Mirsatori and iWorld, two international legal and consulting firms, have partnered with Lagos-based O&J Capital to offer Nigerian entrepreneurs a pathway to European Union residency, betting that entrepreneur-focused visas can tap growing demand for cross-border business migration.

The initiative aims to help Nigerian business owners relocate to France and Spain by establishing enterprises under existing foreign enterprise policies. Unlike traditional golden visa programs, the firms emphasised that the initiative is an active entrepreneurship route rather than citizenship by investment.

“What I would say we are promoting here is getting a residency through the startup creation, which is a perfect entry ticket to the European Union because it’s a long-term solution,” Arturs Plepis, general manager of iWorld, said.

“It gives you an opportunity and the least obligation to obtain a residency permit based on the experience and background of our client. This might be education, professional experience, business experience, entrepreneurship experience.”

Plepis who sought to clarify further explained that this opportunity was not a citizen by investment, adding that it was impossible to buy citizenship in European countries.

Maksim Nikitin, head of the migration department at Mirsatori, explained that the program has been successful as they have helped 100 clients with results, while another 100 is currently being processed.

“If you have a great idea on how to grow the economy of a country, they give you this opportunity. It doesn’t matter. You are from Nigeria, you are from Cameroon, or you are from Pakistan or Bangladesh, it doesn’t matter,” Nikitin said.

The opportunity is open and it is based on the quality of entrepreneurship idea they need. It is based solely on background and the contribution. A good background is needed, Nikitin added

Johnson Anorh of O&J Capital, their Nigerian partner, clarified that this opportunity is not due to the bromance between France and Nigeria. In his own experience, he said he favoured Spain over France due to how the culture is similar to Nigeria.

“We all want our children or families or even ourselves exposed to a second language. And the Spanish language, it gives you access to more than half of South America. So it makes your world even bigger for you.

“It is a society that has strong family tradition. If you are looking to have a good life for your family,” Anorh said.

“So these are the kind of things that help families that want to go. And then there are business opportunities that go beyond the borders of Nigeria,” he added.