ABUJA — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched nationwide enforcement against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or breached entry conditions, following the expiration of the Federal Government’s visa amnesty at midnight on September 30, 2025.
In a statement issued just before the deadline, Service Public Relations Officer ACI Akinsola Akinlabi said field operations would commence October 1. The sweep targets holders of expired Visa on Arrival (VoA), lapsed single- or multiple-entry visit and business visas, and foreigners with expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permits and Automated Cards (CERPAC).
The amnesty, introduced on July 5, 2025, allowed affected migrants to regularize their status without penalties. With the window now closed, violators face removal, monetary penalties, and multiyear entry bans designed to deter abuse of Nigeria’s immigration system.
Penalty framework announced by NIS:
- Overstay under 3 months: Removal, $15/day overstay fine, or a 2-year entry ban.
- Overstay 3 months to 1 year: Removal, $15/day overstay fine, or a 5-year entry ban.
- Overstay 1 year and above: Removal and a 10-year or permanent entry ban.
Akinlabi said the measures aim to “ensure lawful migration, safeguard national security, and promote transparency” in Nigeria’s immigration regime. The Service urged all foreign nationals to keep valid documents on their person and to regularize promptly where eligible pathways remain.
NIS operatives will conduct checks at ports of entry, workplaces, and other locations nationwide, the statement added.
