Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways To Japa will speak to real people and explore the infinite number of reasons and paths they use to get to Japa.
Nehemiah started dreaming of moving to Canada in 2020, but his dreams changed when he got a funding opportunity to study in the US. In this edition of 1000 Ways to Japa, he shares tips on how to apply for an assistantship opportunity in the US in 2025.
Where do you live, and when did you move out of Nigeria?
I live in Virginia, United States (US). I moved out of Nigeria in January 2025.
That’s very recent. Congratulations!
Thank you.
What was the motivation behind the move?
I’ve always wanted to pursue a master’s degree. I also wanted to do it with a scholarship, so when I was an undergraduate, I tried to secure a first-class degree. Unfortunately, the first-class degree didn’t secure me back. But I still finished with good grades, so when I got a funding opportunity to study in the U.S., I took it immediately.
So, did you get the scholarship you wanted?
It’s more of an assistantship, but I got it after several rejections and heartbreaks. I finished my University education in 2020 and I planned to get a scholarship and start my studies immediately. I was also set on going to Canada so I started by applying to seven schools there but was rejected by all of them. At that point, I didn’t want to try anything US-related because of the low success rate of their interviews. Despite my misgivings, I applied to some US schools anyway; I got congratulatory emails but got no funding.
I kept applying to different schools and paying different application fees. The least amount I paid for an application in Canada was $100, and $50 in the U.S. Despite all of that, I kept getting rejections. I even tried some schools in the U.K., but I was still met with rejections. However, one of the schools I applied to in the U.S. finally gave me an offer and an assistantship. It was the happiest day of my life!
What’s an assistantship?
It’s like a job that you do while studying. You could be working as a teaching assistant, research or administrative assistant. It’s all under the umbrella of graduate assistance.
Congratulations. What advice do you have for people who want the same funding opportunity?
I suggest that you build rapport with your potential program director. Create a list of schools that you want to apply to, do your research, find out who your program directors are, and build rapport with them. They are usually open to helping as much as they can.
Another thing you should do is refrain from submitting the same application to different schools; It’s a red flag. Spend long hours researching each school and get various people to review your application.
One more thing— Always be yourself when it comes to your visa applications. Don’t seek advice from too many people because conflicting views can discourage you. Follow your gut and put God in everything as well.
What makes an application solid enough for schools in the US?
They mostly pay attention to your story and how it aligns with the program goals. Whatever you have in your Statement of Purpose must be consistent with whatever you have in your CV. Remember that the people reviewing your application know nothing about you. They can only get to know you from the documents you submit. Trust me when I say telling an authentic story about yourself works; believe me. Just ensure your introduction is catchy enough to grab the readers’ attention and maintain a good flow.
Can you share the name of your school?
It’s James Madison University. My assistantship doesn’t fully cover my fees, but it covers between $32,000 and $38,000. I only had about $3,000 to show as the deficit, so before I left Nigeria, I used a relative’s bank statements to prove that I could cover my living expenses.
I know you’ve only been in the US for a month, but I’m curious to know what your life is like now.
The orderliness in this country is just out of this world. The only thing I’m struggling to get used to is the weather. When I stepped out of the airport the first time, I ran back inside because it was so cold. But it’s a great country with a solid working system, and I get why people come here.
How happy are you in the U.S?
I’m so happy. It’s a dream come true.
Want to to share your japa story? Please reach out to me here.
If you’re a Nigerian living in Nigeria, the chances that you’ve thought of ways to relocate from Nigeria are high. The process of legally migrating is rigorous— from research to getting finances right, to finding the easiest countries to migrate to and to deciding how you actually want to relocate.
In this article, we’ll share all the ways you can legally migrate from Nigeria to other countries. Some processes are more straightforward than some others, while some are more expensive than others. With some ways to relocate from Nigeria, you are assured that your japa is final, while with some other ways, you still have to fulfil some requirements for some time in the destination country. We’ll discuss everything in this article.
1. You can relocate from Nigeria through family.
Whether it’s your spouse or your family of origin, having family members who are citizens or permanent residents of other countries is a direct way of migrating from one country to another. With marriage- also termed “family formation- getting legally married to a citizen of another country will grant you some form of citizenship in most countries. Because most countries know this and want to avoid doctored marriages for visas, the process isn’t as straightforward as getting your new passport on the day after you get married.
