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The short answer
Tuition from Nigeria moves most smoothly when parents use the bank Form A route, which pays the school directly: Nairametrics reported in June 2026 that the CBN FX Manual now allows up to US$25,000 per semester for tuition this way. A matching invoice, the student's name and ID in the payment reference, and a copy of the Swift confirmation answer most questions a US school or bank will ask.
The two ways tuition money leaves Nigeria
Parents in Nigeria usually pay US fees in one of two ways. The first is to buy dollars through their bank for school fees under the Form A process, with the bank wiring the money to the school's own account. The second is to send dollars already held in a domiciliary account, either to the school or to the student's US account. The first route is designed for tuition; the second is quicker to arrange if the dollars are already there, but it leaves the student to explain larger deposits to their own bank.
What the Form A route needs
Nairametrics reported on 4 June 2026 that the fourth edition of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual, effective 1 June 2026, raised the tuition limit to US$25,000 per semester, paid through authorised dealer banks to the institution. The same report said maintenance is billed separately, up to US$5,000 per quarter paid to the student, and that nursery, primary, secondary, foundation and A-level courses are not eligible. Check the current position with the bank before you plan around these figures.
Banks publish their own checklists. Union Bank's school fees page, for example, lists:
- An admission letter and, or, an invoice showing current fees.
- The school's bank details.
- A signed debit instruction and a completed Form A.
- A letter of indemnity if the applicant's name differs from the student's.
- Valid ID and the student's international passport data page.
- A first-degree certificate for postgraduate study.
The parent must hold an account with that bank funded with the naira equivalent. Other banks ask for similar papers; ask for the bank's own list before you visit.
What helps on the US side
US schools receive international tuition every term and most publish exact instructions. Following them closely does more than anything else to stop money going astray.
- Use the school's own payment instructions. Many schools give a specific bank account or an international payment portal for tuition. Do not use the details of a staff member or a third party unless the school confirms them in writing.
- Put the student's full name and student ID in the payment reference. This goes in the remittance information field of the wire so the bursar can match the payment.
- Send the invoice amount, not a round number. Charges may be taken along the way unless the sender chooses to pay them; ask the bank about the OUR option if the school must receive the full amount.
- Keep the Swift confirmation. A copy with the UETR lets the school's bank find the payment quickly (what an MT103 shows).
If the money goes to the student instead
When parents send money to the student's US account and the student pays the school, the student's bank may ask where a large wire came from. A short pack of documents usually answers it:
| Question the bank may ask | Document that answers it |
|---|---|
| Who sent this? | The Swift confirmation naming the parent as ordering customer |
| What is it for? | The school invoice or statement of account for the term |
| Is the sender related to you? | A letter from the parent stating the relationship and purpose |
| Where did the sender get the money? | A recent bank statement from the parent's account |
Money a parent sends to pay a child's school fees is generally a gift. Large gifts from a foreign person can carry a US reporting duty for the recipient; see Form 3520 for gifts from family in Nigeria before you assume nothing needs to be filed.
A worked example
Example only, with made-up figures. A school invoices US$12,400 for the spring term. The parent's bank sends exactly US$12,400 with the charges option SHA. A correspondent bank deducts a fee of, say, US$25 before passing the payment on, so the school receives US$12,375 and the student account shows US$25 still owing. Had the parent chosen OUR and paid the bank's stated charges up front, the full US$12,400 would normally have reached the school. Ask the sending bank what the OUR option costs on the day; it is not a fixed figure across banks.
What to check first
- Is the course eligible for the Form A route, and what is the current per-semester limit at the parent's bank?
- Does the school publish an international payment method, and in which currency does it bill?
- Does the invoice name the student exactly as on the passport?
- Who pays the wire charges, and will the school receive the full invoice amount?
Where Pryme fits
A student or parent can hold USD and NGN in one Pryme account opened from any country, and Swap converts between them only when you choose, with the rate shown first and the fee on its own line (how Swap works). Verifiable statements through VerifyDoc.ai can support a bank's source-of-funds question (receipts and statements). The Form A route itself runs through the parent's Nigerian bank.
Questions people ask
How much can I send for school fees from Nigeria in 2026?
Nairametrics reported in June 2026 that the CBN FX Manual allows up to US$25,000 per semester for tuition via Form A, paid to the institution, plus maintenance up to US$5,000 per quarter. Confirm with your bank.
What documents do I need for Form A school fees?
Banks typically ask for an admission letter or invoice, the school's bank details, a signed instruction, the Form A, valid ID and the student's passport page.
Should tuition go to the school or the student?
Paying the school directly through its published instructions is cleaner. Sending to the student can lead to source-of-funds questions from the student's bank.
Why did the school receive less than we sent?
Bank charges can be deducted along the chain if the charges option was SHA or BEN. Ask the sending bank about paying all charges (OUR).
Sources
- Nairametrics: CBN raises tuition remittance limit to $25,000 (4 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Union Bank: foreign exchange for school fees · accessed Oct 2026
- Swift: What is a UETR? · 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.