The Nigerian government has extended its amnesty programme for foreign nationals residing in the country without valid immigration documents or with expired visas. The initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), provides a limited period for affected individuals to regularise their status before full enforcement begins.
1. Deadline Extension
The amnesty, originally scheduled to end on 31 August 2025, has been extended to 30 September 2025. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo stated, “Once the amnesty period finishes, we will start to implement the law fully, and penalties will apply for overstaying in Nigeria.” The NIS added, “By 1 October, enforcement against foreigners with expired or invalid documents will commence.”
2. Who Is Eligible
The programme applies to foreign nationals who:
Have overstayed their visa or violated its conditions
Possess expired Visa on Arrival documents
Hold expired single-entry or multiple-entry visas
Have Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) expired for more than 30 days
Certain visa categories are excluded from this initiative, including: Accredited Diplomat Visas, Employment Visas for government officials or free-zone expatriates, INGO and clerical employment visas, Student Visas, and Academic Exchange Programme (AEP) Visas. Holders of these visas must ensure timely renewal or extension to avoid enforcement actions.
3. Application Process
Affected individuals must apply through the NIS amnesty website within the grace period. Applicants are required to:
Register with an email account on the platform
Provide personal and passport details
Explain the reason for seeking amnesty
Upload relevant identification documents, including copies of expired visas
Indicate whether they intend to continue residing legally in Nigeria or depart voluntarily
Once submitted, the applicant receives a confirmation message and can track the progress of their application online. The duration of the process is not specified.
4. Purpose of the Amnesty
The government emphasises that the initiative is designed to make Nigeria’s immigration system more secure, transparent, effective, and predictable. It is also intended to improve the government’s data on foreign nationals living in the country, which is considered crucial for internal security.
5. Consequences of Non-Compliance
After 30 September, individuals who fail to regularise their immigration status may face deportation and bans on future entry into Nigeria. Companies employing expatriates without valid documentation risk fines, deportation of the affected staff, and disruption of business operations.
This is not the first amnesty of its kind. In July 2019, the government under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari implemented a six-month amnesty for illegal foreign residents to update their documentation without penalties.
