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Citizenship & Residency
São Tomé & Príncipe$90,000
Vanuatu$130,000
Grenada$235,000
St Kitts & Nevis$250,000
Turkey$400,000
UAE Golden Visa$545,000Why Nigeria?
Africa’s economic powerhouse with the continent’s largest consumer market and most active startup ecosystem.
220 Million Consumers
Africa’s most populous country with a young, urbanizing population and rapidly growing middle class. The largest single consumer market on the continent.
Africa’s Tech Capital
Lagos is the continent’s startup capital with over $3B in annual VC funding. The Nigeria Startup Act provides tax holidays, forex access, and regulatory sandboxes.
Pioneer Tax Holiday
Companies in priority sectors (manufacturing, tech, agri, mining) can receive 3–5 year CIT exemptions under pioneer status — effectively 0% corporate tax.
AfCFTA Hub
As the largest African economy, Nigeria is central to the AfCFTA. Preferential trade access to 54 countries with 1.4 billion consumers across the continent.
Common Law System
English common law jurisdiction with established commercial courts, arbitration centers, and enforceable contracts. NIPC provides additional investment protection.
Free Trade Zones
Over 30 FTZs including Lekki, Calabar, and Onne. Companies in FTZs enjoy 100% foreign ownership, tax holidays, duty-free imports, and no forex restrictions.
How Nigeria Compares
Side-by-side comparison with Africa’s top jurisdictions for foreign company formation.
| Jurisdiction | CIT Rate | Min Capital | Formation | Foreign Own. | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 27% | None | 5–7 days | 100% | Financial Hub |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 30% | ~$65 | 10–15 days | 100% | Consumer Mkt |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 30% | None | 24 hours | 100% | Fastest Setup |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | 30% | ~$0.01 | 3–5 days | 100% | Tech Hub |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | 25% | GHS 500 | 5–10 days | 100%* | Low Tax |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 30% | None | 1–2 wks | 100% | Mining & Agri |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | 22.5% | EGP 1K | 1–2 wks | 100% | MENA Bridge |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | 30% | XOF 100K | 1–2 wks | 100% | Francophone |
* Ghana GIPC registration required for foreign enterprises with sector-specific minimum capital. Sovera Global offers formation in all 8 African jurisdictions.
Entity Types Available
Choose the right structure for your business objectives in Nigeria.
Private Limited (Ltd/GTE)
Most popular for foreign investors. Limited liability, minimum 2 shareholders, 1 director. Suitable for trade, tech, services, and manufacturing.
- CAC registration & certificate
- MEMART preparation
- Tax registration (FIRS)
- Registered office in Lagos
- Company secretary
- Bank account introduction
Public Limited (PLC)
For large enterprises planning to raise capital publicly. Minimum 7 shareholders, 2 directors, ₦2M authorized capital. Can list on NSE.
- CAC registration & certificate
- MEMART with share capital structure
- Company secretary (ICSAN member)
- Tax & regulatory compliance
- Bank account introduction
External Company (Branch)
For foreign companies establishing a presence without a separate entity. Must register with CAC within 28 days of establishing a place of business.
- CAC external registration
- Certified parent company documents
- Local registered office
- Tax registration (FIRS)
- Bank account introduction
How It Works
Our managed registration process — from first inquiry to fully operational Nigerian company.
Name reservation at CAC
We search and reserve your company name through the Corporate Affairs Commission portal. Two alternative names recommended. Approval in 1–2 business days.
Prepare MEMART & incorporation documents
We draft your Memorandum and Articles of Association, shareholder agreements, director consents, and statutory declaration of compliance. All documents aligned with CAMA 2020.
CAC filing & registration
Online submission to the Corporate Affairs Commission. Certificate of Incorporation, CAC status report, and certified MEMART issued upon approval.
Tax registration with FIRS
We register your company with the Federal Inland Revenue Service for CIT, VAT, and withholding tax. Tax Identification Number (TIN) issued and eFiling profile set up.
