Nigerian Passport for American-born Son and American Wife

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

My question is a two-parter.

1. My husband is Nigerian and our American-born son (who will be 2 years old by the time we travel) is a Nigerian citizen by virtue of the fact that his father is Nigerian. We already have a U.S. passport for my son when we re-enter the U.S. but when entering Nigeria, can my husband include my son on his Nigerian Passport or does my son need his own Nigerian passport?

(we don't want to get a visa for him on his U.S. passport because that costs $160.00 versus $65.00 for a passport). I read somewhere that a child under the age of 16 can be included on the parent's passport.

2. Is there any way that once in Nigeria, I can LEGALLY get a Nigerian passport by virtue of my marriage to a Nigerian?

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

#2 Who qualifies?

• All Nigerians by birth , naturalization and registration This is the most commonly used travel document in Nigeria.
  

I'll report back on naturalization as this question was posed to me before.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Okay it looks possible definitely.

I can't find an official website but I found this information, a bit stale http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/2009/08/becoming-nigerian-citizen.html

Ask Oga Seyi to go and find out on NairaLand.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Your son needs a Nigerian passport to travel. They require personal appearances of all applicants at one of the 3 locations in the US ( DC , NYC or Atlanta) or at one of the mobile sites they usually do in the fall ( Texas as in September if I remember correctly ) You have a choice of Nigerian passport ( citizenship) or a nigerwife visa. The draw back to citizenship is that if you are in Nigeria you will get no help from the US embassy because they do not get involved in the matters of citizens in their home countries. With the disruptions that can occur there I feel safer not being a citizen. The visa to me is a safer option.

http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/index.php?page=passports

Edited January 1, 2014 by NigeriaorBust

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

Thanks to you both for replying...you've been very helpful!

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

Your son needs a Nigerian passport to travel. They require personal appearances of all applicants at one of the 3 locations in the US ( DC , NYC or Atlanta) or at one of the mobile sites they usually do in the fall ( Texas as in September if I remember correctly ) You have a choice of Nigerian passport ( citizenship) or a nigerwife visa. The draw back to citizenship is that if you are in Nigeria you will get no help from the US embassy because they do not get involved in the matters of citizens in their home countries. With the disruptions that can occur there I feel safer not being a citizen. The visa to me is a safer option.

http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/index.php?page=passports

I totally agree with your cons on an American spouse getting the Nigeria visa. Where can I find the info about a "Niger wife" visa? I don't see anything in the link you provided. Is there a difference between this visa and a regular tourist visa?

[camden 20]

NIGER-WIVES

Niger-wives:

Formal letter of request from Nigerian husband

accepting Immigration Responsibility.

Formal letter of request from the wife.

Photocopies of the first five (5) pages of husbands

Nigeria Standard passport.

Photocopy of marriage Certificate.

Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with

three (3) recent passport photographs.

Applicants National Passport.

http://www.immigration.gov.ng/index.php?id=7

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

NIGER-WIVES

Niger-wives:

Formal letter of request from Nigerian husband

accepting Immigration Responsibility.

Formal letter of request from the wife.

Photocopies of the first five (5) pages of husbands

Nigeria Standard passport.

Photocopy of marriage Certificate.

Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with

three (3) recent passport photographs.

Applicants National Passport.

http://www.immigration.gov.ng/index.php?id=7

Thank you for the info, however, under the above information in the link you provide, it states the following:

Exempted Persons:

Exempted Persons (Diplomats, Government Officials (GO’s), Niger-wives, Non Governmental Organization (NGO’s) are to be issued CERPAC Gratis.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Am I understanding correctly that the Niger-wife is exempt from paying the CERPAC fee? And exactly what does this Niger Wives certificate mean? Does it mean that I do not need to pay for a tourist visa?

Edited January 2, 2014 by DebbyNSeyi

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

The visa is free and it is more a "green card" than a visa. It does not expire and your visits are usually unlimited. The good thing in my point of view is you are still travelling under the protection of being a USC in a foreign country,

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

The visa is free and it is more a "green card" than a visa. It does not expire and your visits are usually unlimited. The good thing in my point of view is you are still travelling under the protection of being a USC in a foreign country,

But I can only apply for this in Nigeria? correct? So I'll still have to get a tourist visa for my upcoming trip this year. But then once I get this "green card" of sorts, do I still need to apply for a tourist visa every time I want to go to Nigeria?

[nigerwife 17]

I have a Nigerwife visa. We got it when we lived in Nigeria, so I don't know if you can apply for it from the US....likely not, since it is a "residency" visa. It was free and never expires. You do not need to get tourist visas once you have the Nigerwife visa in your passport.

I also wanted to clarify that both Nigeria and the US allow dual citizenship. Meaning, you do not have to "give up" your US passport in order to get a Nigerian one. So if you want to get a Nigerian passport--do. You are still an American and protected by the embassy while in Nigeria.

Our son carries dual-citizenship and both a Nigerian and US passport. I know many people who do this.

I would suggest registering your stays in Nigeria so if something would flair up the embassy knows you are in-country and how to get ahold of you. You can do this at: https://step.state.gov/step/

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

1) Re dual citizenship. It's always been alleged but I haven't met anyone who can prove it that if a American/Nigerian entered Nigeria with a Nigeria passport (not an American passport with a Nigerian visa) then consular emergency assistance will be limited to that entity.

2) Not an issue here but you definitely cannot hold dual citizenship if in the US military. So the Nigerian passport will be destroyed and citizenship relinquished.

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

NIGER-WIVES

Niger-wives:

Formal letter of request from Nigerian husband

accepting Immigration Responsibility.

Formal letter of request from the wife.

Photocopies of the first five (5) pages of husbands

Nigeria Standard passport.

Photocopy of marriage Certificate.

Duly completed form IMM22 in triplicate copies with

three (3) recent passport photographs.

Applicants National Passport.

http://www.immigration.gov.ng/index.php?id=7

Thanks for the info. But, as a US citizen, I still need an entry visa to get into Nigeria to be able to apply for the Niger-Wives status. What kind of Visa do I need to get from the Nigerian Embassy in NY in order to enter Nigeria? An STR Visa? A tourist visa? I need to know as my trip is approaching the beginning of July and I have to get a visa application started!

Thanks!

[Aya820 33]

Okay it looks possible definitely.

I can't find an official website but I found this information, a bit stale http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/2009/08/becoming-nigerian-citizen.html

Ask Oga Seyi to go and find out on NairaLand.

So this website has another page embedded (http://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws_NIGERIA.html) where it talks about dual citizenship. One line that caught my eye says, "DUAL CITIZENSHIP: RECOGNIZED. Exception: Dual citizenship is only recognized for Nigerian citizens by descent."

Does this mean, for example, if as a USC with a Nigerian passport, I have to give up US citizenship?