The Nigerian government on Friday unveiled an e-visa application system for foreigners visiting the country.
The new system was launched by the leadership of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
According to the spokesperson for the NIS, Akinsola Akinlabi, the e-visa process will improve the security protocol at the entry spots and help in enhancing the efforts towards reforming the nation’s visa policy.
Akinlabi also announced new landing and exit cards for travellers with both systems effective from May 1, 2025.
He stated that the e-visa which replaces the visa on arrival system has been programmed to last for 48 hours.
“The exit card system is synchronized with the Visa Processing Centre and will automatically apply penalties, including visa bans, where applicable,” Akinlabi said in a statement.
He added that any foreigner who overstays their visas would pay a $15 per day sanction fee while those who spent up to three months in Nigeria illegally would pay a $15 per day fee and a five-year entry ban.
In addition, those who stay up to one year with an expired visa would also $15 per day fee and a permanent entry ban.
Penalties for overstaying visas are effective from September 1, with a window period of three months from May 1 to August 1, for foreigners with expired visas to leave the country.