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Sector licencesMediaNigeria

License film distribution / exhibition (NFVCB)

Distribute or exhibit film and video works lawfully: incorporate and meet the share-capital floor for the licence category (community/regional/national/online) → obtain the NFVCB distributor or exhibitor licence → submit each film for censorship and classification → Censorship Certificate before release.

Procedure
4steps
Coordination
2agencies
Category
Sector licencesMedia
Task links

Go to the exact next page

Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.

Apply onlineOpen the NFVCB customer portalNational Film and Video Censors Board · portal.nfvcb.gov.ngRequirementsRead the NFVCB application and compliance FAQNational Film and Video Censors Board · nfvcb.gov.ngFeesCheck the NFVCB payment guideNational Film and Video Censors Board · nfvcb.gov.ng
Routing map

Who you will deal with

National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB)NFVCB
Procedure

The steps, in order

Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.

  1. 01

    Choose the licence category

    Agency
    National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB)
    What is required
    Licences cover Distributor and Exhibitor (plus exhibition-premises, mobile and online variants), each in community, regional and national tiers. National and regional tiers require incorporation with a minimum share capital of ₦2,000,000 and ₦1,000,000 respectively; a community licence accepts a registered business name.
    Documents
    CIC or business name; share capital by tier
    Typical timeline
    Planning
    Use for this step
  2. 02

    Apply and pay the licence fee

    Agency
    NFVCB
    What is required
    Exhibitor: application ₦10,000 with licence fee ₦150,000 (national) or ₦100,000 (regional); community exhibitor ₦3,000 processing and ₦10,000 licence. Distributor: application ₦12,000 with licence fee ₦200,000 (national or online), ₦7,500/₦100,000 (regional), ₦1,000/₦10,000 (community).
    Documents
    Application form; fees per tier
    Typical timeline
    Weeks
    Use for this step
  3. 03

    Submit films for censorship and classification

    Agency
    NFVCB
    What is required
    No person may exhibit, distribute or supply an unexempted film or video recording without a Censorship Certificate. Every film produced in or imported into Nigeria must first be submitted to the Board for registration, censorship and classification.
    Documents
    Film/video master; submission form; censorship fee
    Typical timeline
    Typically 2-4 weeks
    Use for this step
  4. 04

    Release under the classification

    Agency
    NFVCB
    What is required
    Release only with the Censorship Certificate and display the assigned classification. Exhibition premises require their own premises licence; online distribution requires the online distributor licence.
    Documents
    Censorship Certificate; classification marking
    Typical timeline
    On issuance
    Use for this step
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