The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled a new digital platform for the application and processing of the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s immigration system.
In a statement released by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACI Kenneth Kure Akinlabi, the NIS said the new platform—https://cerpac.immigration.gov.ng—is now active and will allow expatriates and their employers to submit CERPAC applications online.
The development aligns with the Federal Government’s broader reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, streamlining operations, and improving service delivery across immigration procedures.
The NIS announced that beginning August 1, 2025, all CERPAC applications must be submitted exclusively via the online portal, as manual (physical) forms will no longer be accepted.
Applicants who have already paid for physical forms but are yet to submit them have until July 31, 2025, to complete and lodge their applications. Failure to do so will result in the loss of their application status and any related payments.
The agency urged organizations and individuals responsible for expatriates to ensure that all pending applications are concluded before the transition deadline to avoid service disruptions.
“Any CERPAC form not submitted by the deadline will be rendered void and invalid,” the statement emphasized. For further enquiries, the NIS advised applicants to reach out to the Office of the Public Relations Officer.
The Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) is an essential immigration document issued to foreign nationals residing and working in Nigeria. It serves both as a residence permit and an identification card, granting the legal right to live, work, or conduct business in the country. The permit is typically valid for one year and is renewable.
The digitalization of the CERPAC process is part of a broader overhaul of Nigeria’s immigration framework under the current administration. In May 2025, the NIS rolled out a new e-Visa system and introduced automated landing and exit cards to enhance border management.
As part of these reforms, the agency also introduced a new penalty for visa overstays. From September 1, 2025, foreigners who remain in Nigeria beyond their approved stay will incur a daily fine of $15.
However, a three-month visa amnesty period is currently in effect from May 1 to August 1, 2025. During this window, foreigners with expired visas can voluntarily exit Nigeria without incurring penalties.
The NIS said the reforms aim to foster better migration control, promote compliance, and ease the experience of legal residency and business for foreigners in Nigeria.
