Breaking: Immigration Commences Enforcement Against Visa Overstayers, 3 Group of foreigners Affected

• The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced the commencement of nationwide enforcement against foreigners who have overstayed their visas
• Legit.ng understands that the development follows the expiration of the federal government’s visa amnesty initiative
• The amnesty programme, which was introduced in July, allowed foreign nationals with expired immigration documents to regularise their status without penalties

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria.

FCT, Abuja - The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced enforcement against visa overstayers in the country.

As reported by Business Day, the NIS announced the development on Tuesday, September 30, through a statement by Akinsola Akinlabi, its official spokesperson.

Immigration begins crackdown on visa overstayers

According to the agency, from Wednesday October 1, immigration authorities in Nigeria will begin taking action across the country against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or breached their entry conditions.

Vanguard also noted the update.

The NIS' statement warned that foreign nationals who breach Nigeria's immigration regulations will face penalties, which may include fines for overstaying, deportation, and potentially being barred from re-entering Nigeria in the future. It added that an overstay of under three months may result in removal from the country, a fee of $15 for every day beyond the allowed stay, or violators choose a two-year entry ban as an alternative.

Furthermore, for stays ranging from three months to one year, individuals may face consequences such as deportation, a daily fine of $15 (about N22,300), or a choice of a five-year ban on entry.

Also, if the absence lasts for more than one year, it may result in removal and a potential re-entry ban of 10 years or a permanent restriction on entry.

Legit.ng understands that the enforcement action will be applicable to the groups of foreign nationals listed below:

1. Holders of expired Visa on Arrival (VoA).
2. Holders of expired Single and Multiple-Entry Short Visit or Business Visas.
3. Individuals with expired Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permit and Automated Card (CERPAC).

Legit.ng reports that apart from the enforecement against visa overstayers, other reforms by the NIS include passport fee increases to fund modernisation, and a broader push to improve service delivery, tackle corruption, and enhance national security by creating a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive immigration system.

The full statement by the NIS can be read below:

Read more on Nigeria Immigration Service:

• Immigration issues fresh warning to Nigerians over US visas, "you must strictly adhere"
• Nigeria Immigration targets one-week passport delivery with new centralised system
• Alleged ritual killings: Immigration nabs fleeing native doctor near Seme border

Immigration targets 1-week passport delivery

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the NIS unveiled plans to issue passports within one week following the launch of a fully centralised production system, the first of its kind in the agency’s 62-year history.

Minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development after inspecting the new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.

He said the facility is fully operational and designed to transform passport processing across the country.

Source: Legit.ng