The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has begun nationwide operations targeting foreigners who have overstayed their visas or violated immigration regulations, following the end 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 window officially closed at midnight on September 30.
In a statement issued Tuesday just before the deadline, NIS Public Relations Officer ACI Akinsola Akinlabi confirmed that enforcement actions would commence on October 1. The operations will focus on individuals holding expired Visa on Arrival (VoA), single or multiple-entry short visit and business visas, as well as those with expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permits and Automated Cards (CERPAC).
Foreign nationals found in breach of immigration laws face sanctions including deportation, fines, or restrictions on future entry. The NIS outlined the penalty framework 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 part of efforts to ensure compliance with immigration laws, protect national security, and maintain transparency in Nigeria’s immigration system.
