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The short answer
First Bank of Nigeria offers FirstDiaspora accounts for Nigerians abroad, in naira and in domiciliary currencies. Its FAQ says a diaspora account can be opened without a BVN but a BVN must be provided, and transfers and bill payments need a physical token with a daily limit of ₦1 million for individuals. Ask the diaspora desk (diasporabanking@firstbanknigeria.com) for the current document checklist.
What First Bank offers Nigerians abroad
First Bank of Nigeria Ltd markets its non-resident products under the FirstDiaspora name. Its public FAQ page describes diaspora accounts that can be funded from abroad through money transfer operators recognised by the Central Bank of Nigeria, or from a foreign bank account, into either a naira account or a domiciliary (foreign currency) account. The same page says there is “no limit” on the amount that can be sent from abroad into a FirstDiaspora account.
The FAQ also covers domiciliary accounts in pounds, dollars and euros, says domiciliary holders with balances of $30,000 or more pay transfer charges of at most 0.25%, and lists a separate FirstDom product with its own minimum balances. The page is undated and some answers mention old network names, so treat any figure on it as something to confirm with the bank before you rely on it.
BVN: open first, provide it after
One point is clear on First Bank's FAQ: a diaspora account can be opened without a BVN, but a BVN must be provided. Without it, a Nigerian account normally runs with restrictions. If you have never enrolled, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) runs the Non-Resident BVN at nrbvn.com. NIBSS says you submit ID, proof of residence and other KYC documents, complete a liveness check, and receive the NRBVN within 72 hours of approval. Our guide to the NRBVN covers the details, and this piece covers fake agents.
Documents to prepare
First Bank's FAQ does not publish an individual diaspora checklist; for corporate diaspora accounts it lists CAC registration documents, a board resolution and a TIN among others. Nigerian banks' diaspora lists usually look like the one below, which is drawn from what NIBSS asks for NRBVN and what other banks publish. Use it to prepare, then confirm with First Bank.
- Completed FirstDiaspora account opening form (from the bank or its diaspora desk).
- Valid ID: Nigerian international passport, or another ID the bank accepts, often notarised or certified if copied abroad.
- Proof of foreign address dated within the last three months, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
- Recent passport photograph and specimen signature.
- BVN or NRBVN, or an undertaking to provide it.
- References where the account type needs them, typically for current and domiciliary accounts.
Steps
- Email diasporabanking@firstbanknigeria.com or call the contact centre (0700-34778-2668228) and ask which account fits: naira savings, current or domiciliary.
- Request the current form and checklist, and ask whether certified copies must be done by a notary, lawyer or Nigerian mission.
- Send the documents in the way the desk tells you, and keep copies.
- Once the account is open, request your token. First Bank says cards and tokens can be sent abroad by courier at the customer's cost.
- Set up FirstMobile. The FAQ says app set-up needs a valid Mastercard or Verve card and a registered email or phone for alerts.
- Provide your BVN or NRBVN as soon as you have it.
Tokens, limits and OTPs from abroad
- Token
- FirstBank's FAQ says diaspora customers need a physical token for transfers and bill payments.
- Daily limit
- ₦1 million for individuals and ₦10 million for corporate diaspora customers, raised through an online limit increase indemnity form (as stated on the FAQ, Oct 2026).
- OTP not arriving
- If SMS codes do not reach your foreign number at app set-up, the FAQ says you can request OTP by email through an Email OTP indemnity form.
- Closing the account
- First Bank's download forms page lists a separate Account Closure Form (Diaspora).
Since 1 May 2026, the CBN requires international money transfer operators to pay inbound remittances in naira, according to a Techeconomy explainer of the policy. That means a transfer through a remittance company now lands as naira even if you hold a domiciliary account; dollars reach a domiciliary account by bank transfer from a foreign account instead.
Naira account or domiciliary account?
Most people abroad end up with both. A naira account is what family, landlords, schools and contractors in Nigeria pay into and get paid from. A domiciliary account holds pounds, dollars or euros, which suits savings you do not want converted. First Bank's FAQ says its domiciliary accounts come in pounds, dollars and euros, with no limit on the number of withdrawals and free cash withdrawal at any branch, though that answer is undated.
The same page describes FirstDom, an interest-bearing domiciliary product with its own account number and minimum balances of $5,000, €5,000 or £3,000, paying tiered rates it gives as 0.50% to 2.00% a year. Treat those as indicative and confirm current terms; rates on foreign currency deposits change.
Common snags for applicants abroad
- Copies certified by the wrong person: ask the desk exactly who may certify before you pay a notary.
- Proof of address older than three months, or in a name that does not match the passport.
- No BVN: the account opens but stays restricted until you provide one.
- Codes sent to an old Nigerian line: update the phone and email on the account, or use the Email OTP form.
- Token not yet received: transfers and bill payments cannot be made without it.
Where Pryme fits
If you want naira, dollar, pound and euro balances in one place while abroad, a Pryme account can be opened from any country, with local details for each currency and Swap to convert only when you choose. Many people keep both: a traditional bank account for long history, and a multicurrency account for day-to-day money between countries. Compare the options in our general guide.
Questions people ask
Can I open a First Bank account from the UK without a BVN?
First Bank's FAQ says a diaspora account can be opened without a BVN but the BVN must be provided. Apply for an NRBVN at nrbvn.com if you have none.
What is the FirstDiaspora transfer limit?
The FAQ gives a token daily limit of ₦1 million for individuals and ₦10 million for corporates, which can be raised with an indemnity form. Confirm the current figure with the bank.
How do I contact First Bank diaspora banking?
Email diasporabanking@firstbanknigeria.com, or call 0700-34778-2668228 or 01-4485500, as listed on the bank's FAQ page.
Can I receive dollars from abroad into my First Bank dom account?
Yes, by transfer from a foreign bank account. Since May 2026, remittances through money transfer operators are paid out in naira under CBN rules.
Sources
- FirstBank FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank Download Forms · accessed Oct 2026
- NIBSS: Non-Resident BVN · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: What the CBN naira-only remittance policy means · 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.