ABUJA, May 3 (AGCNewsNet) – Nigeria has rolled out a fully digital e-Visa platform and introduced an automated landing and exit card system as part of major reforms under its 2025 Visa Policy, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced on Friday.

The changes, which take effect on May 1, 2025, are part of a broader collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Interior and the NIS, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the agency said in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Akinsola Akinlabi.

Under the new policy, visa-on-arrival will be discontinued and replaced by an end-to-end online application process. Applicants will be able to obtain their visas within 48 hours or less, receiving e-Visas and QR codes via email, the statement said.

The e-Visa platform introduces 13 categories under the Short Visit Visa (SVV) class. Full details are available on the official portal: https://evisa.immigration.gov.ng.

“The aim is to enhance national security, eliminate manual bottlenecks, and streamline application processes,” the NIS said.

All visas issued under the expiring visa-on-arrival regime will remain valid only until May 30, 2025.

The new e-Visas are non-extendable. Authorities have urged applicants to select visas that best suit the purpose and duration of their visit.

In addition to the digital visa rollout, the government is introducing a fully automated landing and exit card system available at: https://lecard.immigration.gov.ng. All inbound passengers, except Nigerians, must complete the electronic landing card before boarding, while outbound passengers must complete the exit card before departure.

The NIS said the exit system is synchronized with the visa processing centre and will enforce penalties for violations, including automatic visa bans.

Strict overstay penalties will also be enforced beginning Sept. 1, 2025. Foreigners who overstay will incur a $15 daily fine. Those staying beyond three months will face the same fine and a five-year entry ban, while overstays beyond a year will result in permanent blacklisting.

To ease the transition, a grace period has been provided from May 1 to Aug. 1, 2025. During this window, foreigners with expired visas may leave Nigeria without penalties.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to implementing a more efficient, transparent, and secure immigration system that aligns with global best practices,” the statement said.

Source: NAN

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