The Federal Government has announced new penalties for travellers who overstay their visas, including a $15 daily fine and potential ban of up to ten years, effective from August 2025.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a stakeholders’ engagement held on Friday at NECA House in Lagos.
The meeting, which brought together officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), foreign missions, and private sector players in the travel and immigration industry, focused on ongoing reforms, particularly the Expatriate Quota and the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2025.
According to Tunji-Ojo, while the new penalty system technically takes effect from May, the government has introduced a grace period that will run until August to give visa holders adequate time to familiarise themselves with the new rules.
“Visa overstayers will be fined $15 for each day they remain in Nigeria beyond the expiration of their visa. Those who overstay for three months will face a five-year re-entry ban, while anyone who overstays for a year or more will be banned for ten years,” the minister stated.
He stressed that the revised policy aims to curb visa abuse, enhance national security, and promote a culture of responsible migration. The NIS will be tasked with monitoring and enforcing the penalties.
The NVP 2025 also includes a complete digitisation of the visa application process. Travellers can now apply for visas online, monitor the status of their applications in real-time, and receive electronic approvals —a move, the minister said is expected to streamline operations and improve transparency.
Tunji-Ojo assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s immigration framework to reflect global standards and better serve national interests.
FG To Foreigners: Overstay Your Visa, Pay $15 Fine Per Day is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
