FG Imposes 10-Year Entry Bans for Visa Overstays, Announces $15 Daily Fine

• Nigerian government has announced a 5-year ban for expatriates who overstay their visas beyond six months and a 10-year ban for those who overstay their visas for one year, effective from August 2025
• A daily fine of $15 will be charged for overstaying, alongside the launch of automated landing and exit cards, electronic visas, and mandatory Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance
• The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed this in a statement and shared further details

TheTalk.NG journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Lagos state – The federal government has announced stricter immigration penalties, warning that expatriates who overstay their visas beyond six months will face a five-year entry ban, while one-year overstay of one year will attract a 10-year ban.

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo reveals new visa law.
Photo credit: Olubunmi Tunji-OjoSource: Facebook

According to the federal government, any of the overstays will incur a daily fine of $15, starting from the visa’s stated exit date.

The penalty will take effect from August 1, 2025, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed.

As reported by The Punch, Tunji-Ojo made the announcement while unveiling the Ministry of Interior’s new Expatriate Administration System during a meeting with the Organised Private Sector and other stakeholders at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association House in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, April 11.

FG announces $15 daily fine new immigration policy.
Photo credit: Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, LinkedIn (Larry Madowo)Source: Facebook

“If you overstay, there will be consequences. Overstaying by six months attracts a five-year ban; one year attracts a 10-year ban. There is also a $15 daily overstay penalty. People claim to be visiting Nigeria for two weeks but stay for 30 years working — that must end.

“While the new measures take effect from May 1, a three-month moratorium will be given to allow expatriates to regularise their status before strict enforcement begins in August,” Tunji-Ojo said.

Among the reforms set to roll out from May 1 are the automated Landing and Exit Cards, Electronic Visa, Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance, and an upgraded Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card.

Speaking further, the minister added that the measures aimed to curb visa overstays and obtain accurate data on expatriates in Nigeria.

Under the new system, the minister explained that Landing and Exit Cards would be automated, adding that expatriates must exit the country on or before their visa expiry date and apply for extensions only from outside Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo added that the automated process would help track overstayers.

Read more about visas here:

US announces 4 new requirements for visa interviews for Nigerians

Meanwhile, TheTalk.NG reported that the United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced four major requirements for Nigerians applying for its visa interviews.

These four announcements were disclosed on the commission’s website on Friday, April 11, adding that they will take effect on Tuesday, April 22.

According to the US Mission in Nigeria, interested applicants are to adhere to the requirements to avoid unwanted consequences.

Source: TheTalk.NG

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