The year 2025 has seen a bold wave of reform in Nigeria’s immigration and expatriate administration landscape. Driven by the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), these changes reflect a shift toward digitization, enforcement, and alignment with global compliance standards. While many elements build on previously introduced frameworks, such as the Nigeria Visa Policy 2020, the developments in 2025 are distinguished by their regulatory clarity, automation, and financial implications.
This newsletter distills the reforms that have taken effect in 2025, highlighting key implications for businesses and their expatriate employees.
E-Visa Policy Implementation and Discontinuation of Visa on Arrival
As of 1 May 2025, Nigeria officially discontinued its Visa on Arrival (VoA) regime and implemented a fully electronic visa (e-Visa) system. Under the new policy, all short-visit visas must be applied for online via the NIS portal. Decisions are typically issued within 24 to 48 hours, and physical visa stickers have been eliminated.
This digitization affects business travelers, consultants, and tourists alike. Importantly, the new e-Visas are non-extendable. Overstays will trigger automatic fines and re-entry bans based on the duration of violation. Complementing the e-visa rollout is the mandatory use of digital landing and exit cards, allowing Nigerian authorities to monitor entries and exits more effectively.
Launch of Multi-Entry 6-Month Temporary Residence Visa
In 2025, the NIS operationalized a previously existing but rarely used category under the Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) framework—a multi-entry 180-day visa. Though recognized in earlier policies, practical access to this visa was limited. The updated TRV now provides a viable option for foreign professionals engaged in short- to mid-term assignments, removing the need for repeated single-entry applications.
Mandatory CERPAC Insurance and Digitization of Residence Permits
The residence permit process (CERPAC) has also been digitized. Foreign nationals applying for or renewing their permits must now complete submissions online. The physical CERPAC card is delivered to the employer’s registered address after approval.
Critically, applicants must now provide proof of mandatory expatriate insurance. This insurance—which covers repatriation, medical evacuation, and personal liability—must be valid for the duration of the permit. Annual premiums range from $500 to $1,000 and are typically borne by the employer.
Introduction of the CandB Portal for Immigration and Business Services
To support these reforms, the Ministry of Interior launched a new platform, candb.interior.gov.ng, in May 2025. The portal replaces the former ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng and now serves as the centralized channel for business permit applications, expatriate quota (EQ) management, citizenship processes, and document uploads.
While onboarding and data migration are still in progress, all users, both new and existing, must register on the platform and upload valid company records. A key onboarding step is the application for a Business Number (BN), which is now a prerequisite for all immigration filings. While new applications are already live, older records are not yet accessible through the platform. As a result, manual verification may be required during the transition.
For a detailed guide on onboarding, platform usage, and new fee structures, please refer to our full article on the CandB Platform.
Revised Fees for Immigration and Citizenship Services
Effective May 2025, the Ministry published a revised schedule of fees, increasing costs across nearly all service areas. Fees now range from ₦150,000 to ₦20 million for services such as:
- Business permits (₦500,000–₦1,500,000)
- Expatriate quota establishment and renewals (₦250,000–₦1,000,000)
- Upgrades to Permanent Until Reviewed (PUR) quota (₦20 million)
- Citizenship by naturalization or registration (₦15 million)
- Temporary work permits (TWP) – $600 (3 months), $1,100 (6 months)
- Mandatory expatriate insurance – $500 (90–180 days), $1,000 (1 year)
The new fees are aimed at covering administrative costs, enforcing due diligence, and reinforcing the government’s emphasis on structured expatriate governance.
Tighter Scrutiny of Expatriate Quota Applications and Understudy Compliance
In line with broader nationalization objectives, 2025 has seen a marked tightening in the vetting process for expatriate quota (EQ) approvals. Applications are now subjected to more rigorous assessment, with increased documentation requirements, especially around justification for the foreign role.
The CandB platform mandates the upload of detailed understudy information—ensuring that Nigerian understudies are aligned with each position and are receiving proper skills transfer. Discretionary rejections are becoming more frequent, particularly for administrative or non-technical roles that can reasonably be filled locally.
Employers are advised to ensure that all EQ roles are defensible, backed by qualified understudies, and aligned with business-critical needs.
Introduction of Penalties for Overstay and a Temporary Amnesty
To enforce immigration compliance, the NIS introduced new overstay penalties effective 1 August 2025. Key highlights include:
- $15 per day for each day of visa overstay
- 5-year re-entry bans for overstays of 6 months or more
- 10-year bans for overstays exceeding one year
In addition, the NIS has introduced a one-time amnesty window – running from May 1 to September 30, 2025 – for foreign nationals residing in Nigeria without valid immigration status. During this period, affected individuals may regularize their stay by paying applicable fees and submitting updated documentation without facing overstay penalties or re-entry bans.
Employers with undocumented or improperly processed expatriates should act promptly to leverage this window, avoid reputational risks, and minimize potential compliance liabilities under the enhanced 2025 enforcement regime.
Infrastructure Enhancements and Border Automation
In tandem with policy reforms, the Nigerian government invested in immigration infrastructure. A Command and Control Center was launched in Abuja to support biometric monitoring and border surveillance. e-Gates and Advanced Passenger Information Systems (APIS) are being deployed at major international airports. Passport renewal services for Nigerians abroad have also been digitized in several jurisdictions.
These investments are expected to enhance immigration monitoring, facilitate faster border control processing, and integrate with INTERPOL and regional security databases.
Conclusion
The 2025 reforms mark a strategic evolution of Nigeria’s immigration system. While some elements build on pre-existing frameworks, the enforcement mechanisms, digitization, and financial implications are significantly elevated.
Employers are advised to:
- Conduct internal audits of expatriate documentation and CERPAC status
- Register on the CandB portal and upload complete business records
- Align immigration, HR, and payroll systems for compliance
- Update employment contracts to reflect insurance and permit requirements
- Budget for increased immigration-related expenses
- Update internal travel protocols and ensure that new application timelines and restrictions are understood by traveling staff
- Track visa expiry dates and create alerts to avoid inadvertent violations by expatriate employees
- Immediately initiate resolution steps for employees who have overstayed their visas
Foreign nationals must understand the implications of visa non-renewability, e-processing timelines, and overstay penalties. Early engagement with advisors is recommended.
For tailored support with onboarding, compliance, or strategic planning around Nigeria’s immigration reforms, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email at clients@vi-m.com.