Nigeria to Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Foreign Residents, Visa Overstayers
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that it will begin mass deportations of foreign nationals who failed to regularise their stay in the country, following the expiration of the Federal Government’s three-month amnesty programme on October 1, 2025.
According to NIS spokesman Akinsola Akinlabi, enforcement operations will target visa overstayers and individuals who violated entry conditions. Offenders face fines, deportation, and in some cases, lifetime entry bans.
“With the expiration of the amnesty period, effective October 1, 2025, enforcement actions will commence nationwide against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visa or violated their entry conditions,” Akinlabi stated.
The directive applies to a wide range of categories, including expired visa-on-arrival, expired short visit or business visas, and lapsed Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permit and Automated Cards (CERPAC).
Penalties vary depending on the length of overstay:
- Less than three months: removal, a $15 daily fine, or a two-year entry ban.
- Between three months and one year: removal, a $15 daily fine, or a five-year entry ban.
- More than one year: removal, a 10-year entry ban, or a permanent ban from Nigeria.
Akinlabi emphasized that the enforcement is designed to protect national security and strengthen Nigeria’s migration system.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to enforcing the law, protecting national interests, and promoting transparency and efficiency across all immigration processes,” he added.
