Lagos, Nigeria — Nigerian banks have resumed the processing of international tuition fee payments directly from Naira accounts through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Form A portal, offering renewed relief for students and parents making educational payments abroad.
The Form A platform, operated by the CBN, allows individuals to access foreign exchange at official rates for specific service-based transactions known as invisible trade such as medical bills, educational expenses, and other eligible international services.
This development comes a month after several commercial banks announced the return of international spending on Naira-denominated debit cards, signaling a broader easing of foreign exchange restrictions that had previously constrained overseas transactions.
In separate notices sent to customers, GTBank and Lotus Bank confirmed that the Form A service is now fully operational for those making tuition payments for undergraduate and postgraduate studies overseas.
Previously, GTBank's customer update stated, “Pay international tuition fees directly from your Naira account.” However ,the bank advised customers to apply through the Trade System Portal at selecting the Form A application for Educational Fees, choosing GTBank as the processing bank, and uploading all required documents before submitting.
Lotus Bank issued a similar directive, guiding customers to register on the same government portal, select the educational fee option under Form A, and choose Lotus Bank for processing. Required documentation typically including admission letters, tuition invoices, and identification must be attached to the application.
The move is expected to significantly reduce the burden of sourcing foreign exchange through parallel markets and brings added convenience and legitimacy to tuition-related international transfers.
With this reinstatement, Nigerian students studying abroad and their sponsors have a more streamlined and official avenue to settle tuition payments, reinforcing confidence in the country’s regulated financial systems.