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Amnesty window for visa overstayers ends July 31
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Over 14,000 electronic visas approved within six weeks
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FG to enforce $15 daily fine and multi-year re-entry bans for violators
The Federal Government has announced that beginning August 1, 2025, foreigners who have overstayed their visas in Nigeria will face strict penalties, including daily fines and long-term bans.
However, to give affected individuals a fair opportunity to comply, the government has launched an online immigration amnesty portal throughout July, allowing visa overstayers to regularise their status before enforcement begins.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this at a stakeholder sensitisation forum held at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja.
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He revealed that over 14,000 electronic visa (e-visa) applications had already been processed within the first six weeks of the new digital regime.
According to him, the amnesty window—running until July 31—is a one-time opportunity to avoid fines and other legal consequences.
He urged diplomatic missions to inform their nationals to take advantage of the grace period, adding that once it expires, the law would be enforced in full.
As part of the implementation, any foreigner who remains in Nigeria past the expiration of their visa from August 1 will be required to pay a $15 daily surcharge.
In addition, individuals who overstay for more than six months face a five-year re-entry ban, while overstays beyond one year attract a 10-year ban, based on newly published NIS guidelines.
The new portal allows holders of expired visa-on-arrival permits, lapsed single-entry visas, or overdue expatriate residence cards to regularise their stay online.
Users can upload required documentation and obtain clearance without visiting an immigration office physically.
Dr Tunji-Ojo also disclosed that Nigeria had cancelled its manual archiving contract for visa and passport records, saving the government nearly ₦1 billion annually.
He explained that automation has now enabled security officials to verify data ahead of time and track anomalies more effectively.
The e-passport automation initiative, which began officially on January 8, 2024, has seen Nigeria transition fully to an online application and screening system.
Applicants now complete the process from form submission to payment and document upload online, while biometric capture and booklet collection are scheduled in 20-minute intervals.
The backlog of over 204,000 passports was cleared in late 2024, and by May 2025, the Ministry said 99% of passport issuance was fully digital.
Commenting on the broader impact of the reforms, the minister said the changes had “cured the madness of scarcity” and put an end to corruption linked to document processing.
He recounted that previously, desperate applicants were forced to pay up to ₦500,000 to touts for services worth far less, but the digitised system has dismantled those exploitative practices.
The Federal Government has also finalised plans to automate both the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) and the Temporary Work Permit (TWP).
These digital tools are expected to prevent past abuses, particularly the repeated renewal of TWP as a loophole to evade immigration laws.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, confirmed that the reforms include the rollout of e-Gates at airports, an advanced command and control centre, and new exit/landing cards.
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She noted that these features would drastically improve security, operational speed, and user experience.
Nandap further explained that the e-Visa system eliminates physical visits for applicants, while the e-CERPAC simplifies the residency process by merging multiple documents into a single digital format.
The e-TWP, she added, will significantly reduce processing time and close the gaps that once encouraged abuse of Nigeria’s immigration framework.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the digital shift is not just about convenience, but a deliberate strategy to protect national security and foster economic growth. “You must make it easy without compromising security. That is the balance we’re striking,” he said, vowing that the reforms are irreversible.
He revealed that technical teams, including immigration leadership and ICT partners, are working around the clock even holding sessions at his personal residence to fine-tune the system and ensure that every aspect performs seamlessly.
“Nigeria must not be a country where someone needs to know the Minister or the CG to get a visa,” he stated.
