Daily fines plus deportation: Nigeria unleashes crackdown on foreigners overstaying visas
Nigeria has launched a nationwide crackdown on foreigners who have overstayed their visas, just hours after a five-month amnesty period expired on September 30.
The operation, led by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), signals the government’s zero-tolerance approach toward visa violations, with deportations, fines, and multi-year entry bans now in effect, according to media reports.
The amnesty program, which ran from May 1, allowed foreign nationals with expired visas, including Visa on Arrival (VoA), single and multiple-entry visas, and Comprehensive Expatriate Residence Permits (CERPAC), to regularize their stay without penalties. With the amnesty window now closed, enforcement actions commenced immediately.
Foreign nationals found violating Nigeria’s immigration laws now face strict penalties based on the length of their overstay. Those who have overstayed for less than three months face deportation, a daily fine of US$15 (almost R300) for every day overstayed, or a two-year entry ban.
Overstays between three months and one year carry deportation, a daily fine of $15 per day, or a five-year entry ban.
For those who have overstayed more than a year, the penalty is deportation, a daily fine of $15 per day, or a 10-year entry ban.
The daily fine applies for every day the foreign national remains in Nigeria beyond the visa expiry date, making prolonged overstays extremely costly.
The crackdown is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader effort to strengthen border security and formalize the expatriate workforce.
According to Reuters, in recent months, the NIS has deported foreign nationals involved in illegal activities, including cybercrime, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws.
Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria are being urged to check the status of their visas immediately and take the necessary steps to regularize their stay to avoid severe penalties.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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