How to Get a Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN): Cost, Documents and What It Can Do
The Non-Resident BVN lets Nigerians abroad get a Bank Verification Number online. How to apply, the $50 fee, the documents, and why, for now, it is not enough to buy shares in your own name.
The Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) is a Bank Verification Number that Nigerians living abroad can apply for online, without travelling home. It was launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria and NIBSS on 13 May 2025, costs a non-refundable $50, and is applied for on the NIBSS portal with a Nigerian passport. It is useful for banking and receiving money in Nigeria, but for now it cannot be used to buy Nigerian shares in your own name.
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Who the NRBVN Is For
- Nigerian citizens abroad who have never had a BVN.
- Nigerians abroad with a NIN but no BVN.
- Nigerians by descent living abroad without a BVN or Nigerian account.
Already had a Nigerian bank account at any time since 2014? You probably have a full BVN already. Check that first: a full BVN does more than an NRBVN.
How to Apply
- Go to the NIBSS NRBVN portal at nrbvn.nibss-plc.com.ng.
- Enter your personal details and upload your Nigerian passport data page.
- Upload proof of your address abroad, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
- Complete the liveness check, a short video selfie that confirms you are the passport holder.
- Pay the $50 fee. It is not refunded if the application is rejected.
The passport must be Nigerian. A foreign passport is not accepted, even for Nigerian citizens who hold one.
What an NRBVN Lets You Do
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The NRBVN was introduced alongside the Central Bank's non-resident bank accounts, the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account and the Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account, launched in January 2025. Together they let Nigerians abroad open and run Nigerian accounts and receive money home through formal channels.
What It Does Not Let You Do, For Now
Buying shares on the Nigerian Exchange in your own name means opening a CSCS account and Clearing House Number registered to you, and those identity checks need a full BVN. For now an NRBVN cannot be used for this. Shares Saver needs a full Nigerian BVN and a Nigerian bank account in your name. If this changes we will update this page.
The short answer on NRBVNs and shares, with what to do instead.
Can I Use a Non-Resident BVN to Buy Shares?Getting a Full BVN Instead
A full BVN is enrolled in person with your fingerprints and photograph at a Nigerian bank. Nigerians abroad usually do it on a visit home, at the same time as opening or reactivating a Nigerian bank account. Enrolment itself is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the NRBVN cost?
$50, paid online and not refunded if the application fails.
Do I need a Nigerian passport?
Yes. The application needs a Nigerian passport; a foreign passport is not accepted.
Can I buy Nigerian shares with an NRBVN?
Not in your own name, for now. You need a full BVN.
I have a full BVN already. Do I need an NRBVN?
No. A BVN is for life, and a full BVN does everything an NRBVN does and more.
Is the NRBVN the same as a NIN?
No. The NIN is your national identity number from NIMC; the BVN, full or non-resident, is your banking identity. Nigerians abroad can enrol for a NIN through NIMC's licensed diaspora partners.
Important disclaimer. This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or any recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. You should seek independent regulated financial advice before making any investment decision. Shares Saver does not provide financial advice.
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