Many countries undergo background checks before giving people their new passports through this method. Some of these background checks may include finding out how long you were dating before you got married, requiring citizenship applicants to show genuine pictorial proof of dating period, wedding ceremony, mutual friends, etc. You also have to have been married for at least five years in some countries before applying for citizenship.
Family reunification, according to the International Organization for Migration, is “the right of non-nationals to enter into and reside in a country where their family members reside lawfully or of which they have the nationality in order to preserve the family unit”. In this case, you have to be able to legally prove that you’re either the spouse, parent or child of the “principal migrant”. The laws for family reunification vary from country to country so you have to do your research based on the country you plan to. In some countries like Canada, siblings and grandchildren count as family you can reunite with, while in some others they don’t. See the full list here.
2. You can migrate as an asylum seeker.
Although the rules vary from country to country, the general concept of asylum is an independent country granting refuge in its country to an individual who is fleeing persecution or serious harm or for other reasons. If you’re fleeing persecution from your home country, you can apply for asylum in other countries. Don’t expect a simple and unchallenged process though, because many people file for asylum even when they’re not in danger. There is typically an investigation done to determine if you qualify for refugee protection. Not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee, but every recognized refugee is initially an asylum seeker. Just in case you were curious, here’s Canada’s asylum application process.
3. You can relocate from Nigeria as a student.
Relocating as a student is one of the most popular ways to relocate from Nigeria. While a student visa is typically not a for japa-ing, being a student in various countries gives you a high chance of integrating into society after you complete your studies. The UK for example now lets international students stay and work in the UK for an extra two years after they graduate with the Graduate Route. Every country you want to japa to has schools that offer courses to international students, and while some countries have a strict policy of making people return to their home countries after they graduate, many others like Canada, Australia, UK and Belgium encourage people to stay, join the work force and become permanent residents. Manty international students even get jobs before they graduate!
Some countries have investor visas, where if you invest a certain amount of money in the economy, you automatically become a permanent resident or a citizen. Some other countries allow you to become a permanent resident when you buy land and properties.
You could also japa by starting a business in countries that let you start a business in their country because you would be helping their economy.
In some other countries, you can buy a citizenship. Just pay the government, and you become a citizen.
Australia, China, France, New Zealand, UK, and the US are the countries that offer talent visas to highly skilled professionals, distinguished athletes and artists, and people with advanced degrees in select fields.
6. You can relocate from Nigeria as a professional
Some non-English speaking countries are constantly looking for people who can speak English to migrate into their countries to teach English. This is a way to migrate professionally.
Canada, Australia, Spain, UK and many other countries also offer startup founders startup visas where you can go to their country and set up your startup.
If you work for an international organisation, you can relocate from Nigeria by transferring to a branch of your company in another country. Companies that allow this help the applicants through the process.
Remote work visas are also now a thing. You can travel to these countries and still work remotely.
With professional visas, research is needed to find what works best for you and your family.
7. You can relocate from Nigeria through a point-based system.
Some countries like Canada, and recently the UK, open their borders to people that just want to japa from their countries. They use a point-based system to qualify or disqualify people. These points are allocated through different metrics such as age, qualifications, work experience, understanding of language, etc. Many Nigerians living in Canada are there through this system. Once you are able to prove that you have the funds to take care of yourself, and you can survive in the new environment, the other factors will work together to help you secure your permanent residency.
Many people don’t consider Ghana when they’re thinking about the easiest countries to migrate to from Nigeria. Because Nigeria is an ECOWAS country like Ghana, Nigerians with a Nigerian passport can visit Ghana without a visa. As a Nigerian, you can visit Ghana and stay there for 90 days without a visa while you process your permanent residence.
From Lagos, it takes one hour to fly to Accra, and 10 hours to go by road. By all definitions, Ghana is a neighbouring country with much better infrastructure and amenities than Nigeria. Ghana is also very culturally similar to Nigeria, we have similar climates and we have some similar dishes. Nigerians looking to move out of Nigeria in the easiest way possible should consider Ghana as their first stop.
When people talk about Ecuador, they hardly forget to mention how beautiful the South American country is. Perhaps a good reason to consider moving to Ecuador as a Nigerian is that it is an untapped territory in terms of saturation by Nigerians — as of 2018, there were only a thousand Nigerians in Ecuador. Ecuador is on the list of countries that Nigerians can visit without a visa, and has been constantly voted as the best country for expatriates to live in because of the quality of life and cost of living. Ecuador is also very similar to Nigeria because it’s a country big on football and dancing.
