Nigeria - Open an Internet Cafe (License or Permit)

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Procedure

Preliminary processes

1. Before opening an Internet Cafe in Nigeria, the applicant has to first conduct a market research to get a picture about the competition and demand in the market.
2. Market research also helps the business person to determine the service prices of the competitors and know the challenges in the business.
3. Then, the person should analyse the various factors market risks, operational requirements, costs of the business, target market and constitute a plan for the business, on the basis of these analyses.
4. After writing a business plan, the person should select an appropriate location to set up the internet cafe. The location should be easily accessible by students, people at work and people at public offices like banks and other Government offices.
5. This helps the business in attracting more customers and developing the business.
6. Then, the business person should set up the internet cafe by gathering the requirements like furniture, computers, printers, scanners, broadband modems and routers.
7. The interiors of the cafe should be neat, comfortable and suitable to the current design trends, which will help attract more customers.
8. On setting the cafe, the next step is to subscribe a fast, reliable and cost efficient Internet Service Provider of the owner’s choice.
9. Upon completion of these processes, the applicant should proceed to accomplish the documentation processes.
10. The owner of the Internet Cafe should register their business as a Business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission and then obtain a Class license from the Nigerian Communications Commission whose procedures can be found below.

Apply In-Person:

1. Register as Business name
2. To register a Business name in person, the applicant has to visit any nearest office of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
3. The address and contact details of the CAC can be found in the following Contact link
4. The applicant should visit the office and conduct a public name search among the existing entities registered in the CAC, at first.
5. After that, the applicant should select a suitable name for their internet cafe and Application form for reserving that name will be available at the office.
6. The applicant should complete it required details and attach required number of passport size photographs with it.
7. The applicant should also complete an application form for Pre-Registration of the Business name and attach the required documents with it.
8. List of required documents can found in the “Required Documents” section of this page. Attach them and submit the application forms to the relevant official at the office.
9. The applicant should pay 500 Nairas for Reservation of the Internet Cafe’s name and 10000 Nairas for the Registration of the Internet Cafe as a Business name.
10. Upon submission of the application form and payment of the required fees, the application and other documents will be forwarded for examination and verification processes.
11. When the necessary processes are over and the Registration Certificate is ready, the applicant will be informed through phone call or email to collect it.
12. The applicant can collect it by any applicable means. Meanwhile, the applicant can also contact the office to check the application status.
13. Obtain Class license from Nigerian Communication Commission
14. To obtain a Class license from Nigerian Communication Commission in person, the applicant must visit the office of Nigerian Communications Commission.
15. Address and contact details of the NCC can be found in the following page Contact link
16. The applicant should visit the office and obtain an application form for Class license, from the respective department.
17. The application form can also be downloaded by clicking the following Application form
18. The application form should be completed with appropriate information under relevant sections and attested with the applicant’s signature.
19. Then, the required documents should be attached with it and submitted to the relevant authority at the office.
20. Non-refundable administrative fees of 10,000 Nairas must be paid as directed while submitting the application.
21. Upon submission of the application form and payment of the required fees, the application and other documents will be forwarded for examination and verification processes.
22. When the necessary processes are over and the license is ready, the applicant will be informed through phone call or email to collect it.
23. The applicant can collect it by any applicable means. Meanwhile, the applicant can also contact the office to check the application status.

