Nigeria announces tougher immigration rules

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced stricter penalties for expatriates who overstay their visas, including a five-year entry ban for overstays exceeding six months and a 10-year ban for overstays exceeding one year.

Also, starting from August 1, a $15 daily fine will be imposed for every day an expatriate stays beyond their visa’s stated exit date.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed these new measures during a meeting with the Organised Private Sector and other stakeholders at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association House in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday. The announcement was part of the unveiling of the Ministry’s new Expatriate Administration System, set to roll out on May 1.

As part of the reforms, the Ministry will automate the Landing and Exit Cards, introduce an Electronic Visa system, and implement new measures like the Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance and revised Expatriate Quota system. These changes aim to reduce visa overstays and provide accurate data on the expatriate population in Nigeria.

“We need to establish the true number of foreigners living in the country. A nation without reliable data cannot progress,” said Tunji-Ojo. According to the Ministry’s records, fewer than 50,000 expatriates are currently registered, a figure Tunji-Ojo deemed inaccurate.

The new system also stipulates that expatriates must exit Nigeria on or before their visa expiry date and apply for extensions only from outside the country. Those who overstay their visas will face penalties, including a ban and daily fines. Tunji-Ojo stressed that the new measures were necessary to curb exploitation of the system, citing instances where visitors overstayed their visas for decades.

A three-month grace period will be provided from May 1 to allow expatriates to regularize their status before the penalties take effect in August. The new Electronic Visa system, also launching on May 1, promises faster visa processing, with applicants receiving their visas within 48 hours. This system aims to replace the outdated visa-on-arrival regime, which was vulnerable to corruption.

Tunji-Ojo also introduced a mandatory annual Expatriate Comprehensive Insurance policy to cover repatriation costs for expatriates. This policy aims to reduce the financial burden on the government, which has often exceeded its budget for repatriating foreigners. The insurance will save the government millions and ensure that expatriates contribute to the nation’s economy during their stay.

The reforms also include the automation of the Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC) process, set to launch on May 1, and a system that integrates Interpol for enhanced tracking of criminal activity.