The Federal Government has declared that, starting August 2025, individuals who overstay their visas in Nigeria will face a daily penalty of $15 and may be barred from re-entering the country for up to ten years. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ engagement held on Friday at NECA House in Lagos.
The session addressed ongoing immigration reforms led by the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), including revisions to the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2025 and the Expatriate Quota framework. While the policy is set to take effect in May 2025, a grace period extending to August will be observed to give affected individuals time to comply.
“This grace period will allow visa holders to adjust before full enforcement begins,” Tunji-Ojo said. The NVP 2025 introduces a structured penalty framework aimed at deterring visa misuse. Under the revised rules, each day of overstay will attract a $15 fine. More severe penalties await those who significantly exceed their visa terms—overstaying by three months will result in a five-year entry ban, while overstaying for a year or more will lead to a ten-year ban.
The minister emphasized that these reforms are part of broader efforts to enhance migration management, bolster national security, and encourage lawful residency. The Nigeria Immigration Service will be responsible for enforcing the new measures and ensuring compliance.
