reunification visa, which allows you, as a spouse, parent, or child, to relocate and join family members.
3. Admission or Job Offer Letter
For those who are leaving the country for either studies or work, you need to submit either an admission offer letter for studies or a job offer letter for those who want to leave the country for jobs. These documents are necessary before you can qualify for a visa.
4. Proof of Funds
Countries around the world do not want to open their gates to liabilities. They want to be sure that they allow you in, you will be able to support yourself.
This is the reason why they will request for proof of funds which may be in the form of a bank statement of between 3 to 6 months, a sponsorship letter if someone is sponsoring your relocation, or a scholarship or bursary document if you are coming as a student.
5. Medical & Health Records
It is not only financial liabilities that countries are avoiding. They are also avoiding people who will bring and expose their citizens to some health challenges. It is because of this that countries demand for health records.
Some of the documents needed may include yellow fever card and a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination. Some may also require certificates for TB test, HIV test, and general health screening most especially if you want a long term visa.
6. Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
To ensure that they are not importing criminals, fugitives, and people with a dangerous past into their territories, many countries will request that you present Police Clearance Certificate before they can issue you a visa.
Whether you are seeking residency permit, student, or work visa, getting this document from the Nigerian Police Force is a necessity.
7. Academic Certificates and Transcripts
Having your offer of admission or job is not enough. If you are moving to another country for educational purpose or for a professional job, it is only normal that you get your academic documents ready.
This should include your WAEC/NECO, Official academic transcripts, and university degree certificates all ready. It is important to get the documents apostilled or notarized by having it signed and sealed as official by a government-authorized person.
A well detailed CV is another thing that you will need if you are relocating because of a professional job. The CV should detail your education and job history, certificate, skills, contact address, and references.
8. Statement of Purpose
Also known as the Letter of Intent, this document comes as a short essay or letter that you will need to write.
It details why you are relocating, your future plans, as well as how you intent it support yourself. This is very important if you are seeking for a student visa or a skilled worker visa.
9. Proof of Language Proficiency
If you are seeking visa to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, you may be required to submit a proof of language proficiency.
This document is to support that you are proficient in certain languages, most especially English language.
To have this, you may need to pass the IELTS or TOEFL for English speaking countries and present the results.
Other countries that require Proof of Language Proficiency include the United States, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, and France.
10. Birth Certificate
Your birth certificate will be required to confirm your identity and age, placing it against what your other documents say.
If you do not have this immigration requirement, a court sworn Age Declaration age will be accepted. If you have kids and you are relocating with them, theirs will also be required.
11. Proof of Accommodation
There is no country that wants to have people who will come and stay on the streets or under the bridge. It is because of this that one of the most important documents you need before relocating is the Proof of Accommodation. Most of the time, it is required for visa application. This can be in the form of a hotel booking, an air bnb arrangement, a rental agreement, or a letter from your host if you are staying with someone.
12. Marriage or Relationship Documents
If you are leaving Nigeria to meet your spouse in another country, the document you will need is a marriage certificate. It is important to note that the only marriage document admissible is the marriage certificate obtained from a marriage registry.
After obtaining the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the marriage certificate, you will be required to legalize it at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you can present it for relocation. For some countries, you may be required to also notarize it.
If you are not yet married, you can submit a Proof of relationship if you are relocating to be with a common-law partner or a fiancé.
13. Travel Itinerary
There are certain embassies that, depending on the reason for leaving the country, they may require that you present a Travel Itinerary. This is in the form of flight reservation and dates.
The ticket may not necessarily be paid for unless if it is a short-term trip in which case, you may be required to resent a round-trip bookings.
Other Documents You May Need to Relocate Abroad
Apart from the above, you will also need to have at least 10 passport photographs. You may only get to need between 2 to 6, but having the extras will do no harm.
You also need to have other immigration documents ready if you have traveled to other countries in the past.
There are other some countries that may require medical and travel insurance.
Conclusion
When you are preparing to relocate from Nigeria, the most important thing you can do is to ensure that you get all the right documents and they should be up to date. This will make it clear that you are prepared and trustworthy.
