The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has kicked off a nationwide crackdown on foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or breached entry conditions, following the expiration of a five-month amnesty window.
In a statement, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi said the grace period, which ran from May 1 to September 30, allowed foreigners to regularise their stay without penalties. With the deadline now over, enforcement operations have begun across the country.
The clampdown targets holders of expired visas on arrival, short-visit and business visas, as well as those with lapsed expatriate residence permits (CERPAC).
Sanctions include deportation, daily fines, and future entry bans. Offenders who overstayed by less than three months face removal, a $15 daily fine, or a two-year entry ban. Those staying illegally for between three months and one year risk deportation, fines, or a five-year entry ban.
For foreigners who have overstayed beyond a year, the consequences are even tougher: removal and bans lasting up to a decade — or in some cases, a permanent prohibition from entering Nigeria.
Akinlabi stressed that the NIS remains committed to lawful migration, national security, and transparent immigration processes.
