Both Nigeria and the USA let their citizens get dual citizenship. You could remain a citizen of Nigeria even if you were to get an American passport.
On the other hand, Nigerians can’t directly become a citizen of the United States. Unless you already have a green card or aren’t married to a US citizen, there’s no way for you to become an American national.
But don’t be discouraged: there still are some alternatives for you to travel to the US and enjoy the benefits that US citizens do.
How can Nigerians get citizenship in the United States?
Nigerians can become US citizens by applying for naturalisation. You’ll need to fulfil any one of these requirements for you to be able to do so:
- be a permanent resident card (formerly known as the green card) holder for at least five years or three years if married to a US citizen and lived in the US continuously for these years;
- serve in the US military for a year.
Remember, the above is just the requirement to apply for citizenship. Every application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and you’ll also need to show you’ve significantly contributed to the US economy. Other prerequisites include having good knowledge of US history and the English language.
Documents needed to get US second citizenship for Nigerians
The standard set of documents includes the following:
- A photocopy of both sides of your permanent resident card. If you can’t do that for any reason, for example, you lost the card, and you need to submit the photocopy of the receipt of the I-90 form, which is the application to replace the permanent resident card.
- A cheque or money order for the application, biometric, and current naturalisation fees with your A-number on the back. Credit card payments are also allowed.
- If you’re currently living outside the US, two identical colour photographs, with your name and alien registration number (A-Number) written lightly with pencil on the back of each photo.
The following documents are optional; you must only send those that apply to your case.
If you’re applying with the help of an attorney or accredited representative, you need to send a completed G-28 form, the Notice of Entry of Appearance as an Attorney or Representative.
If your current legal name differs from the one on your PR card, send the documents you used to change your name.
If you’re applying via your spouse’s citizenship status, you need to send the following documents:
- their birth certificate or the certificate of citizenship or naturalisation. This can also be replaced with the front cover and signature page of their current US passport or FS-240 form, which is the report of birth abroad of a citizen of the USA;
- your marriage certificate;
- proof of the end of your prior marriages, e.g. divorce decrees, death, certificates, or annulments;
- documents, including tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, and children’s birth certificates, that prove you’re living with your spouse.
If you’re in the US military service, you need to fill and submit the N-426 form, the Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service.
If you’ve been outside the US after becoming a PR for more than six months, you need to send evidence like an IRS tax return or mortgage certificates that show you still had ties with the US during that time.
Those with dependent spouses and children that don’t live with them need to send a court or government order to provide financial support and evidence of the support. These could be cancelled cheques, receipts, wage garnishments, etc.
If you’ve been arrested or detained for any reason, you must send a copy of each case’s arrest record and disposition. Note that even if no case was filed, you need to send an original official statement by the arresting agency about it.
If you’ve been convicted or placed in an alternative sentencing or rehabilitative program, you need to submit both the sentencing record and evidence that you completed your sentence.
If you’ve missed out on filing an income tax return since becoming a PR, you must submit all the correspondence with the IRS regarding the matter.
If any of your taxes are overdue, it’s essential to send a signed agreement with the relevant tax authority proving that you’ve already filed for a return and documentation showing the current status of the repayment.
If you’re applying for a disability exception, you’ll need to submit an original N-648 form. A licenced doctor or clinical psychologist must complete it within the last six months.
If you haven’t registered with the Selective Service and you’re a male of at least 26 years of age and lived in the US as anything else than a lawful non-immigrant when you were between 18 and 26, you need to produce a status information letter from the Selective Service.
Process of obtaining US second citizenship for Nigerians
The procedure usually takes five steps:
- Fill out and submit the N-400 form, Application for Naturalisation, along with the required documents.
- Attend your biometrics appointment.
- Sit for a scheduled interview with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS.
- Receive the final decision from USCIS. The status can either be granted, continued (you’ll be asked to provide some additional documents) or dined.
- Take the oath of allegiance to the US.
You should apply for US citizenship online on the USCIS official website. Still, an in-person interview takes place in one of the offices.
Regulations for immigrant’s family members to get US second citizenship
US citizens’ immediate family members, including spouses and children under 21, can easily get a PR. For this, you’ll need to fill out Form I-30, Petition for Alien Relative, and Form I-485, Application to Register PR or Adjust Status.
Other family members, including parents, siblings, and children over 21, can also be petitioned by the citizen. In this case, approval isn’t guaranteed.
Note that becoming a US citizen doesn’t necessarily make all your family members citizens. They’ll need to apply for citizenship just like you did.
Benefits of dual citizenship in Nigeria
Dual citizenship can help you create a home outside your home, allowing you to reap the citizen benefits of Nigeria and the other country you’re a citizen of. This includes more business opportunities, a stronger passport with more travel freedom, and access to better healthcare and education systems.
Benefits of getting a US passport for Nigerian citizens
The main advantages include the following:
- ability to vote in both Nigeria and US elections;
- visa-free travel in more than 185 countries;
- access to world-class health and education systems;
- better social security and similar benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid.
How can Nigerians migrate to the US without citizenship?
The best way for Nigerians to live in the US without citizenship would be to acquire citizenship by investing in a jurisdiction that allows easy entry into the US.
The best countries, in this case, are from the Caribbean, namely St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica. European options include naturalisation in Malta or Greece.
Caribbean citizens can get 10-year B-1/ B-2 visas to the USA. These permits allow you to stay in the country for a maximum of 6 months at a time. Besides, the visa holder can reenter the States multiple times within the ten-year period.
The B-1 Visa is intended for business purposes, like conducting negotiations, attending seminars, or selling an estate. Similarly, the B-2 visa is a traveller visa for vacations, visiting family and friends, and even getting treatment in US-based medical facilities.
