The Federal Government has announced stringent new measures to curb visa violations by foreign nationals, including the imposition of a $15 daily fine and a lifetime ban for those who overstay their visas for a year or more.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the NECA House in Lagos, where he unveiled major reforms under the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2025 and immigration management systems.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the new sanctions—part of broader efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s immigration system—will take effect in May 2025, with a three-month amnesty period lasting until August 1.
“From the first of August, anybody that does not take advantage of the amnesty period of three months will face penalties,” the minister stated.
“If you’ve overstayed your visa, it’s $15 per day. If it’s more than three months, expect a five-year ban. And if you’ve stayed over a year, don’t come back again—Nigeria is not a haven for violators.”
He stressed that the intention of the policy was not to punish, but to regularise the stay of foreign nationals in the country, ensuring the government has accurate data on the number of foreigners residing in Nigeria.
As part of the sweeping reforms, Tunji-Ojo also announced the full digitalisation of the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) application process, set to commence on May 1.
“Your CERPAC will be filled and submitted online. Payments will be made online. The era of buying paper forms, going to the bank, and physically submitting them is over,” he said.
The minister assured that there would be no increase in CERPAC fees, but warned applicants with criminal backgrounds to steer clear of the process, as the application system would be linked with Interpol and other international crime databases.
“If you know you have criminal issues, do not apply for CERPAC. Nigeria will not be a safe haven for anyone wanted elsewhere,” he warned.
In addition, the minister declared that employers would be held accountable for the immigration status of their expatriate workers, aligning Nigeria’s policy with international best practices.
The federal government said these reforms are part of efforts to restore integrity, transparency, and efficiency to the country’s immigration system.
“We’ve been working on this for over a year, studying global best practices,” Tunji-Ojo noted, while assuring that Nigeria remains open to genuine foreigners who comply with the country’s immigration laws.
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