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Tag: Visas

  • List of countries offering job visas without pre-existing job offers

    List of countries offering job visas without pre-existing job offers

    Work visas without the need for a job offer allow you to enter a country, seek employment, and build professional connections without having secured a position beforehand.

    Before considering the countries that provide these opportunities, it’s important to gather the required documents.

    Typically, you’ll need a valid passport, proof of education and financial stability, health insurance, relevant qualifications or work experience, a travel itinerary, and potentially a motivation letter.

    Having these documents strengthens your application, enabling you to explore job prospects and possibly secure long-term residency.

    According to the DAAD scholarship, here is a list of countries that offer visas for job seekers without a pre-existing job offer.

    1. Germany — Job seeker visa

    Germany’s job seeker visa is designed for skilled individuals seeking employment within the country, allowing them to stay for up to six months while job hunting. Eligibility criteria include having a degree recognized in Germany or qualifications relevant to high-demand occupations. Additionally, applicants must show proof of financial means to support themselves during their stay. If a job is secured, the visa can be converted into a work permit, facilitating long-term residency.

    2. Portugal — Job seeker visa

    Portugal offers a job seeker visa, providing up to 12 months for individuals to search for employment. The visa targets skilled professionals with qualifications or experience in industries facing labour shortages. Financial proof is required to demonstrate that the applicant can sustain themselves during the job search. Once employment is secured, it becomes easier to transition to a work visa.

    3. Czech Republic — Long-term visa for job seeking

    The Czech Republic provides a long-term visa for job seekers, which allows individuals to stay in the country for six to 12 months while looking for a job. Applicants must have qualifications or skills in demand, along with financial resources to support their stay. The country’s growing tech and manufacturing sectors offer promising employment prospects. This visa is also an entry point to other European Union countries, enhancing job opportunities across the continent.

    4. Austria — Red-white-red card (job seeker visa)

    Austria’s red-white-red card is designed for highly skilled non-EU workers, allowing them to search for employment in Austria for up to six months. The visa uses a points-based system to assess eligibility, considering factors such as education, work experience, age, and language proficiency. Once a job is secured, the visa can be converted to a red-white-red card for long-term residency.

    Read Also: New UAE visa procedure excites Nigerian travellers

    5. Canada — International Experience Canada (IEC)

    Canada’s International Experience Canada (IEC) program includes a working holiday component, allowing individuals to obtain an open work permit for 12 to 24 months. Although not specifically a job seeker visa, the open work permit enables holders to find short-term or casual employment while in Canada. Eligibility is generally restricted to individuals aged 18–35 from participating countries, with requirements varying by country.

    6. Australia —Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417)

    Australia offers a working holiday visa, which allows individuals to travel and work for short periods while exploring the country, with a duration of 12 months. Although not specifically designed for job seekers, the visa provides opportunities to network and find employment. The visa is available to individuals aged 18–30 or 18–35, depending on their country of origin. Proof of sufficient funds to support oneself is required.

    7. New Zealand —Working Holiday visa

    New Zealand offers a working holiday visa, allowing individuals to explore the country while working temporary jobs to support their travels, with a duration of 12 months. This visa is generally available to people aged 18–30, with some exceptions extending to 35 years. Applicants must have enough funds to support themselves upon arrival and for a return flight.

    8. United Arab Emirates (UAE) — Visit visa to explore the job market

    The UAE has introduced a visit visa for professionals seeking to explore job opportunities within the country, which allows them to stay for three to six months while searching for employment. The visa targets those in industries such as finance, technology, healthcare, and engineering. Applicants must show proof of financial resources to cover their stay. The UAE’s job market is appealing due to its tax-free salaries and rapidly growing sectors.

  • FULL STEPS: How to secure Nigerian Visas for tourists, investors, others

    FULL STEPS: How to secure Nigerian Visas for tourists, investors, others

    The federal government has approved a memo from the Ministry of Interior to fast-track the visa approval process for foreign investors and tourists.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday, May 14.

    Idris said after the approval of the memo on the review of the new visa regime, Tinubu granted the setting up of the committee to accelerate visa processes and acquisition for foreigners interested in investing in Nigeria.

    Here are the types of available visas:

    Business Visa: This type of visa is issued to prospective business visitors coming to Nigeria for the sole purpose of transacting short business.

    Tourist Visa – Tourism is a short visit for vacation, to visit family and friends, or for medical treatment.

    Transit Visa – Transit Visa is available to citizens of all countries except ECOWAS Nationals who do not require a visa to visit Nigeria.

