Moving to Timor-Leste from Nigeria

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Nigeria to Timor-Leste — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Nigeria to Timor-Leste, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese and Tetum. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Nigeria and Timor-Leste stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

NG
21.7
TL
4.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NG
17.2
TL
12.0

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
TL
$461
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
TL
7.7

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Timor-Leste leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NG
77.0
TL
61.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
TL
0.5t

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Nigeria across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.0
TL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
TL
28.3%

Nigeria performs better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
TL
1.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
TL
$4,600

Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though Timor-Leste leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
TL
69.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
TL
33.7

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria and Timor-Leste. To live, work, or study long-term in Timor-Leste, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Timor-Leste's immigration authority.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
Nigeria passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Timor-Leste passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Nigeria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Timor-Leste?

With 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Timor-Leste can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Nigeria and Timor-Leste.

Is Timor-Leste safe for expats?

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Timor-Leste is 4.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria.

How is healthcare in Timor-Leste compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Timor-Leste leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 7.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Timor-Leste, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Timor-Leste scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

What language do they speak in Timor-Leste?

The official languages in Timor-Leste are Portuguese and Tetum. In Nigeria, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

NG TL
Population 225,082,083 1,445,006
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English Portuguese, Tetum
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +234 +670
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112