Eligibility Quiz
Have you ever committed a war crime, a crime against peace, or a crime against humanity?
Requirements
To qualify for refugee status in Nigeria, you must meet the criteria established by both international and domestic law. Eligibility is generally divided into two categories:
- Individual Persecution: You must demonstrate a well-founded fear of being persecuted in your home country based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
- Generalized Violence and Conflict: You may qualify if you are fleeing external aggression, occupation, foreign domination, or events that have seriously disturbed public order in either part or the whole of your country of origin.
Disqualifications
You will be excluded from refugee status if there are serious reasons to believe you have committed:
- A crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity.
- A serious non-political crime outside of Nigeria before your admission as a refugee.
- Acts that violate the fundamental purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) or the African Union (AU).
Key Legal Protections
Nigeria strictly adheres to the principle of non-refoulement (no return). This means the government is legally prohibited from expelling or returning you to any territory where your life or freedom would be threatened for the reasons listed above.
Conditions & Warnings
Asylum seeker certificates have expiration dates and must be manually renewed at an NCFRMI office to maintain legal status.
The Nigerian government (NCFRMI) makes the legal determination, not the UNHCR.
It is critical to declare the intention to seek asylum immediately upon entry to avoid credibility issues.
Qualifications
Interpreters are provided at no cost during the process.
Fees
The entire asylum application and registration process is free.