For a foreign worker hired by a Nigerien employer under a written employment contract approved before entry.
Niger
Niger sits in Western Africa. Its immigration system runs 15 distinct routes — led by free movement, humanitarian protection and short stay & visit, each set out in official law. 8 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 15across 9 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 8 of 15cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Free movement4 of the 15 routes — see them under Free movement below
- Region
- Western Africa
- Capital
- Niamey
- Population
- 27,917,831
- Official language
- French
- Currency
- XOF
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
Immigration routes
All 15 routes, grouped by purpose — 8 of 15 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.
Work
1 route
Business & self-employment
1 route
For a foreign national carrying on an authorised non-salaried or regulated professional activity in Niger.
Study
1 route
For a foreign national enrolled in a state institution or a lawfully established private educational institution in Niger.
Family
1 route
For a family member accompanying or joining a recognised refugee in Niger.
Independent means
1 route
For a foreign national residing in Niger without professional activity and able to support themselves.
Free movement
4 routes
For an ECOWAS citizen establishing or managing an economic activity in Niger, subject to national business and immigration formalities.
For an ECOWAS citizen seeking or carrying out income-earning employment in Niger, subject to national registration and labour formalities.
For an ECOWAS citizen visiting Niger with a valid travel document for up to ninety days.
For a national of a neighbouring state covered by reciprocal border-zone arrangements and travelling within the authorised zone.
Short stay & visit
2 routes
For a visa-required foreign national visiting Niger for no more than three months.
For a visa-required traveller who cannot apply through a Nigerien mission and obtains prior Interior Ministry authorisation for exceptional issuance at the border or airport.
Humanitarian protection
3 routes
For a person seeking individual refugee recognition in Niger outside the special northern Mali and north-east Nigeria regimes.
For a person from north-east Nigeria who falls within Niger's temporary-protection regime.
For a person from northern Mali who falls within Niger's current prima-facie recognition regime.
Transit
1 route
For an air passenger transiting Niger without leaving the airport transit area.
Official sources
- MAE Diplomatie Entree NigerGovernment
- Ministere Interieur PoliceGovernment
- L'ambassade du Niger en FranceGovernment
See which Niger routes you actually qualify for.
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