The Nigerian government has announced tough penalties for expatriates overstaying their visas, including daily fines and long-term entry bans. These measures, effective from August 2025, aim to improve visa compliance and collect accurate data on foreign nationals. New reforms will also streamline visa processes and introduce mandatory expatriate insurance.
The Nigerian Federal Government has introduced stricter visa penalties aimed at expatriates who overstay their visas, including a significant daily fine and a long-term ban. The new rules, announced by the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will take effect on August 1, 2025. Under these regulations, expatriates who overstay their visas by more than six months will face a five-year ban from entering the country, while those who exceed one year will incur a 10-year ban. Additionally, a daily fine of $15 will apply starting from the date the visa expires.
To streamline visa processes and improve the accuracy of expatriate records, the Nigerian government will launch several reforms, including automated landing and exit cards, an electronic visa system, and mandatory expatriate insurance. The reforms are set to roll out on May 1, 2025, with the full enforcement of penalties beginning in August.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the measures are designed to address growing concerns about visa overstays, improve data collection on foreign nationals, and reduce the financial burden of repatriation. The government is also introducing the Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance policy, which will require expatriates to secure insurance as a part of their work and residency permits, helping to fund the repatriation process and reducing the strain on public resources.
