If you are a Nigerian dreaming of living in Europe, you can often hear that you need to find a job there first. While surely the most reliable way, it is not the only one: there are European countries to migrate to from Nigeria without a job offer. Read on to learn where and how you can get a job seeker visa in Europe.
Relocation from Nigeria to Europe
Thanks to their special visa regimes for highly qualified third-country nationals, the following European states compete for the title of the best country to relocate to from Nigeria:
- Austria
- Germany
- Portugal
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
The requirements vary across the countries to migrate to from Nigeria, but the applicants are usually expected to hold an advanced academic degree and/or possess vocational skills and be financially independent. Below you will find the specific conditions for each of the destinations.
When you move to any of these countries from Nigeria, support your family back home by sending them funds. How? You can make fast and secure transfers with Profee.
Austria
Opening our list of the best countries to migrate to from Nigeria, Austria has a points-based system in place to attract highly qualified third-country nationals. Known as the Red-White-Red Card, this special Type D visa allows foreign professionals to enter the country and personally engage in job hunting. Eligible applicants must score 70 or more points, which are awarded for education, work experience, special skills, language knowledge, and age.
The visa is valid for 6 months and the application fee is 150 EUR.
Germany
Arguably one of the best countries in Europe to migrate to from Nigeria, Germany offers several types of visas for job seekers.
The first two types – academic and vocational training – require proof of respective credentials, such a recognised university degree or vocational qualification. There is no German language knowledge requirement. Such visas are issued for a period of 6 months.
Additionally, there is a recently introduced, points-based Opportunity card (Chancenkarte) which has put Germany on the list of the easiest countries to get a work visa from Nigeria. The applicants must possess advanced qualifications and/or skills and have the means of support during their stay. In this case, one must have adequate knowledge of German (A1). However, English is also acceptable (B2) which is a strong point in favour of Germany’s being among the best countries to migrate to from Nigeria. The holder of an Opportunity card is eligible to work part-time. This is a great opportunity for those who need to support their family back in Nigeria.
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Considering that the process is free from lengthy approval procedures, for a skilled job seeker the Opportunity card makes Germany the easiest country to migrate to from Nigeria.
The permit is valid for one year and can be extended for up to two more years. The application fee for all three categories is 75 EUR.
Portugal
For those researching the best countries to relocate to from Nigeria, there are several advantages that make Portugal worthy of attention. High quality of life there is combined with a relatively low cost of living; in Europe, it is among the cheapest countries to migrate to from Nigeria.
A job seeker visa entitles its holder to carry out subordinated work activities, which is another proof that Portugal is one of the best European countries to live and work as a Nigerian.
As is the case with most other countries, the applicant is expected to be financially secure. However, there is an option to have a guarantor (a Portuguese national or a legal resident) who may assume the financial responsibility. If this is your case, Portugal might as well be the easiest country to migrate to from Nigeria for you.
The visa is issued for the period of 120 days and can be extended for up to 60 days. The application fee is 75 EUR.
When moving to Portugal you'll need the local health insurance, prepare to get one with our guide.
Sweden
For sun-loving and climate-sensitive people, Sweden might not look like the best country to relocate to from Nigeria. But if you are searching for job opportunities in Europe and have an advanced academic/vocational degree, then you definitely need to consider Sweden.
Thanks to its job-seeker visa programme, it is one of the best countries to migrate to from Nigeria. Unfortunately, the permit does not grant its holder the right to work while on a job hunt. In addition to proving sufficient funds, the applicant must have comprehensive health insurance. In other words, Sweden is not among the cheapest countries to migrate to from Nigeria. You can learn more about the most expensive cities in Europe for expats in our article.
The visa is issued for 9 months, and the application fee is 190 EUR.
UK
Because of the shared language and history, the UK is considered by many to be the best country to relocate to from Nigeria. Having lost its access to the European talent market post-Brexit, the UK Government launched a High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa to attract foreign professionals. While the UK is known as not the easiest country to get a work visa from Nigeria, the HPI permit has multiple advantages.
- First, it has a validity period of 2 years (or 3 years for those with a PhD degree). It is open to people with academic degrees awarded within the last 5 years and sufficient knowledge of English. HPIs are entitled to work in most jobs or even be self-employed.
- The visa also allows you to bring your family along.
At the same time, the UK is definitely not among the cheapest countries to migrate to from Nigeria as an HPI. The application fee alone is £822. With other mandatory expenses such as qualification check and healthcare surcharge the overall cost exceeds £3,000. After arriving to the UK you may need to get a credit card, learn about the options here.
In addition to these five states, some countries offer special Orientation year visas to those Nigerians who have completed studies at a local university and are interested in finding employment in the country. Among such countries are Finland, France, the Netherlands, Spain as well as Austria and the UK from the list above.
As you can see, with some determination and research, there are plenty of opportunities for Nigerians to enter Europe without a job offer. And as soon as you are settled and able to financially help your family in Nigeria, make Profee your go-to remittance service for fast, secure, and fee-free money transfers. Visit our website or get the iOS/Android Profee app now to start saving money and time today!
