Nigeria Introduces Stricter Immigration Rules To Curb Visa Overstays.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new set of immigration reforms aimed at curbing visa overstays and strengthening expatriate regulation in the country.
Speaking in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced that foreigners who overstay their visas by more than six months will now face a five-year entry ban, while those who overstay for up to a year will be subject to a 10-year ban. Additionally, a daily fine of $15 will apply from the day a visa expires. These measures will come into effect from 1 August.
The announcement was made during the unveiling of the Ministry’s new **Expatriate Administration System**, a major reform initiative introduced during a meeting with stakeholders and the Organised Private Sector.
“Our records indicate fewer than 50,000 expatriates in Nigeria, which we know is inaccurate,” the Minister stated. “We need to establish the true number of foreigners living in the country. A nation without reliable data cannot progress, as data is the foundation of effective planning.”
As part of the reforms, a series of modernised systems will be rolled out from 1 May to improve transparency and efficiency in Nigeria’s immigration framework. These include:
– Automated Landing and Exit Cards
– Electronic Visa (e-Visa)
– Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance
– Upgraded Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC)
– Temporary Resident Visa
– Temporary Work Permit (TWP)
– Revised Expatriate Quota System
The new policies are part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen national security, encourage compliance with immigration laws, and ensure proper documentation of all foreigners living and working in Nigeria.
Stakeholders welcomed the initiative, noting that it would also benefit the business community by creating a more structured and predictable immigration system.
