The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced August 1, 2025, as the deadline for foreign nationals to regularise their immigration status, warning that strict penalties will follow for those who overstay their visas beyond the grace period.

 

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum held at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters. He revealed that an online immigration amnesty portal will go live in early July, allowing affected individuals to update their status without penalty until the deadline.

 

“Once the amnesty period is over, we will implement the law 100 per cent, and of course, there will be a penalty for overstaying in Nigeria,” Tunji-Ojo warned.

 

 

 

Penalties for Overstaying

 

As outlined in the NIS implementation guidelines, from August 1:

 

Overstayers will incur a $15 daily surcharge (already in effect since May 1).

 

Those who overstay six months face a five-year re-entry ban.

 

Those who overstay one year or more face a 10-year re-entry ban.

 

 

The amnesty window, introduced in April 2025 as part of a broader reform package, allows foreigners with expired visas, such as visa-on-arrival, single-entry permits, or residence cards, to apply online for a stay permit, upload documents, and receive clearance without visiting NIS offices.

 

Visa and Passport Automation Gains Ground

 

The minister also highlighted major strides in Nigeria’s immigration digitisation drive, including:

 

Over 14,000 e-visa applications processed in six weeks.

 

204,000 passport backlogs cleared as of late 2024.

 

99% of passport issuance now fully digitised.

 

Rollout of contactless renewals using facial recognition, launched in April 2025.

 

Cancellation of a ₦1 billion annual manual archiving contract.

 

 

“If you want to kill corruption, kill scarcity,” Tunji-Ojo said, referencing past practices where desperate applicants paid exorbitant sums to obtain passports.

 

 

 

e-CERPAC and Temporary Work Permit Go Digital

 

The Federal Government also announced the automation of the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) and the Temporary Work Permit (TWP) systems, to prevent abuse and eliminate manual renewals.

 

“That era when people will come on TWP almost for free and keep renewing to evade the law is gone,” the minister said.

 

 

 

Immigration Service Enhancements

 

NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, listed additional innovations such as:

 

e-Visa Application Portal

 

Digital Landing and Exit Cards

 

e-Gates at major airports

 

Centralised Command and Control Centre

 

 

She said the reforms are designed to improve transparency, enhance security, and ease access for legitimate travellers.

 

“The e-CERPAC integrates residence permits into a digital document, simplifying the process for foreign nationals residing in Nigeria,” Nandap added.

 

 

 

Commitment to Innovation

 

Tunji-Ojo disclosed that top officials worked over the weekend, even from his home, to fine-tune the immigration technology rollout.

 

“We are ready for the challenge… Innovation doesn’t sleep,” he stated, assuring stakeholders of the system’s long-term viability and its potential to boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness.