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The short answer
Nigerian companies typically ask a foreign vendor for proof of identity, company registration documents if you trade through a company, a Nigerian Tax ID, bank account confirmation in the vendor's name, a signed contract or NDA and, for larger contracts, tax clearance. Federal government bodies also require registration on the Bureau of Public Procurement's contractors database, and the Treasury payment system will not release payments without their tax components.
Before a Nigerian bank, telco or large company can pay you, its procurement or compliance team must create you as a vendor. The process mixes the company's own anti-fraud checks with tax rules, and requirements differ from one company to the next. This guide lists the documents most commonly requested, what each one proves, and how to prepare them from abroad so onboarding takes days rather than months.
The typical document pack
| Document | Individual | Through a company | What it proves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport or national ID | Yes | For directors and signatories | Who you are |
| Proof of address | Yes | Company and directors | Where you are, and so your residence for tax |
| Company registration certificate | No | Yes, from your home registry | The company exists |
| Details of owners and directors | No | Often | Who controls the vendor |
| Nigerian Tax ID | Yes | Yes, if the company has one | Avoids double-rate withholding |
| Bank confirmation letter or statement | Yes | Yes | The account belongs to the vendor |
| Signed vendor form and policies | Yes | Yes | Agreement to the buyer's code of conduct, anti-bribery and data terms |
| Contract or NDA | Yes | Yes | Terms of the work |
Some companies also ask for references, insurance certificates or a profile of past work. Ask for the full list at the start so you send one complete pack.
Tax documents
Tax ID
From 1 January 2026, individuals' Tax IDs are generated from the NIN and can be retrieved online at taxid.nrs.gov.ng or taxid.jrb.gov.ng; companies use their CAC number, according to FCT-IRS's notice. The Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations 2024 double the withholding rate where the vendor has no valid tax number, so this is the document that most affects how much you receive. See getting a Tax ID from abroad.
Tax clearance certificate
Section 72 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 lists government contracts among the transactions for which ministries, agencies and commercial banks demand a tax clearance certificate covering the three years before the current year. A foreign individual with no Nigerian tax history will not have one; if a buyer asks, explain your non-resident status in writing and ask what they accept instead.
Government and public bodies
A 2014 circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation requires anyone doing business with the Federal Government to be on the Bureau of Public Procurement's National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers. Federal payments now go through TMRAS, which the Accountant-General's circular says will not permit a payment without its tax components and which requires vendors to be registered with the tax authority. See consulting for a Nigerian public agency.
Bank details that pass checks
- The account name must match the vendor name exactly: your legal name, or your company's registered name.
- Use a bank letter or a recent statement showing name and account number; mask balances if you prefer.
- If you want naira paid locally and foreign currency paid abroad, give both sets of details and say which applies to which contract.
- Expect a call-back or test payment: many companies verify new vendor accounts to prevent payment fraud.
Data you are sharing
A vendor pack contains your passport, address and bank details. Send it through the company's vendor portal or a secure link rather than open email where you can, ask who will hold it, and keep a list of what you sent and to whom. Our Nigeria library explains how to share a statement without oversharing.
Trading through a foreign company
If you contract through a company registered where you live, the Nigerian buyer is onboarding the company. Expect to send its certificate of incorporation, a document showing its registered address, the names of directors and main shareholders, and identity documents for whoever signs the contract. Certified copies or apostilles are sometimes requested for larger contracts; ask before paying for them, since many private buyers accept clear scans. Keep the company's name identical across the vendor form, contract, invoice and bank account.
Renewals and changes
Vendor records are usually reviewed every year or two, and when anything changes. Tell the buyer promptly if your bank account, address or company name changes, and expect them to re-verify the account before the next payment. A changed account with no notice is the classic sign of invoice fraud, so a careful buyer will hold payment until it checks.
Steps to speed it up
- Ask for the vendor form and full document list on day one.
- Prepare scans in PDF, clearly named, in one folder.
- Retrieve your Nigerian Tax ID before you submit.
- Make sure every document shows the same name and address.
- Ask for the vendor number once approved and put it on every invoice.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account opened from abroad gives you naira and foreign-currency details in your business's name. Verifiable statements through VerifyDoc.ai let a procurement team check a bank confirmation is unaltered, and the Compliance agent can keep your document pack and expiry dates in order for you to review.
Questions people ask
What documents does a Nigerian company need to onboard me as a vendor?
Usually ID, proof of address, company registration if applicable, a Nigerian Tax ID, bank confirmation in your name and a signed vendor form or contract.
Do I need a Nigerian Tax ID as a foreign vendor?
It is strongly advisable. Without a valid tax number the 2024 withholding regulations double the rate deducted from your payments.
Do I need a tax clearance certificate?
NTAA 2025 s.72 lists government contracts among transactions where one is demanded. A non-resident without Nigerian tax history should ask what the buyer accepts instead.
Why does a Nigerian company want my bank letter?
To confirm the account belongs to the vendor before paying, which protects both sides against payment fraud.
Sources
- FCT-IRS: Nigerian Tax ID portal goes live (29 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Nigeria: Highlights of the Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations 2024 · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 (gazette copy) · accessed Oct 2026
- OSGF circular on the national database of federal contractors, consultants and service providers (Dec 2014) · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: FG introduces TMRAS to replace Remita for MDA payments (4 Mar 2025) · 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.