    To apply for a Nigerian visa, here are the following steps:

    1. Go to the Nigeria Immigration Portal

    2. Select the appropriate application form

    3. Fill out the application form

    4. Check the box that says “I accept full responsibility for the information provided in this form”

    5. Click “Submit Application”

    6. Click “Proceed to Online Payment”

    7. Select your payment currency

    8. Make your payment

    9. Affix 2 passport-sized (35/40mm) passport photographs with white background.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: 21 key decisions of marathon FEC

    The visa application fee is USD 160, and you also need to pay a biometrics appointment fee which will range between USD 30 and USD 90, depending on where you made your appointment.

    You can book a Nigerian visa appointment at https://appointments.immigration.gov.ng

    Tourist/Visitor Visa:

    1. Passport valid for at least 6 months

    2. Completed visa application form

    3. Two recent passport-size photographs

    4. A Letter of Invitation from a company/host in Nigeria accepting immigration responsibility

    5. Visitors/Tourists are required to show evidence of sufficient funds

    6. Nigeria Immigration Service Visa Payment Receipt and Visa Acknowledgement Receipt

    Business Visa:

    While a-f above apply, self-sponsored businessmen may not require a Letter of Invitation but will be required to show evidence of sufficient funds

    Temporary Work Permit (TWP):

    1. Passport with at least 6 months validity

    2. Printed copy of completed application form for visitors’ pass

    3. Two recent passport-size photographs

    4. Copy of the Letter of Approval from

    5. Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service

    Subject to Regularization (STR):

    1. Passport with at least 6 months validity

    2. Completed visa form in quadruplicate with four recent passport photographs

    3. Four copies of the letter of Expatriate Quota

    4. Approval from the Ministry of Interior

    5. Four copies of credentials, certificates and curriculum vitae, all vetted by a relevant official of the Nigerian High Commission/Embassy (English Certified translated copy where applicable)

    6. Four copies of the offer Letter of Employment

    7. Four copies of the Letter of Acceptance of employment, signed by the expatriate

    8. Nigeria Immigration Service Visa Payment Receipt and Visa Acknowledgement Receipt

  • Immigration issues 11,771 Visas on Arrival in 5 months

    Immigration issues 11,771 Visas on Arrival in 5 months

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it issued 11,771 Visas on Arrival (VOAs) between July and the first week of November.

    Spokesman of the NIS, Mr Sunday James, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

    A breakdown of the figure shows that 1,604 VOAs were issued in July; 3,732 in August; 1,897 in September; 3,841 in October, and 697 in the first week of November.

    James said the statement was in reaction to false claims by some stakeholders in the travel and tourism sector that Nigeria has no VOA programme.

    According to him, the NIS started issuing VOAs to eligible foreigners entering the country since 2013.

    “The Nigerian Visa on Arrival project, which is similar to several other countries, is subject to pre-approval by the Comptroller-General of Immigration and issued at the NIS headquarters in Abuja

    “From March 2017, the Federal Government approved the introduction of online pre-approval for Visa on Arrival.

    “This led to the introduction of a dedicated email address (oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng) for attending to VOA requests without visiting the NIS headquarters.

    “Now, VOAs are issued within 48 hours and the manual option has been virtually eliminated,” he said.

    The NIS spokesman added that details of eligibility, requirements, timelines and the application method for VOA had been the subject of several statements by the agency, besides being conspicuously displayed on its website.

    According to James, applicants arriving with pre-approvals with specified destinations are granted visas at six ports of entry in the country.

    The ports, he said are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kaduna international airports.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Visa on Arrival is a category of short visit visa issued at the port of entry.

    It is available to frequently travelled high net worth investors and intending visitors who may not be able to obtain visa at Nigerian missions/embassies in their countries of residence due to the absence of a Nigerian mission in those countries or exigencies of urgent business travels.(NAN)

  • Indonesia announces new visa policy for Nigerians

    The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Harry Purwanto, on Tuesday, announced his government’s new policy for issuing visas to Nigerians and other foreigners wanting to visit Indonesian for any purpose.

    Purwanto told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that under the new policy, his Embassy would no longer be involved in visa processing, but only in the collection of visa applications.

    The Ambassador, who did not give any reason for his government’s new visa policy, said that the processing of visas to Indonesia would henceforth take a much longer time.

    “Nigerians seeking visas to Indonesia should know that the Indonesian government has introduced a new visa application and issuance policy.

    “Under the new policy, we as an Embassy in Nigeria, have been withdrawn from processing visas.

    “All we are now required to do is to collect visa applications and send them to Indonesia for processing. We now have to be taking authority from Jakarta.

