Non-ECOWAS Visitors Staying Over 56 Days Subject to Extension Fee

Nigeria

On or after September 22, 2015, all non-Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nationals holding entry visas, including business visitors and tourists, must pay an extension fee if they stay past 56 days cumulatively in a twelve-month period in Nigeria, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Interior.  Those staying beyond 56 days cumulatively in a twelve-month period will be considered overstayers and are subject to a penalty if they do not pay the appropriate extension fee.  Temporary Work Permit holders might be included in this group depending on the interpretation and discretion of immigration authorities.

Non-ECOWAS visitors staying past 56 days cumulatively in a twelve-month period are subject to the following extension fees:

• Those staying for a period not exceeding 90 days: USD $200;
• Those staying for a period exceeding 90 days but not exceeding 180 days: USD $1,000; and
• Those staying for a period exceeding 180 days but not exceeding 365 days: USD $2,000.

The ECOWAS nations are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.

Non-ECOWAS visitors who overstay past 56 days cumulatively in a twelve-month period without paying the appropriate extension fee are subject to a fine 100% times their prescribed extension fee.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals

Because this change in policy and its implementation details are not yet clear, affected non-ECOWAS nationals should contact their immigration professional to discuss timing and other details of the extension fee. 

Fragomen will provide further information as it becomes available.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

_{© 2015 Fragomen}