Nigeria Immigration Service Begins Nationwide Crackdown On Visa Overstays After Amnesty
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the start of nationwide enforcement against foreigners who have overstayed their visas or breached immigration regulations, following the conclusion of the Federal Government’s visa amnesty programme.
The amnesty, which ran from July 5 to September 30, 2025, allowed foreign nationals with expired immigration documents to regularize their status without penalties. The programme officially ended at midnight on September 30.
In a statement issued Tuesday just before the deadline, NIS Public Relations Officer ACI Akinsola Akinlabi confirmed that enforcement operations would commence on October 1. The initiative will target holders of expired Visa on Arrival (VoA), single or multiple-entry short visit and business visas, as well as individuals with expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permits and Automated Cards (CERPAC).
Foreign nationals found violating immigration laws face sanctions including deportation, payment of fines, or restrictions on future entry. The NIS outlined the penalties as follows:
- Less than three months’ overstay: removal, $15 per day fine, or a two-year entry ban.
- Three months to one year: removal, $15 per day fine, or a five-year entry ban.
- Over one year: removal and a 10-year or permanent entry ban.
The agency stressed that the enforcement is aimed at ensuring lawful migration, protecting national security, and promoting transparency within Nigeria’s immigration system.
