The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the introduction of a $15 daily fine for foreign nationals who overstay their visas, beginning 1 September 2025. The move forms part of broader reforms to tighten immigration controls and enhance compliance with Nigeria’s visa regulations.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by A. S. Akinlabi, the Public Relations Officer at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja. The penalty follows the recent launch of a digital e-Visa system and the implementation of automated landing and exit cards, both of which came into effect on 1 May 2025.
Under the revised guidelines, foreign visitors who remain in Nigeria beyond their authorised visa period will incur a daily fine of $15. The policy further stipulates that individuals who overstay for three months or more will be liable to the daily fine and a five-year ban from re-entering Nigeria. Those who overstay by one year or longer will face blacklisting and a permanent entry ban, in addition to the fine.
“In addition to the introduction of the e-Visa, Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 now makes it mandatory for foreigners who overstay their visas to be liable to the following penalties (effective from 2nd August 2025): Overstay Penalties (Effective from 1st September 2025): $15 per day; 3 months & above: $15/day + 5-year entry ban; 1 year & above: $15/day + blacklisting (permanent entry ban),” the official statement read.
Although the penalties will begin on 1 September, the tracking system to monitor overstays will be activated one month earlier, on 2 August 2025. This technological upgrade will allow automatic enforcement of penalties, including entry bans, through integration with the Visa Processing Centre.
To ease the transition, the NIS has introduced a three-month amnesty period from 1 May to 1 August 2025. During this window, foreigners with expired visas are allowed to leave Nigeria voluntarily without facing any fines or punitive action.
The reformed visa policy also discontinues the existing Visa on Arrival scheme, replacing it with 13 distinct categories of Short Visit Visas (SVVs). The entire application process has now moved online, with e-Visas expected to be processed within 48 hours and approved visas sent via email in the form of QR-coded documents.
As part of the new travel protocols, all travellers entering or exiting Nigeria are now required to complete electronic landing and exit cards at https://lecard.immigration.gov.ng. Incoming foreign nationals must complete the landing card before boarding, while departing passengers must fill out the exit card before leaving the country.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has urged all stakeholders and international visitors to ensure full adherence to the updated policies. The agency reiterated its commitment to creating a transparent, efficient, and secure immigration system that reflects global standards.