Nigeria and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Legalisation
- First stop
- Legalisation by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abuja, or the Lagos office) is enough
- Language
- English, accepted as it is
- Register
- Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) (online)
- Tax treaty
- Signed 1991, in force 1992 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- West African partnership agreement, awaiting signature by Nigeria
- Moving here
- Residence permit needed
Documents from Nigeria
Passport copy, certified by a notary in Nigeria.
Proof of address in Nigeria, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney before a Nigerian notary public.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
Legalisation. Legalisation by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abuja, or the Lagos office) is enough. For Nigerian documents, the Netherlands asks for this stamp only, so you skip the Dutch embassy.
Good to know. You need only one legalisation step. This is faster than in most countries outside the apostille system. Allow two to three weeks. Nigeria was removed from the EU high-risk list on 29 January 2026. The notary will still ask for proof of source of funds.
If a company from Nigeria becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Order Certified True Copies of the incorporation documents and a status report. Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Trade between Nigeria and the EU
EU trade in goods with Nigeria fell to €25.8 billion in 2025, from €30.7 billion in 2024. The EU was Nigeria’s largest trading partner in 2025, with 31.7% of its trade, and Nigeria made up 38% of EU trade with West Africa.
Mineral products made up 86.2% of EU imports from Nigeria in 2025, and foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco 11.4%. Mineral products also led EU exports to Nigeria at 37.6%, ahead of machinery and appliances at 20.0%.
Nigeria is a beneficiary of the standard arrangement of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences. This arrangement removes customs duties in part or in full on two thirds of tariff lines. A new scheme applies from 1 January 2027 for ten years.
Under Global Gateway, the EU-Nigeria Digital Economy Package for 2021 to 2024 plans at least €820 million for digital transformation in Nigeria: €160 million in grants and €660 million in loans.
Import duties: Access2Markets.
Your next step from Nigeria
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