Yes — since May 2025, Nigerians in the diaspora can get a Bank Verification Number (BVN) and open a Nigerian domiciliary account entirely online, without flying home. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and NIBSS launched the Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) platform, which uses passport verification and a liveness (selfie) check instead of in-person fingerprint capture, with approval typically arriving within 72 hours.
NRBVN stands for Non-Resident Bank Verification Number, a remote enrollment solution for diaspora Nigerians. As NIBSS describes it, the Non-resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) is a solution that enables Nigerians living in diaspora to enroll for BVNs remotely, offering services like BVN enrollment, account opening in multiple currencies, and remittance. Once enrolled, users can open domiciliary and naira accounts: NRBVN supports multiple currencies, including USD, GBP, and EUR for domiciliary accounts, and NGN for ordinary accounts.
NIBSS lists eligible users as Nigerian Citizens with NIN living in Diaspora without BVN, plus Nigerians already holding a BVN who need a local account, Nigerians by descent, and Non-Nigerian Non-resident Directors of Companies operating in Nigeria (pre-registration with local Bank required before onboarding).
Enrollment starts on the official NIBSS portal. TheCable reported that applicants can access the new platform and register with a recognised email by visiting the link, after which a link is sent to the email address provided to activate the applicant's account. From there, applicants sign up, verify via an authenticator app, accept consent terms, and pick a category — Nigerian with no BVN, Nigerian with BVN, or Nigerian by descent — before uploading documents and completing a facial/liveness check.
You generally need a valid, unexpired Nigerian international passport plus proof of overseas residence. As one guide summarizes: you must have a valid Nigerian international passport that has not expired, and proof of residence abroad, which can be a utility bill, bank statement, or residence permit showing your current address.
Unlike free in-country BVN registration, diaspora enrollment carries a fee. Vanguard reported the platform requires the payment of $50 (approximately ₦80,000) fee for diaspora BVN registration, paid by card via secure checkout. Once approved, an NRBVN will be provided within 72 hours.
If digital enrollment isn't possible — for example, without a current passport — physical enrollment remains available through accredited partners. Diaspora guidance notes applicants can use accredited partners like OIS (Online Integrated Solutions), VFS Global, or Avante, booking an appointment and attending in person with valid ID.
An NRBVN unlocks the ability to hold naira, USD, GBP, or EUR balances with Nigerian banks, receive remittances more smoothly, and access investment products like government bonds — without a trip home. Once your domiciliary and naira accounts exist, the next challenge is usually visibility: tracking multiple currencies, banks, and balances in one place. Kampe is a read-only tool that aggregates your linked accounts and helps you plan across currencies — it never moves or holds your money, so your NRBVN-linked accounts stay fully under your bank's control while you get a clearer picture of your finances.
NRBVN removes the biggest barrier that kept diaspora Nigerians locked out of local banking: mandatory in-person biometric capture. With a valid passport, proof of overseas address, and a modest processing fee, most applicants can complete enrollment and open a domiciliary account from wherever they live, typically within a few business days.