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Nigeria Immigration Sets September 30 Deadline Visa Amnesty to Foreigners with Expired Documents

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled the Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty), a special provision for foreigners residing in Nigeria with expired immigration documents, permitting them to regularize their status without incurring penalties.

 

This announcement was made in a press release signed by ACI AS Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, dated July 5, 2025.

 

As per the statement, the initiative began on May 1, 2025, and will conclude on September 30, 2025.

 

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“In an effort to promote adherence to the New Visa Regime and strengthen a secure and transparent migration framework, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, announces the Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty). This initiative offers a unique opportunity for foreigners currently residing in Nigeria with expired immigration status to regularize their stay without penalties.

 

The initiative, which commenced on May 1, 2025, remains effective until September 30, 2025, and specifically targets individuals who have overstayed their visas or breached their visa conditions,” the statement declared.

 

Eligible Categories for the Amnesty

The NIS specified that the amnesty pertains to the following categories of foreign nationals:

 

Individuals with expired Visa on Arrival (VoA)

Holders of expired Single and Multiple-Entry Visas

Persons with an expired Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) whose renewal has surpassed 30 days post-expiration

The Immigration Service urged affected foreigners to initiate the process of regularizing their immigration status via the official portal.

 

“All affected foreign nationals are encouraged to promptly regularize their stay through (https://amnesty.immigration.gov.ng) within the grace period to avoid overstay penalties.”

 

Additionally, the Nigeria Immigration Service has established a dedicated support team to assist applicants with the amnesty process. Foreign nationals seeking assistance can contact the team via email at: amnesty@immigration.gov.ng.

 

Essential Information

Nigeria’s immigration system has been undergoing a comprehensive transformation since late 2024. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) introduced a contactless passport application system and unveiled plans to launch an electronic visa (e-Visa) platform, aimed at reducing corruption and enhancing efficiency across immigration procedures.

 

Nairametrics reported in early May that Nigeria’s immigration has fully transitioned into its digital migration phase. The traditional visa-on-arrival was discontinued, replaced by e-Visas, and travelers were required to complete automated landing and exit cards as part of the new regime.

 

This shift toward digitization was accompanied by stricter enforcement measures. Commencing May 1, a pilot phase imposed a daily surcharge of $15 for all instances of visa overstay. Foreigners who overstayed by more than three months risked a five-year re-entry ban, while those whose stay exceeded twelve months faced a ten-year blacklist.

 

To allow time for compliance, the government provided a three-month grace period from May 1 to July 31 during which affected individuals could regularize their immigration status without incurring any penalties.

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