Immigration service begins nationwide crackdown on foreigners with expired visas

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a nationwide enforcement drive targeting foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or breached entry conditions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NIS confirmed that the move follows the expiration of the Federal Government’s Expired Visa Initiative, which officially ended at midnight on September 30.

The initiative, introduced on July 5, 2025, offered an amnesty period during which foreigners with expired visas or irregular immigration status could regularise their stay in Nigeria without facing penalties. With the grace period now over, the immigration authorities say strict enforcement will begin immediately.

The agency stated that the enforcement exercise, effective October 1, would target specific categories of foreigners.

This, it said, included holders of expired visas on arrival, holders of expired single- and multiple-entry short-visit or business visas, as well as individuals with expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permits and automated cards.

The agency said that foreign nationals found to have violated immigration laws would face sanctions, including payment of overstay penalties, removal from the country, and possible restrictions on future entry into Nigeria.

Overstaying for less than three months results in removal, a fine of $15 per day for each day overstayed, or a two-year entry ban.

Overstaying between three months and one year attracts removal, a $15-per-day penalty, or a five-year entry ban.

Overstaying for one year or more attracts removal and a 10-year or permanent entry ban.

The statement reiterated NIS’s commitment to ensuring lawful migration, safeguarding national security, and promoting transparency and efficiency across all immigration processes.

(NAN)