Law in Niger

Law in Niger covers rules for work, migration, crime, purchases and private relationships. Labor law regulates employment, immigration law governs entry and residence, criminal law addresses offences and sanctions, consumer protection covers goods and services, and civil law governs matters such as contracts, property, family and inheritance. The applicable rule may also depend on public-service status, customary rules, OHADA business law or a ratified convention.

Tip

Start by classifying the matter in Niger according to the relationship and outcome involved, because the classification determines which rules, documents and procedure to use. Keep employment, residence, criminal, consumer and private-law issues separate unless the facts genuinely overlap. Record the facts and preserve the relevant documents before choosing an authority or remedy.

Labor law

Labor law covers contracts, working time, pay, leave and dismissal.

Immigration law

Immigration law in Niger governs entry, visas, residence, work, study, protection, nationality and removal. The current national framework is based on Ordonnance N° 2025-02 of 13 January 2025, which replaced Ordonnance N° 81-40, together with implementing Décret N° 2025-739 dated 26 December 2025. The applicable procedure depends on the purpose of stay, nationality, documents, and protection or security status.

Right of residence

Criminal law

Criminal law in Niger defines offences, personal responsibility, investigation, prosecution, sanctions and the rights of accused, convicted and harmed persons. The current primary codification is Ordonnance n°2026-09 of 9 February 2026, together with Ordonnance n°2026-10 of 10 February 2026 on criminal procedure. Special laws also regulate terrorism, trafficking, cybercrime and road offences.

Consumer protection

Consumer protection in Niger covers purchases, contracts, services, digital offers, energy, financial services and health products. Consumers have rights to reliable information, displayed prices, receipts, safe and correctly labeled goods, after-sales service and warranty protection. Complaints can begin with the supplier and continue through the Ministère du Commerce et de l’Industrie, the free national 808 hotline or a sector regulator.

Civil law

Civil law in Niger governs private relationships involving people and organisations, including contracts, property, family, inheritance, liability, court proceedings and enforcement. Its sources include national statutes, the inherited French Civil Code of 1804, customary rules called coutume and local usages. Rules of public order, ratified conventions and enacted legislation prevail where they apply. Business matters also follow OHADA rules, while purely civil matters often require case-specific assessment because Niger has no single comprehensive modern civil code.