Immigration Seeks Buhari’s Approval for 73 New Visa Classes

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says it has submitted a proposal to President Muhammadu Buhari to create 73 new visa classes.

If approved, this would increase the visa classes from the present six to 79.

 NIS Comptroller General, Muhammed Babandede, told attendees of the January breakfast meeting of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce that the visa policy will ease international travel, business and national security.

Babandede, who was represented by Kunle Osisanya, the comptroller for visa policy, said it will also support the attainment of the economic recovery and growth plan and align presidential directives on security, economy and transparency with global best practices in visa administration.

He said that the current type of visa classes, which are transit, tourist, business, subject to regularization (STR), temporary work permit (TWP) and diplomatic, are limiting.

According to him, the 79 classes in the NVP are codified.

The comptroller-general explained that the permanent residence visa category now includes investors’ visa for small and medium enterprises, large corporations, ultra-large corporations, oil and gas with importation and investment capital, among others.

He also said the service intends to include facial recognition in its biometrics process.

Babandede used the opportunity of the forum to urge South Africa to reciprocate the Visa on Arrival policy to Nigerian migrants.