NIS Begins Crackdown On Foreigners With Expired Visas

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced a nationwide enforcement exercise targeting foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or violated entry conditions, following the expiration of the Federal Government’s Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty) on 30 September 2025.

The initiative, introduced in May 2025, offered foreigners with expired immigration status an opportunity to regularise their stay or leave the country without incurring penalties. Initially slated to run for three months, the grace period was later extended to 30 September.

In a statement signed by NIS spokesperson, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) Kinsola Akinlabi, the Service confirmed that enforcement operations began across the country on 1 October. The exercise targets holders of expired Visas on Arrival, expired short-visit or business visas, and lapsed Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permit and Alien Cards (CERPAC).

Penalties for offenders include:

Less than 3 months overstay: removal, a daily fine of $15, or a two-year entry ban;

3 months to 1 year: removal, a daily fine of $15, or a five-year ban;

Over 1 year: removal, a ten-year ban, or a permanent ban.

The NIS warned that foreigners who fail to regularise their immigration status will face sanctions ranging from fines to deportation and entry restrictions.

According to the Service, the crackdown forms part of broader immigration reforms, including the transition to e-Visas and automated processes, designed to enhance national security and ensure compliance with Nigeria’s immigration laws.