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By Myke Agunwa
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched an amnesty initiative for foreigners with expired visas or immigration violations.
The initiative allows the foreigners to regularise their status without penalties.
Akinsola Akinlabi, NIS public relations officer, announced the initiative, introduced in collaboration with the interior ministry, in a statement on Sunday.
Akinlabi said the initiative took effect on May 1 will runs until September 30.
The statement reads, “In a bid to enhance compliance with the New Visa Regime and reinforce a secure and transparent migration system, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, announces an Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty). This initiative provides a unique window for foreigners currently residing in Nigeria with expired immigration status to regularize their stay without facing penalties.”
He explained that the amnesty applies to three key categories: foreign nationals with expired visas on arrival, holders of expired single or multiple entry visas, and individuals with expired combined expatriate residence permits and aliens card (CERPAC) whose renewal is overdue by more than 30 days.
The service advised affected individuals to visit this website to regularise their stay within the grace period and avoid overstay penalties.
“To ease the process, the Nigeria Immigration Service has deployed a dedicated support team to assist applicants, while reaffirming its commitment to promoting lawful migration, ensuring national security, and fostering a transparent and efficient immigration system,” the statement added.
The development precedes the strict measures NIS assured foreigners who overstay their visas earlier in May when an automated landing and exit card for travellers was launched.
The NIS had granted a window period of three months from May 1 to August 1 for foreigners with expired visas to return to their home country voluntarily without penalty.
Foreigners who overstay their visas faced a $15 per day fee, those who illegally stay three months and above are subject to a $15 per day fee and a five-year entry ban, while those who stay above a year face the same dollar fee rate and a permanent entry ban.
The NIS said the overstay penalties would be effective from September 1.