NIS begins nationwide enforcement against overstayed foreigners

Following closure of the Federal Government’s visa amnesty on September 30, 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has begun nationwide enforcement against foreigners who overstayed their visas or violated immigration rules.

The amnesty, introduced on July 5, 2025, gave non-citizens with expired documents an opportunity to regularise their status without facing penalties.

In a statement released late Tuesday, minutes before the deadline, NIS spokesperson ACI Akinsola Akinlabi confirmed that officers would commence operations on October 1, targeting holders of expired Visa on Arrival, expired single or multiple-entry short-visit and business visas, and those with expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permits and Automated Cards (CERPAC).

Offenders now face removal from Nigeria, daily fines, and bans on future entry.

According to the Service’s penalty framework: “Three months to one year: removal, payment of $15 per day, or a five-year entry ban. One year and above: removal and a 10-year or permanent entry ban.”

The NIS explained that the measure is part of efforts to ensure compliance with migration laws, adding that the crackdown on Visa overstayers is expected to promote lawful residence, safeguard national security, and support transparency in Nigeria’s immigration processes.

Source: Tribune