Apply online

1. Register as Business name
2. To register a Business name online, the applicant has to visit the following Online application link
3. Visit the link and click on the “Search now” option under “Public search” tab to conduct a public name search. Enter the proposed names in the search bar and look for availability by clicking “Search” button.
4. Choose an available name and return back to the homepage. Click “Reserve name now” option to reserve the chosen name.
5. If the applicant already has an account, they can enter the user details and click “login” button. If not, click the “Sign up” button below, registration page will appear.
6. Complete the registration form as applicable and click “Register” button. Account verification mail would have been sent, click the link sent to the email address to activate the account.
7. Click “Login” button at the top of the next page and enter the user details, then click “Login” button to enter into the account.
8. Click “New name reservation” button, name reservation form page will be opened, complete the first tab and click “Save & Continue” button. Select classification as applicable.
9. Similarly, complete the next tab, go through the application preview and click “Save & Continue” button.
10. Click “Remita” button in the payment tab and complete the payment as applicable by entering the card details and clicking “Submit” button. Then, click on “Pay” button.
11. One Time Password will be sent, enter it in the relevant field on the next tab and click on “Pay” button. If the payment is successful, the applicant can download the receipt by clicking “Download Receipt” button or view it by clicking “View Receipt” button.
12. As an acknowledgement, an availability code will be generated for the reserved name. The applicant should come back to the Dashboard.
13. There will be a hyperlink named “here” besides the text “Start registration with your Name Availability Code” at the bottom of the page. Click on it to continue registration with the Availability Code.
14. Reserved Name Reservation page will be displayed on the next screen. Click on the “Start Registration” under the reserved company’s name.
15. Registration form with relevant sections and fields will appear. The applicant has to complete all the sections by providing the details that are asked for.
16. After completing one section, the applicant can go to the other section by clicking the “Save & Continue” button. Complete all the sections by following on screen instructions. Upload the required by clicking the “Upload” button.
17. Once all the sections are completed, a preview of the completed application form will appear. Check all the information once and click “Proceed to Payment” button.
18. Click “Remita” button in the payment tab and complete the payment as applicable by entering the card details and clicking “Submit” button. Then, click on “Pay” button.
19. One Time Password will be sent, enter it in the relevant field on the next tab and click on “Pay” button. If the payment is successful, the applicant can download the receipt by clicking “Download Receipt” button or view it by clicking “View Receipt” button.
20. Upon submission of the application form and payment of the required fees, the application and other documents will be forwarded for examination and verification processes.
21. When the necessary processes are over and the Registration Certificate is ready, the applicant will be informed through phone call or email to collect it.
22. The applicant can collect it by any applicable means. Meanwhile, the applicant can also contact the office to check the application status.

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Required Documents

Business name registration

• Completed Availability Check and Reservation of Name form
• Completed Application for Registration of Business Name
• Valid proof of Identification
• Proof of payment
• Memorandum and Article of Association (if required)
• Notification of business’ registered address
• Document containing list, details and permission of the directors
• Compliance statement from the Solicitor
• Any supporting document (as instructed)

Class license

• Completed application form (original and a copy) Application form
• Incorporation Certificate
• Certificate of Tax Clearance
• Articles and Memorandum of Association certified copy
• Completed CO7 form copy
• Report of Feasibility
• Passport size photographs of Authorized representative (three numbers)
• Passport size photographs of company’s directors
• Qualified Technical Staff’s Certificate (Class license)
• Description of proposed service (Class license)

Refer Requirements

Office Locations & Contacts

Nigerian Communications Commission - Head Office
Plot 423, Aguiyi Ironsi Street,
Maitama District, Abuja 900271,
Federal Capital Territory,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Tel: +234-9-4617000
Fax: +234-9-44617514
Website: Nigerian Communications Commission Zonnal Office Contacts

Eligibility

• Any individual or a group of people in Nigeria willing to establish and operate a business name in Nigeria can apply.
• Any registered company or organisational structure in Nigeria that wishes to deal with business activities using Telecommunication is eligible.
• The application can be made by any responsible person of the concern or an authorized representative.

Fees

Business Name Registration

• Name Reservation: N500.00
• Registration: N10000.00

Reference Fees details

Class license

• Application form: N1000
• License: N10000

Reference Fees details

Validity

The validity of the Class license remains until and unless the license is cancelled or suspended by the Commission.

Documents to Use

Class license Application form

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

The processing usually takes 2 to 8 weeks to complete.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.gIn the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• Please note that the applicant will not be allowed to make modifications after payment during reservation of name.

• If the applicant does not have a debit/credit card to use for payment online, they can still use their internet banking to pay for fees in the CAC-CRP.

• If they don't have internet banking either, they can just generate the bill from the CAC-CRP, walk into any bank branch in Nigeria and make the payment.

• The applicants can seek advice from an accredited agent, if they wish to get more clarifications.

• Application should be submitted in duplicates with all necessary documents attached, all spiral bound.

Required Information

• Names of the applicant
• Date of birth and gender
• Nationality and Full address
• National Identification Number
• Business outlet locations
• Address and contact details
• Formulated tariff details
• Contact person particulars
• Particulars of the company
• Registration number
• Incorporation date
• Contact details
• Particulars of the directors and Shareholders
• Number of Technical staffs
• Payment receipt number

Need for the Document

In order to set up an Internet Cafe legally inside Nigeria and provide Internet services to the public of Nigeria, any business owner should obtain a Business Name Registration from the Corporate Affairs Commission and a Class License from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Information which might help

• A Class Licence is a type of general authorization in which the terms and conditions/obligations are common to all license holders.
• It requires only registration with the Commission for applicants to commence operation.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Frequently asked questions
Payment procedure

Others

More information which might help people.