The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) is a government organisation that is charged with the responsibility of overseeing Nigeria’s immigration system, which includes international passport applications, visa issuance, and residence permits. And for many people, the NIS is the first step towards achieving the Nigerian dream—to “Japa.”
Being a federal agency, the NIS is a highly sought-after job, with people going as far as illegally paying for recruitment into the service and, unfortunately, falling into the hands of fraudsters.
This year, applications for recruitment into the NIS started on January 16 and ended on January 30, 2023. On May 15, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board released on its portal the names of successful applicants expected to write a Computer-Based test on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at designated centers across the country.
If you’re interested in joining the NIS but missed out on this year’s application, here are some things you need to know and have ready for next year’s application.
You must be Nigerian
Foreigners aren’t allowed to attend this party, as the NIS requires you to be a Nigerian citizen by birth or descent.
Age limit
All applicants are required to be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old. However, there’s an exception for doctors and pharmacists with an age limit of 35 years.
Educational requirements
To be eligible for the NIS recruitment, you must possess at least a West African School Certificate (WASC), Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE), or equivalent with a minimum of 4 credits, including mathematics and english, in not more than two sittings.
You must be physically and mentally fit
If you’re interested in joining the NIS, you’re expected to be physically and mentally fit with no criminal records.
Also read: How to Join the Nigerian Army
Drug test
All applicants are required to take a drug test to be eligible for the recruitment process.
Height
Another day, another stray bullet at short people. The NIS requires male applicants to be at least 1.7 metres tall and female applicants, at least 1.64 metres tall. Also, men are expected to have a chest measurement of not less than 0.87 metres.
Financial stability
Although the NIS doesn’t state a specific amount, applicants should not be “financially embarrassed”.
Another thing to remember before the application process is that you must have the following documents:
- A scanned copy of your birth certificate or declaration of age.
- Scanned copies of your educational certificates.
- A scanned copy of your state of origin from your local government.
- A valid phone number and email address.
- A recent passport photograph taken within the last six months with a white background; it must also be 350×450 px and a high quality picture that shows your appearance clearly.
Lastly, to avoid falling into the hands of fraudsters, you must know that the application for recruitment takes place only on the NIS’s official recruitment portal. So, keep your eyes and ears open for the next application process, and good luck.
Joining the Nigerian Immigration Service can be a fulfilling and rewarding career path. However, it requires hard work, dedication, and meeting certain requirements as shared above. We hope this article has helped to answer some of your questions and provided you with a better understanding of what you can expect if you are interested in pursuing a career with the organisation and to serve Nigeria.
