The United States government has issued a strong warning to its citizens living in Nigeria to regularise their visa status before July 31, 2025, or risk facing serious penalties from Nigerian authorities.
This follows new visa rules announced by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, which target foreigners who overstay their visas. The penalties include a daily fine of \$15 and possible long-term bans from re-entering Nigeria.
According to a statement on the US Embassy’s official website, American citizens in Nigeria who have overstayed their visa are “strongly encouraged to fix their stay through the amnesty portal before July 31, 2025.”
The amnesty window, introduced by the Federal Government, allows foreigners with visa issues to regularise their stay without paying fines—but only until the end of July.
Failure to comply, the US Embassy warned, “could result in significant financial penalties and long-term restrictions on re-entry to Nigeria.”
The Nigerian government began implementing this policy on May 1, 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and ensure that foreign nationals follow visa rules.
The directive affects not just Americans but all foreigners living in Nigeria beyond their authorised stay.
The amnesty portal is currently open to help affected individuals update their immigration status without penalty before the deadline.