Importing a regulated product into Nigeria without a SONCAP certificate is not a shortcut. It is a decision that can cost far more later than the certificate itself.
What SONCAP covers, versus MANCAP
SONCAP applies to goods coming into Nigeria from abroad. It sits alongside MANCAP, which covers goods manufactured inside the country instead. An importer needs SONCAP, not MANCAP, for a shipment.
Knowing which scheme applies to your product matters before you start budgeting, since the two run through different processes with different fees and different offices to deal with.
The certificate fee per shipment
The SONCAP Certificate itself costs $350 per certificate. That fee is charged in US dollars, and it applies to one consignment, for one entity, at a time.
Repeat shipments of the same product each need their own certificate, and their own fee. This is not a one-off cost you pay once and reuse.
The extra cost if your product isn't registered
A product SON has not already registered also needs its own Product Certificate, priced from $500 for a first-time, single-use certificate valid six months. SON's fee table lists higher tiers for a registered or licensed product, valid for 12 months and multiple shipments.
Which tier applies, and the total cost for your situation, depends on your product's registration status. Confirm with SON before budgeting, since a registered or licensed tier is priced differently, not automatically lower, than the first-time tier.
Why timing before shipping matters
SONCAP cannot be arranged after goods have already left the country of origin. This is one of the least forgiving rules in the process: there is no fixing it retroactively once the shipment is in transit.
Start the SONCAP process before your supplier ships, not after your goods arrive at a Nigerian port. Build this step into your ordering timeline the same way you would a shipping deadline.
Where certificates are generated now
Since 27 Mar 2026, import permits and SONCAP applications also need activation through the Nigeria Single Window. Certificates from firms SON has approved are still generated on SON's own portal, but Form M, PAAR and clearance now depend on that extra activation step too.
Missing this extra step is a new way for an otherwise correct application to stall at the port. Confirm both the certificate and its NSW activation before your shipment is due, not after it has already arrived.
Common mistakes
- Shipping before the certificate is arranged. SONCAP cannot be processed once goods have left origin.
- Budgeting only in naira. The certificate fee is set in US dollars.
- Assuming one certificate covers repeat shipments. Each consignment needs its own.
- Forgetting the NSW activation step. A certificate alone is not enough since the 2026 migration.
For what happens if a shipment arrives without one, see what happens if you import without SONCAP. The rest of this series is on the SME regulators hub.