WhatsApp quoteIn our experience, excise Tax Registration is registering for excise tax on tobacco, energy drinks, carbonated drinks and sweetened beverages, and it applies to importers, producers and stockpilers of excise goods, and operators of excise warehouses. Getting Excise Tax Registration right at the start avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and tedious to appeal. Dubai is the main sourcing and re-export hub for Nigerian importers buying electronics, vehicles and building materials, which gives Nigerian entrepreneurs a ready market and supply chain the moment their Excise Tax Registration licence is released. For Nigerian founders, the UAE is around 7 to 8 hours from Lagos from Abuja, the UAE is 3 hours ahead of Nigeria, and English is Nigeria's business language, which makes UAE paperwork straightforward.
Why Excise Tax Registration
Penalties for late Excise Tax Registration or late filing start at fixed amounts and grow with delay, which is why GoldenKey diarises every deadline for its customers. Excise rates are 100% on tobacco and energy drinks and 50% on carbonated and sweetened drinks. Nigerian applicants benefit from the fact that Excise Tax Registration already has many Nigerian shareholders on its register, so its officers recognise Nigeria documents and name formats instantly.
Documents required
Day to day, the document list for excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies is short, and most clients already have everything on it.
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
- Customs code and import records where applicable
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
Pricing
Pricing for excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. The figures below for excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
| GoldenKey service fee | AED 3,500 |
|---|
FTA excise registration for producers, importers or warehouse keepers of excisable goods
Request this servicePrices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-06.
Why the UAE
Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies a route to relocation as well as a business decision. Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies no longer requires a local partner.
Why GoldenKey
To be clear, after your Excise Tax Registration licence is granted, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped company owners from more than 60 countries with excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. In our experience, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies happen the same day they are ready.
Ready to start? Send us a WhatsApp message with your nationality, the activity you have in mind and the number of visas you need, and we will reply shortly with a written quotation for excise tax registration for Nigerian-owned companies.
Frequently asked questions
Does Excise Tax Registration apply to a new company with no revenue yet?
Put simply, only if you intend to import, produce or stockpile excise goods; registration should be completed before the first transaction.
Is Excise Tax Registration mandatory for a free zone company?
Excise registration depends on the goods, not the jurisdiction. A free zone company importing or stockpiling excise goods must register, and designated-zone warehousing requires its own approval.
How long does Excise Tax Registration take with the FTA?
The FTA typically responds within 20 business days, and simple applications are often approved faster. GoldenKey submits a complete file to avoid information requests.
Can a Nigerian citizen own 100% of a company in Excise Tax Registration?
Yes, it can. Nigerians can own the full share capital of a Excise Tax Registration company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
Do Nigerians need a UAE visa before applying for Excise Tax Registration?
No. You can apply for the licence from Nigeria with scanned paperwork, and the investor UAE residence visa is handled afterwards.