    “We, therefore, want to tell Nigerians seeking visas to Indonesia to now begin their applications at least two weeks in advance, to enable us to send their applications on time to Jakarta,’’ he said.

    Purwanto enjoined Nigerians to always ensure that authentic information and documents were provided in their visa application forms, to avoid visa refusal from Jakarta.

    The Ambassador, who restated his government’s commitment to issuing more visas to Nigerians, said that about 1,000 Nigerians were issued visas to Indonesia, this year.

    He also said that his government would continue to create the right environment for mutual trade relations and people-to-people interactions between genuine Nigerians and Indonesians.

  • What Nigerians should know about visas issuance – VFS

    Mr Jiten Vyas, Chief Operating Officer of VFS
    Global in Africa, on Tuesday explained to some Nigerian visa applicants
    that his organisaton was not the final issuer of visas.

    Vyas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was
    important for visa applicants to know that VFS Global only managed
    administrative and non-judgmental processing of visas.

    According to him, VFS Global only manages administrative and
    non-judgmental tasks relating to visas, passports, identity and citizen
    services for client governments.

    “Simply put, we only accept and process applications and then send
    them back to the embassies for adjudication, before returning the
    decision to applicants.

    “So, it is important for Nigerians to know that the decision to
    grant or not grant a visa is at the sole discretion of the respective
    diplomatic mission concerned.

    “VFS Global does not play any part in, or influence, nor comment on
    the outcome of the visa application process for any applicant,’’ he said.

    Vyas said that his company, with 2260 Application Centres and
    operations in 126 countries, was currently servicing the interests of
    51 client governments globally.

    He said that the company had since inception in 2001 processed over
    130 million visa applications and over 40 million bio-metric
    enrollments since 2007.

    The chief operating officer said that his organisation was also
    engaged in biometrics-based identity and citizen service programmes
    that help to improve the efficiency and integrity of government
    public-services.

    Vyas, who advised Nigerians to desist from patronising touts, promising
    them visas through his organisation, also informed them that VFS
    Global would never request for money or payments over the phone. (NAN)

  • 2016 ITF/CAT AFRICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: South Africa embassy denies Nigerian players visas

    2016 ITF/CAT AFRICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: South Africa embassy denies Nigerian players visas

    Five out of six Team Nigeria players were on Friday denied visas by the South African embassy in Abuja.

    A seven-man Team Nigeria comprising six players and a coach were seeking for visa to participate in the forthcoming ITF/CAT African Junior Championship holding from March 9-18 in Pretoria, South Africa.

    But only one player, Marylove Edwards and coach Mohammed Ubale were granted visa while the other five players were rejected.

    Those that were denied visas are Angel McLeod, Christopher Itodo, Christopher Bulus, Gabriel Friday and Michael Osewa.

    The team is scheduled to travel today but the latest development is a huge setback for its quest to excel at the tournament.

    National Junior Tennis Head coach, Mohammed Ubale expressed frustration at the development saying it’s a big blow to the country’s preparation.

    “The South African Embassy took us by surprise this morning (Friday) by denying five out of the six players that are going for the AJC.

    “We have submitted our passports since ten days ago and they keep requesting for one thing or the other which we presented to them before they gave us appointment to come and collect it today (Friday) which was why we fixed our departure for Saturday (today) because our plan was to travel earlier,” Ubale, who alongside Marylove Edwards were the only two of the seven-man contingent that were granted visas for the tournament billed for the ITF High Performance Centre, Pretoria, said.

    He added: “What annoyed me mostly is the fact that why would you grant visas to just two of us when we are all covered by one letter which the organisers sent to them in the course of seeking clarifications.”

    NTF president, Engr Sani Ndanusa as at Friday afternoon was making efforts to make sure that the whole team were eventually granted visas as he made several calls to the International Tennis Federation headquarters in London as well as the Confederation of African Tennis in Tunis for intervention.

    “It’s very frustrating because virtually all the countries were scheduled to arrive the venue on Saturday but from what is on ground the earliest we can be in South Africa is Monday. The most annoying part of it is that all the players have travelled several times to various parts of the continent and even beyond for tournaments,” he said.

  • Home Eagles finally get Belgium visas

    Home Eagles finally get Belgium visas

    Only two home based players  made the trip to Belgium for Nigeria’s international friendly matches after the Belgian embassy finally issued entry visas to the team’s delegation yesterday.

    Defenders Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, team media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, assistant coach, Alloy Agu, team doctor and curator flew out last night aboard a Luthansa airline.

    They were all given three weeks visa.

