NIGERIANS URGED TO BEWARE OF FAKE EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP OFFERS

Nigerians planning to relocate to Europe have been warned against schemes promising citizenship in exchange for money.

Representatives of immigration and business relocation firms Mirsatori and iWorld issued the warning at the Beyond Borders 2026 summit, where they discussed residency opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Mirsatori’s Head of Migration Department, Maksin Mayer Nikitin, said prospective applicants should distinguish between securing residency and becoming a citizen.

He explained that the firm helps eligible clients pursue residency through established startup programmes rather than selling citizenship.

According to Nikitin, business-related immigration routes may allow successful applicants to establish enterprises abroad and later seek citizenship through naturalisation. However, eligibility depends on the destination country’s laws and the applicant meeting its requirements.

He stressed that obtaining a residence permit does not automatically guarantee citizenship.

Arturs Plepis, General Manager of iWorld, identified France and Spain as options for Nigerians considering startup creation and business expansion in Europe.

He said suitable routes would depend on each applicant’s circumstances, business plans and relocation goals.

The speakers encouraged prospective migrants to examine offers carefully, understand what a programme actually provides and verify its requirements before making financial commitments.

Their central message was clear: a promise of residency should never be confused with a guaranteed passport.