The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced a new initiative to address the issue of foreign nationals overstaying their visas in the country. Following the recent Expired Visa Initiative (EVI) amnesty, which ended on September 30, 2025, the NIS has now rolled out the Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme (PAVRDP). This programme aims to encourage foreign nationals who failed to regularize their status during the amnesty period to come forward voluntarily and resolve their immigration status.
Earlier this year, the NIS launched the Expired Visa Initiative on May 1, 2025, to provide foreign nationals with expired visas or residence permits an opportunity to regularize their stay without penalties. Initially scheduled to end in August, the amnesty period was extended to the end of September to give more time for compliance.
The amnesty covered individuals with expired Visa on Arrival (VoA), expired single or multiple-entry visas, and those with overdue Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) renewals.
Introducing the Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme (PAVRDP)
Starting today October 13, 2025, the NIS is calling on foreign nationals who missed the amnesty deadline to voluntarily report to their nearest Immigration Command. The goal is to register and document these individuals, assess their situations individually, and take appropriate actions based on Nigeria’s Immigration Act of 2015 and related laws.
Enforcement and Legal Implications
The NIS has made it clear that those who fail to regularize their stay or voluntarily report under this programme will face arrest, detention, and deportation. Additionally, individuals found assisting or harboring undocumented immigrants risk prosecution under Nigerian law.
This firm stance aims to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s immigration system and ensure orderly management of foreign nationals within the country.
What Foreign Nationals and Employers Should Know
This new programme provides a final opportunity for overstayers to rectify their immigration status without penalty. It also serves as a crucial reminder for employers and organizations to ensure that their foreign staff maintain valid visas and permits.
Failure to comply with immigration laws not only jeopardizes the status of the foreign nationals involved but also exposes employers to potential legal action.
Final Thought
The Nigeria Immigration Service’s Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme represents a balanced approach to immigration control combining enforcement with avenues for compliance. Foreign nationals are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity promptly to avoid the consequences of non-compliance.
By cooperating with immigration authorities, all stakeholders can contribute to a secure, legal, and orderly immigration environment in Nigeria.
