The initiative allows the foreigners to regularise their status without penalties.

Akinsola Akinlabi, NIS public relations officer, announced the initiative, introduced in collaboration with the interior ministry, in a statement on Sunday.

Akinlabi said the initiative took effect on May 1 and runs until September 30.

He explained that the amnesty applies to three key categories: foreign nationals with expired visa on arrival, holders of expired single or multiple-entry visas, and individuals with expired combined expatriate residence permit and aliens card (CERPAC) whose renewal is overdue by more than 30 days.

The service advised affected individuals to visit to regularise their stay within the grace period and avoid overstay penalties.

“To ease the process, the Nigeria Immigration Service has deployed a dedicated support team to assist applicants, while reaffirming its commitment to promoting lawful migration, ensuring national security, and fostering a transparent and efficient immigration system,” the statement added.

The development precedes the strict measures NIS assured foreigners who overstay their visas earlier when an automated landing and exit card for travellers was launched.

The NIS had granted a window period of three months from May 1 to August 1 for foreigners with expired visas to return to their home country voluntarily without penalty.

Foreigners who overstay their visas faced a $15 per day fee, those who illegally stay three months and above are subject to a $15 per day fee and a five-year entry ban, while those who stay above a year face the same dollar fee rate and a permanent entry ban.

The NIS said the overstay penalties would be effective from September 1.