Nigeria visa: 455 expatriates leave, 142 regularise stay as FG cracks down on overstayers
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed that 455 foreign nationals voluntarily exited the country, while 142 others regularised their stay under the federal government’s post-amnesty exercise.
This comes as the Service begins a nationwide crackdown on foreigners who failed to take advantage of the visa amnesty window to renew or legalise their residency status, in line with government efforts to strengthen migration management and national security.
Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, D.N. Olanrewaju, disclosed the figures on Tuesday during a Stakeholders’ Sensitisation on Expatriate Quota Reform, New Visa Regime, and Post-Amnesty Programme held in Abuja.
He said a total of 3,500 foreign nationals with expired visas had approached the Service during the five-month amnesty window to either regularise their stay or voluntarily leave the country.
“Out of the 3,500 individuals who presented themselves for the process, 597 completed registration, with 455 opting to voluntarily exit Nigeria and 142 successfully regularising their immigration status,” Olanrewaju said.
He explained that the federal government had provided a five-month grace period, from May 1 to September 30, allowing visa violators to either regularise their documents or exit the country without penalty.
“Despite the generous window and widespread publicity, a significant number of visa overstayers remain non-compliant.
“The enforcement phase has commenced. It requires discipline, commitment, and uniform action,” Olanrewaju added.
The visa amnesty programme, announced earlier this year, formed part of immigration reform initiative to modernise visa management, streamline expatriate quota processes, and enhance national security.
In June 2025, the federal government launched plans for an online immigration amnesty portal to enable foreigners who had overstayed their visas to legalise their status before penalties took effect on August 1.
However, the deadline was later extended to October 1 to allow more applicants to participate.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Interior Minister, had earlier warned that once the amnesty period ended, enforcement would be total.
“Once the amnesty period is over, we will implement the law 100 per cent, and of course, there will be a penalty for overstaying in Nigeria,” he said, urging members of the diplomatic corps to encourage their nationals to take advantage of the programme.
The reform, first unveiled in April, introduced a $15 daily surcharge for each day a visitor remains in the country beyond the authorised date in their passport.
However, the government granted a three-month moratorium, valid until July 31, to allow defaulters to regularise without penalty.
Following the expiration of the amnesty period, the NIS has now launched the Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme, which began on October 13, 2025.
The initiative gives foreigners who missed the amnesty window another opportunity to come forward voluntarily before facing sanctions.
“This new phase allows those who missed the amnesty to document themselves and explain why they couldn’t regularise earlier.
“Genuine cases will be treated on merit, but others will be required to pay penalties or exit the country. The idea is to ensure compliance while preventing unnecessary entry bans,” Olanrewaju explained.
He also cautioned employers and sponsors of expatriates against harbouring or aiding irregular migrants, noting that such acts constitute offences under the Immigration Act.
He said immigration officers at all exit points have been directed to verify travellers’ entry and residence permit details and confirm whether they benefited from the amnesty before departure.
Kemi Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, described the visa amnesty as a deliberate policy of the federal government to assist irregular migrants in regularising their stay or leaving the country without penalties.
“The Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme follows a five-month Amnesty window from May 1 to September 30, 2025.
“It was a deliberate magnanimous policy of the federal government for migrants with irregular immigration status in Nigeria to either regularise their stay or leave the country without encumbrances”, Nandap said.
She explained that the programme, introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is part of broader reforms to improve border governance and migration management.
“These include the new visa regime, the introduction of electronic residence and work permits (e-CERPAC and e-TWP), and the rollout of digital landing and exit cards for real-time verification and tracking”, she added.
According to Nandap, the ongoing Expatriate Quota Reform seeks to automate and speed up the approval process for foreign workers while ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s labour laws.
“The reform re-engineers the expatriate monitoring process, eliminating waiting times for regularisation and enhancing accountability,” she said.
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She noted that the sensitisation forum was organised to provide accurate information to employers, companies, and other stakeholders hosting foreign nationals.
“We want every organisation to understand visa validity periods, documentation requirements, and penalties for overstay. We are committed to building a more efficient, secure, and traveller-friendly immigration system that enhances national security and supports economic growth,” Nandap added.
Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), commended the government for its balanced approach to migration control, describing the amnesty and post-amnesty initiatives as “restorative, not punitive.”
“This initiative offers foreign nationals who may have fallen out of compliance with immigration regulations a lawful path to regularisation while reinforcing Nigeria’s sovereignty and adherence to the rule of law,” Oyerinde said.
