Nigeria Immigration Service launches resident permit application portal

In a major stride toward modernizing the nation’s immigration process, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled a new digital platform for the application and processing of the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).

This innovative platform is designed to streamline and simplify the process for expatriates residing in Nigeria, making it more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly.

NIS’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) Kenneth Akinlabi, in a statement on Wednesday, said the new platform, https://cerpac.immigration.gov.ng, is live and will enable applicants to complete and submit CERPAC applications electronically.

Akinlabi stressed that the move aims to enhance transparency, improve operational efficiency, and ensure a seamless user experience for individuals and corporate entities seeking expatriate permits.

The Service had, in May 2025, introduced a new penalty for visa overstays, maintaining that beginning from September 1, 2025, foreigners who exceed their approved stay in Nigeria will incur a daily fine of $15.

NIS also announced that beginning from August 1, 2025, all CERPAC applications must be submitted exclusively through the new online portal, as physical applications will no longer be accepted.

Applicants who have already paid for physical CERPAC forms but yet to submit them have been mandated to do so on or before July 31, 2025, or risk forfeiting both their application status and associated fees.

Companies and individuals responsible for processing permits on behalf of expatriates were similarly asked to ensure that all pending submissions are completed before the deadline to avoid disruptions.

The Service emphasised that any un-submitted CERPAC form after the deadline will be rendered void and invalid.

“All enquiries and correspondence on this matter should be directed to the Service through the office of the Public Relations Officer,” the statement added.