The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched the Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty), a particular visa amnesty window for foreigners at the moment residing in Nigeria with expired immigration paperwork, permitting them to regularize their keep with out dealing with penalties.
This was disclosed in a press assertion signed by ACI AS Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer on the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, and dated July 5, 2025.
In line with the assertion, the initiative commenced on Might 1, 2025, and can finish on September 30, 2025.
“In a bid to reinforce compliance with the New Visa Regime and reinforce a safe and clear migration system, the Federal Authorities via the Ministry of Inside and the Nigeria Immigration Service, declares an Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty). This initiative supplies a singular window for foreigners at the moment residing in Nigeria with expired immigration standing to regularize their keep with out dealing with penalties.
The initiative, which commenced on 1st Might 2025, runs till thirtieth September 2025, and particularly applies to people who’ve both overstayed their visas or violated their visa circumstances,” the assertion learn.
The NIS clarified that the amnesty applies to the next classes of overseas nationals:
The Immigration Service urged affected foreigners to start the method of regularizing their immigration standing by way of the official portal
“All affected overseas nationals are urged to promptly regularize their keep via (https://amnesty.immigration.gov.ng) throughout the grace interval to keep away from overstay penalties.”
As well as, the Nigeria Immigration Service has arrange a devoted help staff to help candidates with the amnesty course of. Overseas nationals looking for assist can contact the staff by way of electronic mail at: [email protected].
Nigeria’s immigration system has been present process a sweeping overhaul since late 2024. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) launched a contactless passport software system and unveiled plans to launch an digital visa (e-Visa) platform, aimed toward curbing corruption and enhancing effectivity throughout immigration processes.
Nairametrics reported in early Might that Nigeria’s immigration has totally transitioned into its digital migration part. The standard visa-on-arrival was discontinued, changed by e‑Visas, and vacationers had been mandated to finish automated touchdown and exit playing cards as a part of the brand new regime.
This shift towards digitization was accompanied by stricter enforcement guidelines. Beginning Might 1, a pilot part launched a day by day surcharge of $15 to all situations of visa overstay. Foreigners who overstayed by greater than three months risked a five-year re-entry ban, whereas these whose keep exceeded twelve months confronted a ten-year blacklist.
To permit time for compliance, the federal government granted a three-month grace interval from Might 1 to July 31 throughout which affected people might regularize their immigration standing with out incurring any penalties.