The easiest way to migrate to Ecuador is through the Ecuador Retirement Visa which allows you to stay in Ecuador for your entire life, as long as a recognised guarantee is willing to pay you $800 every month. This visa has nothing to do with your age. If you can’t qualify for this visa, you can apply for a professional visa. See more info on moving to Ecuador here.
3. Canada
Due to its large mass of land and shortage of skilled workers, Canada is one of the most developed countries with the most straightforward immigration process. Because you have to prove that you have some money in the bank and write some exams, it might not be so cheap, but in the end, it’s not a difficult process.
If you’re a skilled person with certifications, who doesn’t mind going through (simple) processes, you should check out Canada’s skilled worker’s express entry program. It’s what everyone is doing.
But don’t forget, you can also move to Canada as a student, get a job when you’re done with school and then apply for permanent residence.
As crazy as it sounds, Canada is one of the easiest countries to migrate to from Nigeria.
4. Paraguay
Paraguay is situated in South America. It shares borders with Argentina and Brazil. Paraguay is a pretty friendly Country with a low cost of living and it is also relatively safe. Securing a resident permit or visa is also easy and affordable.
You might be asking, “Well, how can I move to Paraguay to settle there?” It’s simple. Apart from the regular documentation and background checks, all you have to do is Deposit a sum of about $4,500 to a Paraguayan bank. Once you have been granted residency, you may withdraw the deposit in full. You can also obtain residency by setting up a company with a minimum capital of the above-mentioned amount; or buying land for agricultural production with a minimum of 10 hectares.
That’s it. That’s all you need to move to Paraguay. $4,500.
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5. Belize
Belize is beautiful, it boasts cultural integration, low cost of living and easy integration because it’s an English-speaking country. It’s pretty easy to fully migrate to Belize. The first step is to acquire a 30-day visit visa. Once you have that and you’re in the country, all you have to do is renew it every 30 days for the next 50 weeks. After 50 weeks, you would need to pay a couple of thousands of dollars to secure your permanent residency. You can also secure a work permit in the process, so you don’t spend 50 weeks without a job.
After staying in Belize for five years, you can apply for citizenship.
6. Belgium
The easiest way to get a permanent residency, and eventually citizenship, in Belgium is by getting a job there. If you get a job in Belgium, you automatically qualify to be considered for application for permanent residence. It might take five years, but at least you’ll already be living and working in the country. This makes Belgium one of the easiest countries to migrate to from Nigeria.
7. Australia
If you’re not afraid of snakes, spiders and kangaroos, you probably want to move to Australia. It’s a beautiful and advanced English speaking country with amazing study and employment opportunities. Like Canada, Australia has a standard skilled workers program for people that want to migrate into the country.
8. Mexico
Mexico is situated in North America. It offers a low cost of living as well as great food and culture. Here’s the great thing: You can get an FMM visa that allows you to stay in Mexico for 180 days for just $21. When the visa expires, you can renew it a limitless amount of times while still being in the country.
9. Benin Republic
Benin is a neighbouring country that doesn’t really have restrictions for Nigerians. It’s definitely easy to move from Nigeria to Benin.
Relocating from Nigeria is a fairly popular topic among Nigerians. Whether as a joke or seriously, Nigerians are ever quick to talk about how they’re tired of Nigeria and would like to move to another country — in other words, they want to “japa”.
Originally, “Já pa” is a Yoruba phrase that means “to run away”.
Try this: Google “Ways to relocate from Nigeria”, and all the results you’ll see on the first page are on ways to relocate to Canada from Nigeria. If you’re a Nigerian, you’ve probably thought of moving to Canada at least once. That’s because in Nigeria, the idea of japa-ing is synonymous with the idea of moving to Canada.
In this article, we’ll explain all the ways Nigerians can legally japa from Nigeria just like all the people we’ve interviewed in our Abroad Life column. Sit back, grab your pen and paper, and figure out the one that suits you best.
And don’t forget to share this with your friends.
