Federal Government Introduces 10-Year Ban, Daily $15 Fine For Visa Overstays

The Federal Government has unveiled a new crackdown on visa overstays, with stiff penalties including entry bans of up to 10 years and a $15 daily fine, effective August 1, 2025.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the sweeping reforms during a stakeholder engagement at the NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos, introducing the new Expatriate Administration System as part of broader immigration modernization.

Under the new policy:

Overstaying a visa by six months will attract a five-year entry ban.

Overstaying by one year results in a 10-year ban.

A $15 daily penalty applies from the day the visa expires.

“This is not just policy—it’s enforcement,” Tunji-Ojo stated. “People claim they’re here for two weeks and end up working for 30 years. That must end.”

Automation Begins May 1

The reform rollout starts May 1 with:

Automated Landing and Exit Cards

Electronic Visa (e-Visa) system, with 48-hour processing

Mandatory Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance

Fully digitized CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Alien Card)

Revised Expatriate Quota guidelines

Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for accurate expatriate data, citing concerns about current estimates being under 50,000.

“Without reliable data, we can’t plan effectively. A country of 230 million should not rely on paper systems,” he said.

To ease the transition, the government will offer a three-month grace period for expatriates to regularize their status before enforcement begins in August.

The minister noted that while visa processes are going digital, physical interviews will remain mandatory for standard applications.

The e-Visa system replaces the often-abused visa-on-arrival program and aims to streamline tourist and business travel.“We’re removing human interference. No more lobbying. No more gatekeepers,” he said.

To ease the burden on public funds, expatriates will now be required to pay for a comprehensive annual insurance policy that covers repatriation costs—an expense the government says has cost billions.

“We exhausted our repatriation budget just a month ago. That money should go to roads, not deportation,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The automated CERPAC will also integrate with Interpol systems to enhance security screening.

In a major shift, employers will now be held responsible for immigration violations committed by their foreign staff.

“Your foreign staff is your responsibility. If they breach immigration laws, you’re accountable,” the minister warned.

These changes represent one of the most ambitious overhauls of Nigeria’s immigration system in decades, aimed at ensuring security, economic integrity, and better management of the country’s growing international presence.