The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that it will commence nationwide enforcement against visa overstayers following the expiration of the federal government’s three-month visa amnesty programme on October 1, 2025.
In a statement on Wednesday, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi said foreign nationals who failed to regularise their immigration status during the amnesty window now face penalties ranging from fines to deportation and entry bans.
“With the expiration of the amnesty period, effective October 1, 2025, enforcement actions will commence nationwide against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visa or violated their entry conditions,” Akinlabi said.
The enforcement covers individuals with expired visas on arrival, expired single- and multiple-entry short visit or business visas, as well as holders of lapsed Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permit and Automated Cards (CERPAC).
According to the NIS, foreigners who overstayed by less than three months risk removal, a daily fine of $15, or a two-year entry ban. Overstayers of between three months and one year face removal, a $15 daily fine, or a five-year ban, while those who have overstayed for more than a year face removal, a 10-year ban, or a permanent ban from Nigeria.
The service said the crackdown is intended to safeguard national security and ensure compliance with immigration laws. “The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to enforcing the law, protecting national interests, and promoting transparency and efficiency across all immigration processes,” Akinlabi added.
