Hire a Japanese Chef in Nigeria: Expatriate Quota and CERPAC

Nigeria controls foreign employment at the level of the job, not the person. Before any chef can be hired from abroad, the company needs an approved expatriate quota position from the Ministry of Interior. Only then does the immigration side begin. This short guide sets out the three steps from official Nigerian sources and JETRO, and is honest about how small the Japanese restaurant market is.

1. The market

• MAFF counted about 30 Japanese restaurants in Nigeria in 2025, about 10 more than in 2023 (MAFF rounds to the nearest ten).
• MOFA recorded 165 Japanese nationals in Nigeria on 1 October 2025: 143 long-term stayers and 22 permanent residents.

There is no local pool of Japanese chefs to speak of. A Japanese restaurant in Lagos or Abuja will be built around one sponsored chef and a Nigerian team, so the training plan matters as much as the visa. See our guide to training local staff in Japanese cuisine.

2. Step one: an expatriate quota position

The Citizenship and Business Department of the Federal Ministry of Interior processes and grants Expatriate Quota requests and Business Permits, and monitors how companies use their quota together with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The Ministry says its expatriate quota and business permit services are available online, and has encouraged companies to handle them through in-house staff rather than agents.

JETRO summarises how the quota works:

• A foreigner can be employed only in a position for which the company holds an expatriate quota, and the quota is granted to companies registered in Nigeria.
• The application includes company registration documents, a tax clearance certificate, proof of permanent business premises, evidence of capital importation, and job descriptions for each expatriate position with title, qualifications and salary.
• It also includes a detailed training programme for Nigerians, including their salaries. The Ministry restricts quota for positions it considers Nigerians can fill.

The Ministry describes the policy's purpose as knowledge transfer and building Nigerian capacity, and refers to its understudy policy. Write the head chef position with a clear training role and name the Nigerian cooks who will learn from the chef.

3. Step two: the employment visa

With the quota approved, the chef applies for the Employment (Expatriate) visa. The NIS describes it as the visa for foreign nationals hired under an approved expatriate quota: an initial 90-day entry, after which a residence and work permit is typically granted for two years, renewable. The application needs an employment letter, the quota approval and the chef's credentials.

JETRO describes the same entry step as the one-time Subject to Regularisation (STR) visa, applied for at the Nigerian embassy or consulate in the chef's country of residence before departure.

4. Step three: CERPAC

After arrival, the company applies for the chef's Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC). According to the NIS:

• CERPAC is the residence permit that serves as proof of legal residence and identity for foreigners living or working in Nigeria, under sections 37 to 39 of the Immigration Act 2015 and the Immigration Regulations 2017.
• It is mandatory for non-Nigerians staying beyond 56 days for employment, business or long-term residence.
• The application is online, with biometrics taken at an NIS office. The fee shown for employed foreigners is USD 2,000.

JETRO notes that obtaining the required permits is the company's responsibility. It also reports that an Expatriate Employment Levy announced in February 2024 was put on hold after consultation with business in March 2024. Check its status before you budget.

5. Visas that do not fit a chef job

The NIS lists a Temporary Work Permit (TWP) visa for experts providing specialised skills such as installation, maintenance or training, for up to 90 days (or a six-month multiple-entry version), with pre-approval from the Comptroller General of Immigration. The NIS states that holders cannot take regular employment. Business visas likewise do not permit employment. A permanent kitchen role needs the quota route.

6. Step by step

1. Make sure the restaurant operates through a company registered in Nigeria.
2. Define the chef position, salary and a training programme for named Nigerian staff.
3. Apply to the Ministry of Interior for an expatriate quota position.
4. Interview with a practical test. See remote skills tests.
5. The chef applies for the employment visa at a Nigerian mission using the quota approval.
6. After arrival, the company applies for CERPAC and budgets the USD 2,000 fee.
7. Plan the first weeks with our onboarding guide and relocation package guide.

General information gathered from official sources in September 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Quota documents, fees and procedures change; confirm them with the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service before acting.