What is CERPAC?

Complex terms made simple.

The Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).

Not until recently, I didn’t even see the need why it is important to pay attention to immigration laws. If you or your loved ones desire to either work abroad or a foreigner intending to work in-country, then it is crucial to know what is require and how to equip yourself with the needed compliance knowledge.

As an expert working in a foreign country, you will by Law require certain documents to apply for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens card which is also known as CERPAC. Best called Residence Permit. We will be right to refer to it also as a Green card or a work permit which explicitly is the same as a CERPAC permit in Regulatory Compliance.

As you must have rightly guessed, CERPAC is a permit issued by the state to foreigners in order to legally live and WORK in a country of choice and this permit is subject to renewal. An expatriate is required as a matter of law to comply with this otherwise his entry, stay and work in the country of choice might be regarded as illegal and subject to repatriation by an agency of legal jurisprudence.

The Nigeria Immigration Service in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior is the Agency responsible for issuing CERPAC to foreigners in Nigeria and in this digest we will discuss the eligibility and requirements to apply for Cerpac in Nigeria, Validity Period, and Possible consequences for non-compliance.

It is worthy to know that immigration laws differ from one country to the next, so efforts will be required for you to highlight these differences in your country of choice.

— How to obtain a Residence Permit as a foreigner in Nigeria —

Application for CERPAC is usually done at the National Immigration Service designated offices nationwide, where the form is obtained and processed.

The following are the general requirements for the issuance of CERPAC, although specific documents may be requested, depending on the categories of the Applicant:

1. Application letter from the employer requesting Regularization of stay and accepting Immigration Responsibility (IR) on behalf of the expatriate;

2. Letter of Appointment/Employment;

Acceptance of the offer of Appointment/Employment;

3. Form IMM C02 and C07 with three (3) Passport –size photographs;

4. Expatriate quota approval;

5. International passport with STR visa endorsement and photocopies of relevant pages;

6. A duly completed CERPAC statutory form;

7. Business Permit;

8. Company’s board of directors’ resolution confirming appointment as director (where applicable); and

9. Payment of prescribed fees.

Application for a CERPAC Card can only be applied for and granted to a Foreigner in possession of a Subject to Regularization Visa obtained from the Nigerian Embassy or Consulate Abroad. It should be noted that STR Visa would also only be issued upon evidence of a grant of Expatriate Quota..

Referring to CERPAC as Green Card alone may not be totally correct as another form of it which is legally binding albeit to a different expert who primarily sort to work in a country of choice but within a much shorter period usually within or less than two months alone might not be advised to apply for green card but a Brown one.

The Green card which rightly is a document that allows foreigners to reside in country of choice and carry out an approved activity as specified in the permit, which also serves as a legal document that identifies a non-citizen residing in a country as a dependents usually renewable within two years.

Unlike the CERPAC Green Card, the Brown Card is essentially a movement chart. Every foreigner residing or visiting a country with the intention to remain in the country for less than 56 days are required by law to apply for the Brown Cerpac card and if above 56 days but within 2 years, register and posses a valid Green card. Validity periods may differ amongst countries as contained in their immigration laws, but as it relates to Nigeria, renewals for intending experts who decides to stay and work in-country will be within every two years.

Important to know; is that Possession of a valid CERPAC GREEN CARD does not exempt the holder from having a valid entry or re-entry permit/visa and the following group of people are exempted and are granted gratis:

1. Diplomat;
2. Government Officials (GOs);
3. Niger Wives; and
4. Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Want to Regularize your stay in Nigeria or have any Immigration questions? Send Us an email info@twinkleandblink.com