You can acquire the B-1/B-2 visa in 2 months. The cost for the application itself is $160, but you may be required to pay additional service fees if you apply through a registered agent.
Grenada citizens are also eligible to apply for the US E-2 Visa in addition to B-1/B-2 Visas. A business visa allows you to move to the US to set up and run a company.
You need to invest between $100,000 to $200,000 in a US-based business to acquire an E-2 Business Visa. In exceptional cases, for example, a business with a very innovative idea, you can get around with an investment as low as $50,000.
The E-2 visa will take anywhere between 2 weeks to 4 months. The permit is applicable for 2 years and can be extended to as many years as the business is viable.
Spouses and children under 21 can accompany the applicant to the USA, with the former also being able to apply for a work permit. It will allow them to be employed in the E-2 business or another organisation and even start their own business.
Grenada, like the other Caribbean countries with CBI programs, used to be a British colony. Nowadays, the country is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and Grenadian citizens can visit the UK visa-free for up to 180 days
Maltese and Greek citizens don’t need visas to come to the USA; they get entry permits through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) instead.
An ESTA allows spending up to 90 days in the USA within one trip. The number of trips is unlimited, and the permit is valid for two years, subject to extension.
Travel, business trips and short-term courses that don’t provide a degree or a diploma are valid purposes to get an ESTA. The application process is completely remote and takes place online.
If an applicant is denied an ESTA, for example, because they visited restricted countries like Yemen or Iran after March 2011, they must get a visa for visiting the USA. Citizens of Malta and Greece are eligible for B-1/B-2 visitor visas.
How to get second Caribbean citizenship by investment?
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship takes 2 to 6 months to get. A single applicant can make a non-refundable contribution of $125,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund or $175,000 in Approved Public Benefit Projects.
You can also purchase government-approved real estate worth $200,000+ or private-real estate worth $400,000+.
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment costs will be higher for married couples and multiple family members.
Grenada. Several options include a $150,000+ non-refundable donation to the National Transformation Fund or purchasing real estate approved by the government of $220,000+.
In the case of a married couple or a family, you need to contribute at least $200,000 to the NTF.
With all the documents in order, you can get Grenada citizenship in as little as 4 to 6 months.
Dominica. A single applicant can make a $100,000 non-refundable contribution to the Dominica Economy Diversification Fund or purchase government-approved real estate of at least $200,000.
You must invest between $150,000 and $175,000 in the Diversification Fund if you have multiple family members.
You can expect to obtain Dominica citizenship within 3 to 6 months with proper guidance and everything in order.
Antigua and Barbuda You could make any one of the following contributions:
- $100,000 of a non-refundable contribution ($125,000 for a family of 5 or more) to the National Development Fund;
- purchase of government approved-real estate shares for at least $200,000;
- families with more than 6 members can contribute $150,000+ to the University of the West Indies Fund. In this case, one member under 29 can study for free in the educational facility;
- $1.5 million in a company as a sole investor or $400,000 as a group investor.
Generally, it takes between 4 to 6 months to get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.
St Lucia offers a relatively affordable citizenship option, with investments starting from $100,000 for a single applicant in case they contribute to the National Economic Fund. You can also purchase bonds of at least $300,000 or real estate worth $200,000.
The St Lucia citizenship by investment is an attractive option for businesspeople, as applicants can also choose to start a business of at least $3.5 million investments. But group investments of $6 million, where each participant invests a minimum of $1 million, is also possible.
How to become a citizen in Malta or Greece
Maltese and Greek legislation offers several paths to citizenship, including naturalisation, descent, marriage, and birth. However, investors can benefit from simplified paths to the country’s passports.
Malta makes it possible to qualify for citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. This path requires getting a residence permit, passing a strict Eligibility Test and applying for citizenship in 1 or 3 years instead of 5 years under the standard naturalisation process.
To get a residence permit, an applicant must have a registration address in Malta. Housing can be owned or rented; in the latter case, the rental costs must exceed €12,000 per year.
The citizenship application requires fulfilling three mandatory conditions:
- Contribute to the National Development and Social Fund of Malta — €600,000 to get a passport after three years of residency or €750,000 after a year.
- Buy real estate in Malta for at least €700,000 or rent housing for at least €16,000 per year. The term of ownership or rent is 5 years minimum.
- Donate €10,000 to a Maltese non-governmental organisation.
Additional expenses include fees for residence cards, the Eligibility Test, health insurance, and citizenship application processing. The total costs are about €1—2 mln, depending on the number of family members under one application.
Greece allows applying for citizenship after a Golden Visa, which is a residence permit obtained by investing in the country’s economy.
There are six options for getting a Greece Golden Visa. Five of them include investments of at least €250,000 in local real estate:
- Purchase a residential or commercial property. The investment threshold for the option will double to €500,000 in 36 Greek municipalities, including the Great Athens, on August 1st, 2023.
- Buy a land plot for construction or agriculture.
- Rent a hotel or tourist residence for 10 years.
- Timeshare for 10 years.
- Inherit a property or receive it as a gift.
The sixth path is purchasing securities or opening a bank deposit in Greece for at least €400,000.
If a Golden Visa holder lives in Greece permanently for five years, they can get permanent residence. After two more years, they become eligible for citizenship.
Adult citizenship applicants must pass a written exam on the Greek language, history, culture, geography, and state system. Besides, they must have no criminal records or deportations from Greece.
Conclusion
On paper, Nigerians can get dual citizenship in the US, but it’s practically impossible if you aren’t already living in the US or don’t have relatives there. But wealthy Nigerians can freely travel to the United States by investing in the right citizenship or residency.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for obtaining second citizenship and residency in the Caribbean and Europe. We can help you choose the right investment program and complete the application process for you.
