The federal government has commenced the implementation of the e-visa regime, which was rolled out yesterday, Thursday, May 1.
The government insisted on penalties for those who stay beyond the number of days approved for them by the authorities, reports The Nation.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Akinsola Akinlabi, noted that the implementation would begin with two innovative solutions.
Akinlabi, a Deputy Controller of Immigration, listed the innovations as the e-visa application system and the automated landing and exit card system.
He said the innovations and ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Immigration Service aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to attract foreign investment and improve national security.
Akinlabi said:” Following the 2024 review of Nigeria’s Visa policy, the updated 2025 policy introduces an e-Visa system with enhanced security protocols.
“The e-Visa application process is strictly online from end to end. Processing time for e-Visas will be 48 hours or less.
“The e-Visa application system introduces thirteen (13) Visa types of ShortVisit Visa (SVV), details can be found on https://evisa.immigration.gov.ng/
“Once approved, visas and the QR codes will be sent electronically via the applicant’s email.
Visa on Arrival will be officially discontinued as the new e-Visa takes off on 1st May 2025.
“Visas obtained through the e-Visa channel are not extendable.
“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“The current manual embarkation and disembarkation card has been replaced by an electronic landing and exit card, via https://lecard.immigration.gov.ng/
“Automated landing and exit cards have been introduced for inbound and outbound passengers into Nigeria.”
Akinlabi, however, said the NIS has introduced a window period of three months from May 1 to August 1, 2025 to foreigners residing in Nigeria with expired visas to return to their home country voluntarily without penalty.
