FRI MAY 02 2025-theGBJournal| The Federal Government has rolled out a new e-Visa application system and Automated landing and exit card for travelers visiting Nigeria.
In addition to the introduction of the e-Visa, Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 now makes it mandatory for foreigners who overstay their visas to be liable to penalties, effective from 2nd August, 2025.
The new policy spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Interior in conjunction with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) imposes a $15 per day fine on any foreigner that overstays.
Besides, any foreigner that overstays by 3 months and above will receive $15 per day fine and a five year entry ban.
Similarly, any foreigner that overstays by a year will get blacklisted and permanently banned, and will have to pay a $15 per day fine as well.
The new landing and exit policy replaces the current manual embarkation and disembarkation card.
This implies that:
-That automated landing and exit card have been introduced for inbound and outbound passengers into Nigeria
-For the inbound passengers (excluding Nigerians), the landing card must be duly completed online before boarding
-For the outbound passengers, the exit card must be duly completed online before departure
-The exit card system is synchronized with the Visa Processing Centre and will automatically apply penalties, including visa bans, where applicable.
The Immigration, meanwhile has granted a window period of three months from 1st May to 1st August, 2025 to allow foreigners residing in Nigeria with expired visas to return to their home country voluntarily, without penalty.
Meanwhile, the e-Visa application process has been moved, strictly, online from end to end with a processing time frame of 48 hours or less.
The application process introduces 13 visa types of short visit Visa (SVV) and once approved, visa and the QR codes will be sent electronically via applicants email.
The Federal Government warned that Visa on arrival will be officially discontinued as the new e-Visa has already taken off (1st May, 2025).
The policy says visas obtained through the e-visa Channel are not extendable, but visa on arrival already issued will remain valid until 30th May, 2025.
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
