The Federal government in a bid to reform Nigeria’s Visa Policy, internal control of the movement of foreigners is set to implement the new e-Visa application system, and automated landing and exit card.
The ministry of interior in conjunction with the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS will roll out the two innovative solutions with effect from 1st May 2025 to replace the Visa on Arrival policy.
This follows the 2024 review of Nigeria’s Visa policy, as the updated 2025 policy introduces an e-Visa system with enhanced security protocols.
The NIS in a release by its national spokesman Sola Akinlabi says “The e-Visa application process is strictly online from end to end.
Processing time for e-Visa will be 48 hours or less
The e-Visa application system introduces (13) Visa types of ShortVisit Visa(SVV), details can be found on
https://evisa.immigration.gov.ng/
He further explained that “Once approved, visas and the QR codes will be sent electronically via applicant’s email.
He noted that 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, adding that Visa on Arrival already issued will remain valid until 30th May 2025.
Akinlabi also disclosed that 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:
Overstay Penalties (Effective from 1st September 2025)
$15 per day
3 months & above $15/day+5 year entry ban
I year & above $15/day+ blacklisting (permanent entry ban)
On landing and Exit card, the NIS spokesman says the current manual embarkation and disembarkation card has been replaced by an electronic landing and exit card via
https://lecard.immigration.gov.ng/
He disclosed that the Automated landing and exit card have been introduced for inbound and outbound passengers into Nigeria, adding that for the inbound passengers(excluding Nigerians) the landing card must be duly completed online before boarding while for the outbound passengers, the exit card must be duly completed online before departure.
Akinlabi noted that the exit card system is synchronised with the Visa Processing Centre and will automatically apply penalties, including visa bans, where applicable.
The NIS however informs the general public that a window period of three (3) months from 1st May to 1st August 2025 shall be granted to allow foreigners residing in Nigeria with expired visas to return to their home country voluntarily without penalty.
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