    The NFF through its protocol unit succeeded in securing seats for the players and officials at the Abuja international airport after failing to confirm their flights before they left for the airport.

    “We are on our way to the airport to see if we can get a flight to Belgium. If there is any further update l would let you know, ” said an official.

    NFF maybe penalised for no-show after the team missed its flight twice owing to visa hitches.

    SportingLife understands that Oliseh included the defenders for the friendly matches so as to have enough options to field against both opponents who are known for their physical style of football. Nigeria face Congo today and three days later tackle Cameroon.

    SportingLife gathered from an official that the team’s physiotherapist is expected to leave tonight without the other four players – Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa,   Paul Onobi and  Prince Aggrey who were all directed by chief coach, Oliseh to join their colleagues in Port Harcourt for next weekend’s Africa Nations Championship qualifier against Burkina Faso.

  • CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have intervened to ensure Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are issued entry visas to Gabon for an African U-17 qualifier this weekend.

    This followed a formal complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to CAF that the Eaglets do not have visas to enter Gabon after the country shut down all their embassies in the countries hit by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    “After the initial problem, we are right now at the embassy as regards the visa for the Eaglets,” an NFF official informed AfricanFootball.com.

    “CAF have now directed Gabon to issue the team visas.”

    NFF were already working on getting visas at the point of entry for the U-17s.

    U-17 world champions Nigeria are due to face Gabon in Libreville on Sunday in the first leg of a final round qualifier for Niger 2015.

    The winners of this match-up will qualify for the 2015 African Junior Championship in Niger early next year.

  • CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have intervened to ensure Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are issued entry visas to Gabon for an African U-17 qualifier this weekend.

    This followed a formal complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to CAF that the Eaglets do not have visas to enter Gabon after the country shut down all their embassies in the countries hit by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    “After the initial problem, we are right now at the embassy as regards the visa for the Eaglets,” an NFF official informed AfricanFootball.com.

    “CAF have now directed Gabon to issue the team visas.”

    NFF were already working on getting visas at the point of entry for the U-17s.

    U-17 world champions Nigeria are due to face Gabon in Libreville on Sunday in the first leg of a final round qualifier for Niger 2015.

    The winners of this match-up will qualify for the 2015 African Junior Championship in Niger early next year.

  • FIVB U-17 Championships: Team Nigeria unsure of visas

    The national under-17 male and female beach volleyball teams have not secured entry visas to Mexico to participate in the forthcoming FIVB U-17 Beach Volleyball Championships, an official has disclosed.

    The Chairman of the Beach Volleyball Commission of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Musa Nimrod, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said the federation had been unable to secure the visas because of some hitches, but assured that the process of visa procurement was still on.

    “We were at the Mexican Embassy last week to start the visa procurement but our players were told to come with evidence of their declaration of age and birth certificates, because what they are going for are age-grade competitions.

    “So, this delayed us a little, as we could not start anything for them because our players stay in different locations. But we have just been able to assemble them again in Abuja yesterday (Tuesday).

    “This means that we will just be going to the embassy today (Wednesday) and see if we can get the visas for them between today and tomorrow Thursday (today).

    “But it is unfortunate that we have not yet gotten visa on July 9 for a championship starting on July 15,” Nimrod said.

    NAN reports that Nigeria’s under-17 male and female beach volleyball teams qualified for the inaugural edition of the FIVB Beach Volleyball U-17 World Championships in May.

    The championships are scheduled to hold in Acapulco, Mexico from July 15 to July 20.

    Nimrod said however that the inability of the NVBF to secure visas for the players had hindered their preparations as they could not start any camping programme.

    “We ought to have been in camp before now, but because we have not been able to get visas for the players, we had to put everything on hold.

    “This is because we cannot start camping when we are not sure of getting visas to travel, because of the past experience we had with some other embassies which denied us visas to attend previous competitions.

    “But, we are hoping that we will get the visa very soon so that our players can be together for some days before they jet out to Mexico,’’ the beach volleyball commission chairman said.

    Nimrod contended however that the late camping programme would not affect their performances because the players have been making the sacrifice of training on their own.

    “In as much as we have not called the players to an official camp, I am sure they have been training on their own as a sacrifice to their fatherland because they have seen our efforts too.

    “They all saw that we have not been sponsored by the government for the qualifiers or the championships proper. We are funding everything from our purse. `It is the members of the beach volleyball commission who are sponsoring these players and it has not been easy for us. But we are doing it for the passion we have for the game.

    “So, starting the camp late will not really affect the players because the major thing they need in playing beach volleyball is to be fit, which I am sure they are,’’ he said.