Bank account & operations
Introduction to tier-1 Nigerian banks (Access, GTBank, Zenith, First Bank) for corporate account in NGN and foreign currencies. You are ready to invoice, hire, and operate.
What’s Included
Included in package
- CAC company registration
- Memorandum & Articles of Association
- Tax registration with FIRS
- Registered office address in Lagos
- Company secretary appointment
- Corporate bank account introduction
- NIPC registration advisory
- Post-registration compliance guidance
Documents required
- Passport copies of directors/shareholders
- Proof of residential address
- Proposed company name (2 options)
- Business description (ISIC codes)
- Director consent forms
- Power of attorney (for remote registration)
Tax Overview
Nigeria’s tax framework for corporate entities and foreign investors.
| Tax | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Income Tax | 30% | Standard rate; 20% for small companies (turnover < ₦25M) |
| Tertiary Education Tax | 2.5% | On assessable profit of all companies |
| VAT | 7.5% | On goods and services; zero-rated exports |
| Withholding Tax | 10% | On dividends to non-residents; reducible under DTAs |
| Pioneer Status | 0% | 3–5 year CIT holiday for priority sectors |
| FTZ Companies | 0% | Full exemption in Free Trade Zones |
Cost & Timeline Breakdown
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Everything you need to launch in Nigeria.
| Item | Cost (USD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation (CAC) | Included | 1–2 days |
| MEMART & document preparation | Included | 2–3 days |
| CAC incorporation filing | Included | 3–7 days |
| Tax registration (FIRS + TIN) | Included | 2–3 days |
| Registered office address (1 yr) | Included | Same day |
| Corporate bank account intro | Included | 3–5 days |
| Total Package | From $2,500 | 10–15 business days |
Optional add-ons: NIPC registration ($500), Pioneer Status application ($1,500), SCUML registration ($300), additional director/shareholder ($200 each). All prices are fixed — no hourly billing.
Speak with a Nigeria Specialist
Our Africa desk provides end-to-end company formation in Nigeria with local partners on the ground. Transparent advice on entity selection, tax optimization, and ongoing compliance.
What Our Clients Say
Founders who registered their Nigerian companies through Sovera Global.
“Set up our fintech subsidiary in Lagos in under two weeks. Sovera handled the CAC registration, FIRS enrollment, and bank introduction — we focused on product development. Professional and transparent throughout.”
“We needed a Nigerian entity to bid on government contracts. Sovera navigated the CAC process, arranged our company secretary, and got us NIPC-registered. The local knowledge was invaluable.”
Official Resources
Key government agencies for company registration and investment in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Companies and Allied Matters Act allows full foreign ownership. No local partner required for most sectors. NIPC registration recommended for foreign investment protection.
No mandatory minimum for a standard Ltd. Companies with foreign ownership are classified as ‘enterprises with foreign participation.’ Minimum capital varies by sector – general commercial: NGN 200M (~$130) for GIPC-type activities.
The Corporate Affairs Commission processes applications in 2-5 business days online. Name reservation takes 1-2 days. Total timeline including tax registration is approximately 10-15 business days.
CIT is 30% (20% for small companies under NGN 25M turnover). VAT is 7.5%. Tertiary education tax is 2.5% of assessable profit. Pioneer status can grant 3-5 year tax holidays in priority sectors.
Yes. The Nigeria Startup Act provides tax holidays, foreign exchange access, and regulatory sandboxes for qualifying startups. Lagos is Africa’s largest startup ecosystem with significant venture funding.
Africa’s largest banking sector by assets. Access Bank, GTBank, Zenith, First Bank offer full corporate services. Multi-currency accounts in NGN, USD, GBP, EUR. Correspondent banking with major global banks.
Tax holiday of 3-5 years for companies in priority sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, tech, and infrastructure. Qualifying companies pay zero CIT during the pioneer period.
Yes. CAC online portal supports remote incorporation. A Nigerian address and local company secretary are required. Our Lagos team handles the entire process on your behalf.
Ready to register in Nigeria?
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