Nigeria to Impose 10-Year Ban, $15 Daily Fine for Visa Overstays

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced strict immigration penalties to curb visa overstays and enhance data tracking of expatriates, effective August 1, 2025.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) House in Ikeja, Lagos.

Under the new policy, expatriates who overstay their visas by more than six months will face a five-year entry ban, while those who remain beyond one year will be banned from re-entry for 10 years. Additionally, a $15 daily fine will apply from the expiration date of their visa.

“These measures are not punitive but necessary,” Tunji-Ojo said. “We must track overstayers and hold them accountable. People claim two-week visits but stay 30 years—this must stop.”

The initiative is part of a broader Expatriate Administration System reform rolling out May 1, including:

• Automated Landing and Exit Cards
• Electronic Visa (e-Visa) with 48-hour processing
• Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance Policy
• Upgraded Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC)
• New Expatriate Quota System

Tunji-Ojo stressed that employers will also be liable for immigration violations by foreign staff. A three-month grace period will be granted for expatriates to regularize their stay before strict enforcement begins in August.

“The e-visa system replaces visa-on-arrival to curb corruption and simplify access. It’s a seamless, secure, and digital-first approach,” he added.

The Expatriate Insurance Policy, now mandatory, will cover repatriation costs, replacing the need for government-funded deportations. “We spent over N25 million beyond budget last month alone on repatriations,” the Minister said.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to accurate data collection, stating: “We currently estimate fewer than 50,000 expatriates in Nigeria—a figure that’s clearly inaccurate for effective planning.”

The automation of CERPAC and other systems will also integrate with Interpol to enhance national security and the monitoring of individuals with criminal records.