U.S. Embassy Warns Americans in Nigeria to Regularise Immigration Status by July 31 as Amnesty Ends
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the United States Embassy in Abuja has issued a serious advisory to all American citizens residing in Nigeria, urging them to urgently regularise their immigration status before the July 31 deadline or risk facing severe penalties, including deportation and long-term bans.
OTN News further reports as gathered that the embassy's warning follows new enforcement measures by the Nigerian Federal Government as the country’s immigration amnesty programme nears its end.
The online amnesty portal, which allows foreigners to rectify expired visas and other residency issues without facing penalties, will officially close on July 31, 2025.
In a statement released on July 7, the U.S. Embassy emphasized the consequences of non-compliance.
It stated, “the US Embassy in Abuja informs US citizens that effective August 1, 2025, the Nigerian Federal Government will begin imposing strict penalties on foreigners who have overstayed their visas.
“To provide an opportunity for affected individuals to comply with immigration regulations, an online immigration amnesty portal is available until the end of July. The portal allows visitors to regularise their stay before the penalties are enforced.
“US citizens currently in Nigeria who have overstayed their visa are strongly encouraged to regularise their stay through the amnesty portal before July 31, 2025. Failure to do so may result in significant financial penalties and long-term restrictions on re-entry to Nigeria. All U.S. citizens are reminded to adhere to Nigerian visa regulations to avoid complications.”
OTN News recalls that the Nigerian Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had earlier announced the amnesty period and warned that from August, overstayers would be subject to stringent enforcement policies.
As part of a broader immigration reform strategy, the government introduced a $15 daily surcharge for each day a visa is overstayed, effective from May 1, 2025.
This penalty will apply after the amnesty period ends on July 31.
According to the new policy, overstaying a visa by six months or more will result in a five-year ban from re-entering Nigeria, while overstays of one year or more will lead to a 10-year ban.
The U.S. Embassy reminded its citizens that the Nigerian government has made the process for regularisation easier by launching an online amnesty portal. This digital platform enables users to, Submit visa regularisation applications, Upload required documentation, Receive clearance—all without visiting an immigration office or incurring additional administrative charges.
The move echoes earlier policies enforced during the Trump administration in the United States, which imposed strict immigration penalties and reciprocal visa policies on foreign nationals.
Nigerian authorities maintain that the goal of the crackdown is to streamline immigration records, enforce national security, and eliminate abuses of the country’s visa and residency systems. The Interior Ministry says no further extensions to the amnesty window are planned.
American citizens living in Nigeria are therefore advised to act promptly and take advantage of the remaining days to legalise their stay via the amnesty portal before enforcement begins in August.
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