Ways To Relocate From Nigeria
1. You can relocate from Nigeria as a student
A simple way to leave Nigeria and gain academic advancement at the same time is through student visas. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students have the opportunity to study outside Nigeria and then settle in those countries. Many European and Asian countries offer cheap, or even free education to people. Many countries and schools abroad also offer scholarships. With good research and a good application process, you can secure a legitimate scholarship.
2. You can relocate from Nigeria as a professional
People who work for international organisations can also get transferred to different countries if their employers decide to transfer them.
Some non-English speaking countries are constantly looking for people who can speak English to migrate into their countries to teach English. This is a way to migrate professionally.
In some countries, pastors and missionaries can also get religious worker visas.
3. You can relocate from Nigeria as an investor
Some countries have investor visas, where if you invest a certain amount of money in the economy, you automatically become a permanent resident or a citizen. Some other countries allow you to become a permanent resident when you buy land and properties.
You could also japa by starting a business in countries that let you start a business in their country because you would be helping their economy.
In some other countries, you can buy a citizenship. Just pay the government, and you become a citizen.
If you’re married, or you can prove that you’re the parent or child of someone that’s a citizen of some countries, you are given automatic citizenship or permanent residence.
5. You can relocate from Nigeria through a point-based system
Some countries open their borders to people that just want to japa from their countries. They use a point-based system to qualify or disqualify people. These points are allocated through different metrics such as age, qualifications, work experience, etc. Many Nigerians that are in Canada are there through this system.
6. You can relocate from Nigeria as a talented person
Some countries like the UK offer visas to people with talent in arts, academia, and digital technology. Some other countries offer visas to people who are extremely good at sports.
7. You can relocate from Nigeria as an asylum seeker
If you’re facing persecution in your home country and you can prove it, you can apply for asylum in many different countries.
These 7 points are the broad ways people can leave Nigeria. Over time, we’ll go into more details about how you can specifically leave Nigeria through each of the methods we’ve mentioned here.
You’re probably wondering, “Now I know the different ways to relocate to a whole bunch of countries, but what countries do I relocate to?” We know, and that’s why we’re going to share some of the top countries to migrate to as a Nigerian.
Top Countries To Migrate To From Nigeria
1. Sweden
You probably didn’t think Sweden was going to be number 1 on this list, but Sweden is a very immigrant-friendly country. A global survey in 2016 ranked her as the best country to be an economic immigrant. Sweden also has low tax rates, advanced transportation, infrastructure, and free health care and education. And to top that all off, Sweden is one of the most beautiful places on earth. What more are you looking for?
2. Canada
Known to many in Nigeria as “Nigeria 2.0”, Canada is the second-largest country by landmass in the world. Ironically, its population density is one of the lowest in the world. Simply put, there’s space in Canada. Canada has a very strong and stable economy, and because of all the job opportunities available, they’re constantly looking for skilled people to move there. A very popular way to move to Canada is through their point-based Express Entry program for skilled workers. You can read more on that here.
It’s also not a myth that Canadians are very friendly, so you’re probably not going to have a hard time settling in. It also helps that the official languages are English and French.
If you can’t stand the cold though, Canada is not for you.
3. Ghana
When considering countries to migrate to, a lot of people overlook Ghana. It is however a pretty good country to migrate to especially if you are on a budget, and looking to stay within Africa. Ghana has stable electricity and good roads. The everyday cultures of Ghanaians are also very similar to Nigerians’.
With your ECOWAS passport, you can easily migrate to Ghana without stress. Another perk of migrating to Ghana is its proximity to Nigeria. If you have business in Nigeria but you don’t want to live here, try Ghana.
4. Norway
Norway does not have strict immigration rules and offers a relatively easy process for immigrants. It also offers a good standard of living, free education and generally a safe and ideal place to bring up a family.
5. Finland
Finland is one of the safest countries in the world. If that’s not enough for you to decide that you want to move there, you should hear about the high education rate, low corruption rates and scenic beauty of the land. In summer, it’s practically bright all the time. The sun stays up till about 3 a.m. and comes out before 6 a.m.
In winter though, it’s dark for months. If you don’t mind that balance, Finland is for you.
6. Australia
Being the sixth largest country by landmass in the world, Australia has the lowest population density. This means it offers a lot of job opportunities, which is a great way to apply for a permanent residence. Australia also has pretty good climate conditions and beautiful landscapes.
Just like Canada, a lot of Nigerians migrate to Australia through a point-based system for skilled workers. Those visas usually last for an initial period of five years, and then can be converted into permanent visas.
