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The short answer
Most Nigerians who move abroad should keep at least one Nigerian account open and active, update their phone number and email so they can still receive alerts and codes, and set up a way to pay bills and support family. Nigerians abroad who never had a BVN can now enrol remotely for a Non-Resident BVN, and the CBN allows non-resident Nigerian accounts for personal and investment use.
Why keep a Nigerian account
- Paying family support, school fees and bills at home
- Receiving rent, dividends or other Nigerian income
- Keeping a credit history and banking relationship for a later return
- Holding naira savings or investments
- Avoiding the cost of reopening accounts and redoing KYC later
Closing everything and starting again on return is often harder than it looks, especially if your Nigerian phone number has lapsed. Equally, keeping too many accounts open from abroad means more passwords, more alerts to miss and more chance one goes dormant. Most people settle on one main naira account for everything at home and close the rest.
Before you leave: a checklist
- Decide which accounts to keep. One or two active accounts is easier to manage than five dormant ones.
- Protect your phone number. Many banks send codes and alerts to your registered Nigerian number. Keep the line active, or update your bank to an email and authenticator-app method where they offer it.
- Update your contact details and address. Tell your bank you are moving and give a foreign address if they ask.
- Check limits and card use. Confirm whether your cards will work abroad and what the limits are.
- Set up bill payments. Electricity, cable TV and family support can be paid from abroad. See paying bills in Nigeria from abroad.
- Name a trusted contact. Not with access to your accounts, but someone who can collect letters or help if a bank needs something in person.
Dormant accounts
Accounts with no customer-initiated activity for a long period can be classified as dormant, and reactivation usually requires fresh KYC. Each bank applies the rules and notifies customers in its own way. The simplest protection is to make a small transaction now and then, and to respond to any bank request to update your details.
BVN, NRBVN and non-resident accounts
- BVN
- If you already have a Bank Verification Number, it stays with you when you move. Keep it private.
- NRBVN
- A Non-Resident BVN lets Nigerians abroad without a BVN enrol remotely, without visiting a bank in Nigeria. Enrolment is through the official NRBVN platform and includes ID, proof of foreign residence, a liveness check and a fee.
- NRNOA
- A Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account, under a CBN framework effective 1 January 2025, for foreign earnings such as salaries and rent, and personal needs.
- NRNIA
- A Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account, for investing in Nigerian markets. Equity and local debt investments are made in naira.
Under the framework, foreign currency balances in these accounts can be repatriated without restriction. Read more in NRBVN: the BVN for Nigerians abroad.
Supporting family without sharing access
A common arrangement is to give a parent or sibling your debit card or login so they can pay for things at home. It feels practical but breaks most banks' terms, removes your protection if something goes wrong, and makes it hard to see what was spent. Safer alternatives are a scheduled monthly transfer to their own account, paying specific bills directly from abroad, or paying suppliers such as schools or hospitals against invoices.
Your tax status after you move
Under the Nigeria Tax Act, in force from January 2026, residents are taxed on worldwide income and non-residents only on Nigerian-sourced income. Residence tests include being domiciled in Nigeria, having a permanent place available for your use here, or spending 183 days or more in Nigeria in a 12-month period. A move abroad can change your status, but keeping a home in Nigeria may still count. Nigerian rent, dividends and gains on Nigerian assets generally remain taxable even if you become non-resident. Take advice if your situation is not clear-cut.
Worked example: a simple setup
Example only. Amaka moves to Toronto. She keeps one Nigerian current account active for her mother's monthly support of ₦300,000 and the generator diesel and electricity tokens at the family house. She closes two unused accounts before leaving, keeps her Nigerian line on a low-cost plan for codes, and makes a small transfer every month. Her rent from a flat in Lagos goes into the same naira account, and she keeps records for tax.
| Need | Where it is handled |
|---|---|
| Mother's support | Scheduled naira transfer |
| House bills | Electricity and TV paid from abroad |
| Lagos rent | Received in naira, recorded for tax |
| Canadian salary | Canadian bank |
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country and holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, each with local account details. Naira deposits are held by Solid Allianze Microfinance Bank, licensed by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. You can pay electricity and send naira to family, and security uses an authenticator app rather than SMS codes, which helps when your Nigerian line is not with you; see security.
Questions people ask
Should I close my Nigerian bank account when I relocate?
Usually not. Keep at least one active account for family support, bills and any Nigerian income, and update your contact details before you leave.
Can I open a Nigerian bank account from abroad?
Yes. Some providers allow remote opening, and Nigerians without a BVN can enrol for a Non-Resident BVN online.
What happens to my BVN when I move abroad?
It stays with you. You can keep using it with Nigerian banks while you live abroad.
Do I still pay tax in Nigeria after I japa?
If you become non-resident, you are generally taxed only on Nigerian-sourced income such as rent or dividends. Residence tests are set out in the Nigeria Tax Act.
Sources
- Explainer: how the CBN diaspora NRBVN works (Nairametrics) · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN framework for Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary and Investment Accounts (Mondaq) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria tax reform acts: key changes (KPMG) · 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.