Friday, September
11, 2020 / 01:49 PM / by KPMG Nigeria / Header Image Credit: AIT Live
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced
procedures for implementation of entry, exit and visa revalidation following
the resumption of commercial flight operations at the Lagos and Abuja
international airports on 5 September 2020.
According to the information contained in a press
release issued by the Public Relations Officer, the procedures to be
implemented by the NIS are as follows:
- All expatriates, with confirmed return
tickets, whose permits expired between 23 March and 5 September 2020 and had
been scheduled to exit Nigeria during that period would be granted an extension
free of charge. However, they must exit the country by 15th September
2020.
- All expatriates whose permits or
visitor's passes expired before 23 March 2020 are liable to pay a penalty for
overstaying based on the number of additional days spent in the country before
the lockdown commenced on 23 March 2020.
- All resident expatriates whose permits
expired while they were outside the country from 23 March 2020 shall be allowed
entry into Nigeria with the expired permits, provided they arrive in Nigeria by
25 September 2020. However, they must renew their residence permits
within thirty days of arrival in Nigeria to avoid sanctions under relevant
Immigration laws.
- Expatriates who had processed payments
for Visa on Arrival before 23 March 2020 but had not been issued the visas are
to apply for re-validation. This also applies to applications for other
categories of visas from the various Nigerian Missions abroad. For the
re-validation process, copies of the previous payment receipts should be sent
to cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng
not later than 15th September 2020.
- Expatriates who had obtained Visa on
Arrival Pre-approval Letters and other categories of visas from the Nigerian
Missions before 23 March 2020, but whose approvals or visas expired before 5
September 2020 are also to apply for revalidation. They are required to
send copies of the expired pre-approval letters/visas to cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng
not later than 15 September, 2020.
- Expatriates who had obtained Temporary
Work Permit approvals but were unable to obtain the visas from the relevant
Nigerian Mission abroad due to COVID-19 lockdown should submit a complaint
through cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng.
Comments
The announcement by the NIS is a welcome
development. This will provide relief to many expatriates, especially
those who could not exit the country during the imposition of the travel ban,
and who may have been concerned about the extension fees and penalties ranging
from US$400 to US$4,000.
The affected expatriates should visit the NIS Command
close to them to obtain the relevant extension stamp on their passports prior
to their date of travel. This will prevent them from being barred from
exiting the country and/or subjected to applicable penalties for overstaying.

Related News
- Migration
Rate After COVID-19: Can Nigeria Keep Nigerians?
- FGN
Releases Guidelines for Visa Revalidation and Migrant Travels As The
Nigerian Airspace Reopens
- FGN
Releases Provisional Protocol for Travellers Ahead of International
Flights Resumption
- Coronanomics
(10) - Impact on the Travel and Tourism Sector
- NIS
Commences Email-based Processing of Temporary Work Permit Applications
- Chris Azu
Aligbe To Speak On Repositioning Nigeria's Aviation Industry On WebTV
Tomorrow
- The Virus
and Post-Virus Hit to All Airlines - FBNQuest
- Aviation
Sector Gasps for Stimulus in Worst Ever Crisis
- NIS Grants
Payment Waiver to Visitors Affected by Travel Ban
- FG
Restricts Entry Into Nigeria from 13 Countries; Suspends Issuance of Visa
on Arrival
- UK Foreign
Office Issues Travel Advice Against Non-Essential Travel Worldwide
- Airlines
Face Growing Pressure From The Coronavirus
- LSTSA
Chairman Speaks On Growth Prospects for Tourism In Nigeria