Form A in Nigeria: paying foreign service providers

Form M covers imports of goods. Form A covers invisible trade: services, software licences, consulting, training and similar payments to providers abroad. Your bank processes it.

Alexia M.Comparisons and market guides editor

Published: 16 October 2026
Reading time: 1 min read

Nigerian companies paying a consultant in the UK, a software licence in the US or a training provider in Dubai go through Form A. It sits beside Form M, which covers goods.

What Form A covers

Payment	Example
Professional services	Consulting, legal, design
Software and licences	Annual licences, subscriptions
Training and education	Courses, certification
Fees	Membership, registration

The documents

Invoice from the foreign provider.
Contract or agreement.
Beneficiary details: name, bank, SWIFT, account.
Tax evidence where relevant, such as withholding tax receipts.
Your company's documents, already on file with the bank.

The process

Submit through your bank's portal or branch.
The bank reviews and may ask questions.
Once approved, the bank sends the payment.

Practical tips

Ask the provider for an invoice that clearly states the service, period and amount.
Keep contracts signed and dated.
Pay from the company's own account.

Paying into Nigeria: the local rail

What	Detail
Local rail	NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP)
Run by	Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System
Settlement	Seconds, 24/7
Published fee	The CBN caps the sender's charge at ₦10 up to ₦5,000, ₦26 up to ₦50,000 and ₦50 above that

Source: NIBSS: NIP. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

Where Rivet fits

Form A payments go through Nigerian banks under CBN rules. Rivet serves registered companies in supported countries, including foreign companies owned by Nigerian founders where eligible, and does not replace a Nigerian bank for Form A. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See Nigerian companies paying foreign SaaS and ads.

Questions people ask

What is Form A in Nigeria?

The form Nigerian banks use, under CBN rules, to process foreign currency payments for invisible transactions such as services and fees.

What documents do I need?

Typically the invoice, the contract or agreement, the beneficiary's details, and evidence of tax compliance where required. Your bank gives the exact list.

How is Form A different from Form M?

Form M is for importing goods. Form A is for services and other invisible payments.

How long does it take?

It depends on the bank and the documents. Complete files move faster.

Sources

Written by

Alexia M.

Comparisons and market guides editor

Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.