Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
LAGOS — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a firm directive to foreign nationals residing in the country to regularise their immigration status before the expiration of the current amnesty window at the end of December 2025, as authorities intensify efforts to enforce migration laws and strengthen national security. The move has significant implications for expatriates, ECOWAS citizens and other non‑nationals with expired visas or residence permits who are yet to comply with immigration requirements.
The directive, communicated by Maduka Hope, Comptroller of Immigration for Niger State, is part of a broader nationwide exercise by the NIS to document foreign residents and curb irregular migration. Hope emphasised that the deadline for regularisation marks the final phase of the government’s amnesty initiative, originally launched to give overstaying foreigners an opportunity to legalise their presence in the country without facing penalties such as fines, deportation or entry bans.
“We are going all out in the New Year to know who is where. We are going to document them,” Hope told a gathering of community leaders representing Nigerien nationals in the state capital. He stressed that foreign nationals must present valid travel and identity documentation before the amnesty period ends, warning that those unable to demonstrate lawful status risk repatriation to their countries of origin.
The current push aligns with the Expired Visa Amnesty Initiative, which was first introduced by the Federal Government in May 2025 and later extended to run until 30 September 2025 (with enforcement and follow‑up continuing beyond that date). Under the initiative, foreign nationals with expired visas — including Visa on Arrival (VoA), single and multiple entry visas, and lapsed Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) — were given a grace period to either regularise their status through an online portal or exit the country without incurring penalties.
Following the closure of the formal amnesty window, the NIS has rolled out complementary programmes such as the Post‑Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme (PAVRDP), which officially began in October 2025 and provides a structured pathway for undocumented migrants to report, document and clarify their status on a case‑by‑case basis. Under this scheme, foreign nationals who missed the amnesty deadline can approach immigration commands to either legalise their stay or prepare for voluntary departure while avoiding immediate punitive action.
Despite these opportunities, a significant number of visa overstayers remain out of compliance. Earlier government figures showed that over 3,500 foreign nationals approached the Immigration Service during the amnesty window to regularise their stay or leave, but only a fraction completed the process — with around 142 successfully regularising their status and others choosing to exit the country voluntarily.
Authorities have reiterated that from January 2026 onwards, enforcement of Nigeria’s immigration laws will be more robust. Foreign nationals failing to show valid immigration documentation will be subject to lawful measures, including deportation, fines, travel restrictions, and possible entry bans, depending on the severity and duration of non‑compliance as outlined under existing immigration regulations.
Officials at state immigration commands have begun sensitisation campaigns in communities with high concentrations of foreign residents. The aim is to encourage voluntary compliance before enforcement escalates, with immigration officers meeting local community and diaspora leaders to explain procedures, support registration and clarify documentation requirements.
The focus on documentation and enforcement is part of a broader drive by the Nigerian government to reform and modernise its immigration system, including improvements in digital processing of visas, residence permits and entry/exit tracking. New systems and portals introduced earlier in 2025 are designed to strengthen oversight while providing applicants with more efficient means to apply for and update their immigration status.
Foreign embassies in Nigeria have also backed the government’s efforts, urging their citizens to comply with visa laws and take advantage of regularisation windows before enforcement intensifies. Diplomatic missions described enforcement as standard practice while emphasising the importance of adherence to host country laws.
As the deadline approaches, immigration authorities are expected to step up patrols and verification exercises across states to ensure that all foreign residents either regularise their status or prepare for lawful exit. The NIS has reiterated that proactive compliance will prevent adverse consequences for individuals, employers and sponsors linked to non‑compliant foreign nationals.
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