Key takeaways
- School fees are a Form A purpose, processed by CBN-licensed authorised dealer banks
- The CBN Foreign Exchange Manual, 4th Edition (dated June 1, 2026), sets the limits and documents
- This page does not quote the school fee limit; ask your bank for the current figure
- Prepare your admission letter, fee schedule and passport data page before you visit the bank
- Pay only to the account or platform on your school’s official website
How does paying tuition from Nigeria work?
Tuition is a “service” payment. In Nigeria, you buy foreign currency for it through an authorised dealer bank using Form A. FirstBank Nigeria lists tuition fees among the uses of Form A.
The bank checks your documents, buys the currency in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and sends it to your school by telegraphic transfer (a wire). The rules come from the CBN’s Foreign Exchange Manual.
Limits not shown on purpose. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lists the 4th Edition of its Foreign Exchange Manual, dated June 1, 2026. This page does not quote dollar limits, because we only publish figures we have confirmed on the regulator’s own website. Ask your bank for the current limit, or read the Manual on cbn.gov.ng.
What are the current limits?
The CBN’s Foreign Exchange Manual sets the rules for school fee payments, including how much can be paid and which documents banks must collect. When we checked on October 10, 2026, the CBN listed the Manual’s 4th Edition, dated June 1, 2026. We have not confirmed the current limits on the CBN website, so we do not quote figures here. Figures shared on social media or by agents may be out of date.
What to do:
- Ask your bank for the current school fee limit and how often it can be paid in an academic year.
- Ask whether maintenance can be paid, and to whom (the school or the student).
- If your tuition is above the limit, ask the bank what options exist. Do not split payments across banks or family members to get around a limit.
Which documents should you prepare?
FirstBank says each Form A payment type has its own document list set by the CBN Manual. For school fees, banks usually ask for documents that prove the student, the school and the amount. Prepare these before you visit:
| Document | Why the bank needs it |
|---|---|
| Letter of admission or proof of enrolment | Shows the student is accepted at the school |
| School’s official fee schedule or invoice | Shows the amount due and the school’s bank details |
| Student’s international passport data page | Confirms identity |
| Student ID card (returning students) | Some banks ask for it to show continuing enrolment |
| First degree certificate (postgraduate students) | Some banks ask for it for graduate programs |
| Your account statement | Shows the naira to fund the purchase |
This list is a guide, not the CBN’s official list. Your bank’s checklist is the one that counts.
Check that the name on the fee schedule matches the student’s passport exactly. Small differences, such as a missing middle name, can cause the bank to return the documents. Copy the school’s bank details from the official invoice or website, never from a forwarded message. Read how tuition scams work for the warning signs.
Step by step: paying a Canadian school from Nigeria
- Get the payment details from the school’s official website, not from an email or an agent. Many schools list a payment platform for international students.
- Visit your bank (or its online channel) and ask for Form A for school fees.
- Submit your documents and fund the naira amount.
- Wait for the bank to process and send. Ask how long it usually takes. Allow extra time near term start.
- Get the SWIFT confirmation (MT103) from the bank. It proves the payment left.
- Email the school with the confirmation and the student number, and ask for a receipt.
Compare wires and platforms in tuition payment options compared, and read the general steps in how to pay tuition from abroad.
Which payment route fits your situation?
| Situation | Usual route | Things to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Paying with naira | Form A at your bank, wire to the school | The current limit, processing time and fees |
| You already hold dollars in a domiciliary account | Wire from the domiciliary account to the school | Documents needed and the outward transfer fee |
| Your school uses a payment platform | Follow the platform’s instructions for Nigeria, if offered | Whether the platform supports payments from Nigeria, and its rate |
| Tuition is above what your bank can pay this semester | Talk to the school and the bank before the deadline | Payment plans, deposit-only options, or a later deadline |
What if your bank payment is delayed?
Delays happen. If your payment may miss the school’s deadline:
- Email the school’s international office early, with proof that you applied for Form A.
- Ask whether the school accepts a deposit now and the rest later.
- Ask your bank for a written status or a reference number.
- Do not switch to an unlicensed dealer or a private “agent” to save time. That is where many students lose money.
Timing, receipts and refunds
- Start early. Foreign exchange supply and bank checks can add days or weeks. Start at least a month before your deadline if you can.
- Receipts help your study permit. IRCC lists a receipt for first-year tuition from your school as one example of proof of funds. Read study permit proof of funds.
- Refunds. If your study permit is refused, schools usually refund to the original payer, minus any fee in their policy. Read the policy before you pay.
- Exchange rate. The naira rate can change between the day you apply and the day the bank buys the currency. Ask which day’s rate applies.
Avoid tuition scams
Be careful with anyone who offers a tuition “discount”, asks you to pay into a personal account, or says they can avoid Form A for a fee. On July 7, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced criminal charges against two people in Ontario over an alleged scheme that took about $126,000 from international students who believed their tuition was being paid. The charges have not been proven in court. Read tuition payment scams before you pay anyone other than your school.