In an effort to modernise the nation’s immigration system, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced on Wednesday the launch of a new online application and processing platform for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card.
In a statement signed by ACI Kenneth Kure Akinlabi, Public Relations Officer, the NIS stated that the online portal, https://cerpac.immigration.gov.ng, is now operational and enables individuals and organisations to electronically fill out and submit applications for expatriate permits.
The action is in line with larger federal government reforms that are meant to improve user experience, operational effectiveness, and transparency in important public facilities.
August 1 deadline to switch from manual to digital
The launch of the platform has given the NIS a clear deadline for switching to the digital system.
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The portal will be used to process all CERPAC applications starting August 1, 2025; manual submissions will no longer be accepted.
Applicants who have already paid but have not yet turned in their physical forms have until July 31, 2025, to do so, failing which their applications will be deemed invalid and the associated funds will be forfeited.
To prevent service interruptions, the NIS also asked all businesses and individuals with unfinished immigration-related tasks to complete their submissions before the deadline.
Applications for CERPAC that are not submitted by the deadline will be deemed invalid, the agency stressed.
“Responsibility for expatriates to complete all pending submissions within the stipulated timeframe to avoid any inconvenience. Consequently, any CERPAC form not submitted after the deadline will be rendered void and invalid.”
“All enquiries and correspondence on this matter should be directed to the Service through the office of the Public Relations Officer,” the statement read.
About the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card
The Nigerian Immigration Service issues the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card as a formal document to authorise and control the stays of foreign nationals who are employed or reside in Nigeria.
For a set amount of time, usually up to a year, with the possibility of renewal, foreign nationals are legally permitted to live, work, or conduct business in Nigeria thanks to the CERPAC, which functions as both an identification card and a residence permit.
Foreign nationals risk 10-year ban for visa overstays
Techpression reported earlier this month that from August 1, Nigeria will begin fully enforcing new immigration regulations, including hefty penalties and entry bans for foreign nationals who overstay their visas.
The Interior Ministry has set a grace period ending July 31, during which overstayers can regularise their status via a recently launched online amnesty portal without incurring fines.
Interior Minister Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced this at a stakeholder event at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja, highlighting key reforms in international travel processes.
Under the new guidelines, visitors who remain in Nigeria beyond their visa expiry will be charged a $15 daily surcharge.
Those who overstay by more than six months face a five-year re-entry ban, while those exceeding one year could receive a 10-year ban.
The amnesty portal, launched in July, allows holders of expired single-entry visas, visa-on-arrival permits, or expatriate residence cards to legalise their stay online by submitting required documentation without visiting immigration offices.
Tunji-Ojo urged diplomats to encourage their nationals to use the platform before the deadline. “Once the amnesty period is over, we will implement the law 100 percent,” he warned.