The United States Embassy in Abuja has issued a strong advisory to American citizens residing in Nigeria, urging them to regularize their visa status before July 31 to avoid harsh penalties being introduced by the Nigerian government.
This follows a recent declaration by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealing that foreign nationals who overstay their visas will now be subjected to stricter enforcement, including a daily fine and lengthy re-entry bans.
In a public notice dated July 7, 2025, titled ‘MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS IN NIGERIA ON CHANGES IN NIGERIAN VISA POLICY’, the U.S. Embassy alerted American nationals about the new measures, which officially take effect on August 1, 2025.
The statement said, “The US Embassy in Abuja informs US citizens that effective August 1, 2025, the Nigerian Federal Government will begin imposing strict penalties on foreigners who have overstayed their visas.
“To provide an opportunity for affected individuals to comply with immigration regulations, an online immigration amnesty portal is available until the end of July. The portal allows visitors to fix their stay before the penalties are enforced.”
The embassy encouraged all U.S. citizens with expired visas to take prompt action, stating, “US citizens currently in Nigeria who have overstayed their visa are strongly encouraged to fix their stay through the amnesty portal before July 31, 2025.
“Failure to do so may result in significant financial penalties and long-term restrictions on re-entry to Nigeria. All U.S. citizens are reminded to adhere to Nigerian visa regulations to avoid complications.”
As part of the revised immigration guidelines, a $15 daily overstay fine has been in effect since May 1, 2025.
However, affected individuals have until the end of July to address their visa status without incurring penalties.
“Visitors who fail to fix their status by the end of the amnesty period will be subject to the accrued daily surcharge. Overstays of six months or more will result in a five-year ban on reentry. Overstays of one year or more will result in a 10-year re-entry ban,” the statement added.
By August 1, the amnesty period will lapse, and defaulters will face full enforcement of these sanctions.
The U.S. Embassy further noted that the Nigerian government has launched a digital portal where foreigners can regularize their stay by submitting applications, uploading relevant documents, and obtaining clearance, eliminating the need to visit physical immigration offices and helping users avoid long queues and unofficial charges.
