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The short answer
You can open a Nigerian domiciliary account from Spain. If you have no BVN, the NRBVN platform lets you enrol remotely with a liveness check and pick a bank; Access Bank says the NRBVN is issued within 72 hours of approval. Banks then ask for ID, proof of your Spanish address and references: Fidelity, for example, asks for notarised or certified ID, proof of address under three months old and two Nigerian bank references, with a $50, €50 or £50 minimum to open.
A domiciliary (dom) account is a Nigerian bank account held in a foreign currency: usually US dollars, euros or pounds. People in Spain open one to receive dollars from Nigerian clients, to hold family money in a currency that does not lose value against the euro as fast, or to pay school fees at home. You no longer need to fly to Lagos to open one. This guide sets out what banks publish about remote opening.
Step one: a BVN, or an NRBVN
Every Nigerian bank account needs a Bank Verification Number. If you already have one from before you moved, you can usually apply directly to the bank. If you never had one, the Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) is the remote route.
- Access Bank's diaspora page describes the process: apply on the NRBVN platform at nrbvn.com, select a preferred bank, complete a liveness check, and the NRBVN is issued within 72 hours of approval.
- Eligible, per Access Bank: Nigerians abroad without a BVN, or with a BVN but no account, and people of Nigerian descent through one parent. Foreign investors are excluded.
- Documents listed: ID, proof of residence, work ID or employment letter, a financial institution reference where applicable, and optional proof of income. Fees are shown on the platform.
- Nairametrics reported on 14 May 2025 that the NRBVN platform had been integrated with 27 Nigerian banks for remote domiciliary account opening; it did not name them.
For the BVN itself, see BVN enrolment from Spain and, on our Nigerian site, NRBVN explained.
What banks ask for
| Bank (its own page) | Domiciliary currencies | Minimum to open | Documents listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Bank (Diaspora Domiciliary) | USD, GBP, EUR | $50 / €50 / £50; operating $30 / €30 / £20 | Diaspora form, passport photo, notarised or certified ID, proof of address under 3 months, 2 Nigerian bank references; a resident nominee joint signatory |
| UBA (Diaspora account) | USD, EUR, GBP | Not stated for diaspora | Form, ID, proof of address, source of funds, photo; online at aop.ubagroup.com |
| GTBank (Domiciliary) | USD, GBP, EUR | No minimum stated | Form, ID (driver's licence, passport or national ID), 1 photo, 2 reference forms, utility bill within 3 months |
These are what each bank's page says when we checked in October 2026. Ask the bank to confirm before sending anything.
Getting documents certified in Spain
Fidelity says ID can be certified by a notary, a court, a lawyer, the Nigerian embassy, a foreign banker or a Commissioner for Oaths. In Spain that usually means a notario or your Spanish bank, or the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid. For proof of address, a recent Spanish utility bill or bank statement in your name is the usual choice; if a bank wants it in English, ask whether a Spanish document is acceptable or whether you need a translation. The Spanish side of certifying documents for Nigeria is covered in apostille and legalisation.
Using the account once it is open
- No source-of-funds question on deposit: TheCable's summary of the CBN FX Manual 2026 says individuals opening or depositing into dom accounts are not required to disclose the source of funds.
- Sending out: dom holders may make telegraphic transfers up to $10,000 a day, according to the same report; Pavestones Legal says Form A is no longer needed for outward transfers from self-funded dom accounts within that figure.
- Money received from money transfer operators: under the manual, inbound IMTO payments are paid in naira, with over-the-counter cash capped at the naira equivalent of $200, TheCable reports. A dollar transfer from Spain through a money transfer service may therefore arrive as naira, not dollars.
- Charges: FirstBank's FAQ says dom holders with $30,000 or more pay transfer charges of at most 0.25%; other banks charge flat SWIFT fees. Ask for the tariff.
Is a dom account deposit-insured?
NDIC insures deposits in Nigerian banks up to the applicable limit, but we could not find an official NDIC page saying whether, or at what exchange rate, foreign-currency deposits are covered. Ask the bank in writing if this matters to you.
What to check first
- Do you have a BVN? If not, start with the NRBVN.
- Which currency do you need? Euros avoid a conversion when you move money to Spain.
- Can you get a certified copy of your ID and a recent proof of address?
- Who will act as references or nominee, if the bank requires them?
- What does the bank charge to send money abroad?
Where Pryme fits
If what you need is a place to hold dollars and euros alongside naira, a Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country and holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local account details for each. Money stays in the currency it arrived in until you Swap. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. Compare with domiciliary vs multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
Can I open a Nigerian domiciliary account without travelling?
Yes. Banks such as Access and Fidelity describe remote diaspora opening, and the NRBVN platform lets people abroad without a BVN enrol remotely.
What is the minimum deposit?
It varies. Fidelity lists $50, €50 or £50 to open; GTBank's page states no minimum. Check your bank.
Who can certify my ID in Spain?
Fidelity accepts a notary, court, lawyer, Nigerian embassy, foreign banker or Commissioner for Oaths. A Spanish notario or the Nigerian embassy in Madrid are common choices.
Will dollars sent through a transfer app arrive as dollars?
Not necessarily. Under the CBN FX Manual 2026, IMTO inflows are paid in naira, according to TheCable.
Sources
- Access Bank: Diaspora Community (NRBVN account opening) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nairametrics: NRBVN platform integrated with 27 banks (14 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Fidelity Bank: diaspora banking · accessed Oct 2026
- UBA Nigeria: domiciliary account · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: domiciliary accounts · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: what to know about the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026 (3 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.