7. United Kingdom
Recently, the United Kingdom made its immigration policies a whole lot less strict. As a Nigerian, after graduating from a higher institution in the UK, you can now stay two extra years. This means that you can work and begin to apply for your permanent residence. The UK is a developed country with a lot of Nigerians, so you can find a lot of Nigerian communities.
8. Switzerland
The quality of living in Switzerland is high. However, it’s not so easy to move to Switzerland. The best bet for Nigerians looking to move to Switzerland is through a student visa. After your program finishes, you can apply for a job. If you don’t get one in six months, you will be asked to leave the country.
9. Germany
Germany is one of the best countries in Europe for immigrants. The problem people face relocating to Germany is usually the language, but being a skilled worker with vocational training gives you an advantage. The best way Nigerians can migrate to Germany is by applying to, and getting admitted into German universities. A student visa is a great way to migrate to Germany.
As you might have noticed, it’s not so easy to migrate into many of these countries. Don’t worry, we’ve also made a list of the easiest countries to migrate to.
Paraguay is situated in South America. It shares borders with Argentina and Brazil. Paraguay is a pretty friendly Country with a low cost of living and it is also relatively safe. Securing a resident permit or visa is also easy and affordable.
2. Mexico
Like Paraguay, Mexico is also situated in South America. It offers a low cost of living as well as great food and culture. Here’s the great thing: You can get an FMM visa that allows you to stay in Mexico for 180 days for just $21. When the visa expires, you can renew it a limitless amount of times while still being in the country.
3. Panama
Panama is located on the narrow bridge of land that connects North and South America. This country has one of the easiest immigration laws, it however does not allow dual citizenship. One would have to renounce citizenship from their home country.
4. Canada
Due to its large mass of land and shortage of skilled workers, Canada is one of the most developed countries with the most straightforward immigration process. Because you have to prove that you have some money in the bank and write some exams, it might not be so cheap, but in the end, it’s not a difficult process.
5. Argentina
Argentina has very beautiful landscapes. It offers low cost of living as well as excellent opportunities for employment and education. It is however ideal that you get a basic knowledge of Spanish to make your stay easier.
6. Singapore
Singapore is referred to as Asia’s most competitive country in the trade and investment industry. It is also one of the most developed countries in Asia and has reasonable immigration and citizenship rules. It is however also a pretty expensive country to live in as it has a small landmass.
7. Dominican Republic
This country is situated in the Caribbean and has a very visually appealing landscape. It also has one of the fastest-growing economies in South America. Qualifications for citizenship however require that one should be able to fluently speak Spanish.
8. Denmark
Denmark has work-related schemes that list out job options that have a shortage of workers. Hence, immigrants who fit any of these categories are offered immediate work and resident permits.
9. Ecuador
Aside from its tourism, Ecuador is also a great country choice for immigration. It is affordable and generally has a low cost of living
10. Ghana
You don’t need a lot to move to Ghana. If you have your ECOWAS passport, you can move.
What Do You Need To Do Before You Try To Relocate?
Do a lot of research
Whether it’s as a student, a skilled worker or a tourist, you need to do a ton of research before you go to a new country. You need to learn about its people, cultures, economy, visa requirements, hidden fees, processes and a whole lot more, and it’s something you have to do by consuming a lot of information from reliable sources online yourself. A lot of the time, countries have official websites with a lot of information. You can also find information on other reliable platforms.
Save a lot of money
You’re going to need money to settle wherever you go. Sometimes, you need money to get an apartment, buy new furniture, do some registration, and much more. You can’t relocate to a new country with a dearth of funds. You might get blindsided and find yourself in a not so great situation.
Renew your passport
Sometimes, the process for immigrating can span for years. You don’t want your passport to expire in the process, especially at a crucial time. Renew your passport before you start the process.
Develop a new skill
Apart from making you more valuable in the marketplace, skills can help you survive. You absolutely don’t want to go into a new country without marketable skills.
Learn the new language
If there’s a different language spoken in the country where you’re going, it is helpful to learn at least the conversational basics.
Document like crazy
Relocation requires a lot of documentation. You need to know where and how to get the right documents, and how to keep them safe. Without this, your relocation plans will be frustrated.
As time passes, we’ll update this article and publish more articles that will help your japa plans.
