Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with Ministry of Interior, has announced a five-month amnesty programme for foreigners with expired visas or immigration violations.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initiative, which began on May 1 and runs until September 30, 2025, allows foreigners to regularise their status without penalties.
In a statement on Sunday, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi said the amnesty covers three main groups: those with expired visa-on-arrival permits, individuals holding expired single or multiple-entry visas, and expatriates whose Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) has lapsed for over 30 days.
The service advised affected individuals to visit this website to regularise their stay within the grace period and avoid overstay penalties.
The statement added, “To ease the process, the Nigeria Immigration Service has deployed a dedicated support team to assist applicants, while reaffirming its commitment to promoting lawful migration, ensuring national security, and fostering a transparent and efficient immigration system.”
The amnesty precedes the full enforcement of overstay penalties announced earlier in May, following the launch of the agency’s automated landing and departure card system for travellers.
Previously, the NIS offered a three-month grace period—running from May 1 to August 1—during which foreigners with expired visas could voluntarily exit the country without facing sanctions.
However, beginning September 1, overstay penalties will be enforced. These include a $15 daily fee for overstayers, a five-year entry ban for those who stay beyond three months illegally, and a lifetime ban for those who overstay by more than one year.
