The Nigerian government has officially rolled out two new digital systems aimed at modernizing and streamlining its immigration processes. Introduced by the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the e-Visa Application System and the Automated Landing and Exit Card were launched on May 1, 2025.
A.S. Akinlabi, the Public Relations Officer for NIS, highlighted that these initiatives are in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on enhancing border security, simplifying travel procedures, and strengthening national security.
The new e-Visa system replaces the traditional Visa on Arrival process and is now fully operational online at evisa.immigration.gov.ng. This revamped visa policy allows for all applications to be processed entirely online, with a 48-hour processing time. The system offers thirteen different visa categories under the Short Visit Visa (SVV), and approved visas are delivered electronically, complete with QR codes.
However, visas issued through this system will be non-extendable, and the Visa on Arrival option will be fully phased out by May 30, 2025. Starting September 1, 2025, new penalties for overstaying visas will be introduced. These include a daily fine of $15, a five-year entry ban for overstays of three months or more, and a permanent blacklisting for overstays exceeding one year.
In addition to the e-Visa, NIS has launched the Automated Landing and Exit Card system. This new digital system replaces manual embarkation and disembarkation cards, requiring all non-Nigerian inbound passengers to complete an online landing card before boarding, and outbound passengers to complete an exit card before departure. The system is integrated with visa data, automatically enforcing penalties for non-compliance.
Akinlabi also announced a three-month grace period, from May 1 to August 1, 2025, during which foreign nationals with expired visas will be allowed to leave the country without penalties.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has urged all stakeholders—travellers, airlines, and embassies—to comply with the new procedures. “We are committed to delivering a transparent, efficient, and secure immigration system in line with global best practices,” Akinlabi affirmed.
