Nigeria has launched a fully digital e-Visa regime along with an automated landing and exit card system, marking a significant shift in the country’s immigration process under the 2025 Visa Policy.
This development was announced in Abuja on Friday by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Akinsola Akinlabi, who said the reform is a joint initiative between the NIS and the Federal Ministry of Interior.
The service explained that the new system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and officially came into effect on 1 May 2025.
The e-Visa system, described as an end-to-end online platform, is designed to improve national security, simplify visa processing, and bring an end to visa-on-arrival procedures.
Thirteen categories are now offered under the Short Visit Visa (SVV) class. Comprehensive details are available on the official portal: https://evisa.immigration.gov.ng.
According to the NIS, e-Visa applications will be processed in 48 hours or less, with approved applicants receiving their e-Visas and QR codes via email.
As part of the changes, the Visa on Arrival policy has been discontinued from 1 May 2025, although visas already issued under the old policy remain valid until 30 May 2025.
The service clarified that e-Visas are not extendable and encouraged prospective visitors to apply for visa categories that correspond to both the duration and the nature of their visit.
Stricter penalties for overstaying will come into force on 1 September 2025. Foreign nationals who overstay their visa by three months or more will face a daily fine of $15 and a five-year entry ban. Those who overstay for a year or more will face the same fine, in addition to a permanent ban from entering Nigeria.
Alongside the e-Visa system, the government is introducing a digital alternative to manual embarkation and disembarkation forms. The automated landing and exit card system is now available at https://lecard.immigration.gov.ng.
All inbound travellers, excluding Nigerian citizens, must complete the electronic landing card before boarding, while outbound travellers are required to fill the exit card prior to departure.
The NIS said the exit card system is integrated with the Visa Processing Centre, enabling enforcement of penalties including automatic visa bans for non-compliance.
To support a smooth transition, a grace period from 1 May to 1 August 2025 has been approved. During this window, foreign nationals with expired visas who are currently in Nigeria may return to their home countries without facing any sanctions.
The agency urged all stakeholders to observe the updated immigration procedures and adhere to the specified timelines.
The Nigeria Immigration Service reaffirmed its dedication to building a more secure, transparent, and efficient immigration framework that aligns with international standards.
