The Federal Government has announced the successful processing of over 14,000 electronic visa applications within the first six weeks of launching its new e-visa system, as it prepares to enforce stricter immigration regulations beginning August 1, 2025.
Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement held at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
He stated that the government would fully implement penalties for visa overstayers after a grace period lapses at the end of July.
“We are opening the immigration amnesty portal in July. I urge members of the diplomatic corps to inform their nationals to regularise their stay before the deadline,” Tunji-Ojo said.
“Once the amnesty period ends, the law will be enforced 100 per cent, and those who overstay will face penalties.”
Under the new policy, foreigners who exceed their visa duration will be subjected to a $15 daily surcharge. If the overstay extends to six months, they risk a five-year re-entry ban. A stay beyond one year attracts a 10-year ban, as outlined in the Nigeria Immigration Service’s implementation guidelines.
The minister explained that the e-amnesty portal is designed to help those with expired visa-on-arrival permits, lapsed single-entry visas, or overdue expatriate residence cards apply for stay permits online without visiting immigration offices.
“This initiative will help us cleanse the system. Our laws are not meant to be abused. They must be respected by anyone within our borders, regardless of nationality,” he emphasized.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed that the digitization of visa and passport services has already saved the government nearly ₦1 billion annually, following the cancellation of contracts for manual archiving of documents.
“We scrapped the physical archiving of visa and passport records, which was costing us close to a billion naira every year. Now, with automation, the integrity of our data is greatly improved,” he added.
The digital reform of passport issuance, which began in January 2024, has also led to a major overhaul of service delivery. According to the Interior Minister, 99 per cent of passport applications are now processed entirely online, with biometric capture and booklet collection taking only 20 minutes.
“Years ago, applicants waited for months and paid touts ₦200,000 or more for a passport that cost ₦100,000. Today, that madness is over. If you want to fight corruption, you must end scarcity,” Tunji-Ojo declared.
He further assured stakeholders that the e-visa system is a key driver of economic growth. “No one should need to know a minister or immigration chief to get a visa to Nigeria. We must simplify the process without compromising national security,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, noted that several innovations had been introduced under the new visa regime. These include the electronic Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (e-CERPAC), digitised Temporary Work Permits, and automated Landing and Exit Cards.
“These innovations are anchored on technology to streamline processes, enhance national security, and improve the overall travel experience,” Nandap stated.
She explained that the e-CERPAC integrates residence permits into a single digital document, while the Temporary Work Permit platform reduces processing time and curbs abuse.
As part of its reforms, the ministry also introduced automated e-Gates at major airports and a central command and control centre to enhance monitoring and enforcement.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the reforms are a product of intense behind-the-scenes efforts, saying, “We worked late into the night—even at my house—with the Comptroller General and technical partners. Innovation demands sacrifice, and we are committed to seeing this through.”
He concluded with a firm assurance: “The e-visa system is not a fluke. By the grace of God, it is here to stay.”
