Starting August 1, the Federal Government will impose a daily fine of $15 on expatriates who overstay their visas, as part of sweeping reforms aimed at curbing abuse of Nigeria’s immigration system.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known during a meeting with members of the Organised Private Sector and stakeholders at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) House in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday.
According to him, the penalty will begin from the date an expatriate’s visa expires, and will be enforced alongside stricter entry bans, six-month overstays will attract a five-year entry ban, while one-year overstays will lead to a 10-year ban.
“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,” Tunji-Ojo said. “People claim to be visiting Nigeria for two weeks but stay for 30 years working — that must end.”
The new measures are part of a larger reform of the Ministry of Interior’s Expatriate Administration System, which officially takes off May 1. A three-month grace period will be given to allow expatriates to regularize their status before enforcement begins in August.
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As part of the reform, the government will introduce an Electronic Visa system, automated Landing and Exit Cards, and a mandatory Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance policy to replace the lump-sum repatriation demand often exceeding $10,000.
Tunji-Ojo said the e-visa, also launching May 1, will make visa processing more efficient and reduce corruption by eliminating the current visa-on-arrival process.
“No more bottlenecks. No more lobbying. It’s seamless and secure,” he said.
The Minister added that the current record of expatriates in Nigeria—under 50,000—is inaccurate and emphasized the importance of data in national planning. “A nation without reliable data cannot progress. Data is the foundation of effective planning,” he said.
Employers, he noted, will also be held accountable for any violations committed by foreign workers under their care.
