How to Process International Passport in Nigeria

Traveling outside the shores of Nigeria to some countries may not require you to go through the rigorous process of applying for a visa. However, you can’t say the same for an international passport.

Moving from Nigeria to any country on the globe requires that you possess an international passport with valid dates until your visit is over and you exit your host country. Even when you do not have urgent travel plans, it is wise to have your international passport ready because opportunities might come knocking when you least expect them.

That is why I have provided you with a guide on how to process your international passport as a Nigerian living in Nigeria.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• You can process your international passport online. The only time you will need to leave your house is to capture your biometric information and collect your passport when it’s ready.
• The pages of the Nigerian international passport determine the duration of the booklet. A 64-page booklet lasts for 10 years, while a 32-page booklet lasts for 5 years.
• Government workers who want to process their Nigerian international passport must provide a letter of introduction showing their Service Number, Rank, and the Length of Service. You must submit it along with your valid staff ID Card.
• Every child under 18 must have a letter of consent from a parent, including adopted children. Adopted children must also have an extra document before their Nigerian international passport can be processed. These documents are: A court order and an approval letter from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

How much will it cost me to get an international passport in Nigeria?

The Nigerian Immigration Service offers two types of passports to citizens: A 64-page international passport booklet and a 32-page booklet.

The current price of a Nigerian international passport varies according to the number of pages you want. Therefore, a 64-page passport costs 70,000 Nigerian Naira, while a 32-page international passport booklet costs 35,000 Nigerian Naira.

Nigerian citizens outside Nigeria who wish to apply for the 64-page passport booklet must pay $230 (274,705 Nigerian Naira), and those who want to apply for the 32-page booklet must pay $130 (155,268 Nigerian Naira).

What are the requirements for a Nigerian international passport in Nigeria?

As a Nigerian who became a Nigerian by birth, your requirements differ from those of someone who naturalized as a Nigerian. You will find the list of requirements below for Nigerians by birth.

If you are 18 years old and above and wish to apply for the passport, the requirements include:

• International passport application form that has been correctly filled out
• A birth certificate. If you were born between 1992 upwards to 2024 and counting, your birth certificate must be issued and recognized by the National Population Commission (NPC). Others can do an age declaration duly endorsed by a Commissioner for Oaths with a passport-sized photograph attached.
• A letter of identification from your Local Government or state of Origin.
• Your National Identification Number (NIN)
• Marriage certificate (for married people)

If you are below 18 years old, your requirements are slightly different and they include:

• A document showing that your parents are Nigerians
• Letter of consent from any of the parents (either from the mother or the father)
• International passport application form correctly filled out
• One passport-sized photograph with the endorsement from the parent showing approval. Please attach it to the application form.
• The birth certificate that was issued by the National Population Commission (NPC) for minors in Nigeria
• Receipt for passport payment.

Steps to process your international passport in Nigeria

This step-by-step guide is for all Nigerians living in Nigeria. To begin your passport process, you must decide if you wish to apply online or walk into the immigration office in your state of residence.

If you wish to apply online, here’s the application process:

1. Log into the Nigeria Immigration Service website
2. Fill out the passport application form
3. Select your preferred processing state
4. Use the ‘Quick Tools’ to input: your age range; passport type; processing state ; processing center ; number of passport pages and validity Application type.
5. Click on the ‘check fee’ button to know how much you must pay for your type of passport.
6. Select your application fee payment option. The options are:

• Pay at Bank
• Pay by card or
• USSD
• Book your biometric capturing appointment
• Visit the Immigration on your scheduled date

Return home and wait for your passport pick-up date. The Immigration office will notify you through SMS.

How long does it take to get an international passport in Nigeria now?

Before you start keeping tabs on how long your international passport took to get to you, you must finish the biometric capturing first.

After your biometrics are captured, it takes about one to three months for your fresh passport to arrive. Therefore, you must keep this in mind before planning or finalizing your trip.

However, you can fast-track your passport and get it within days or, at the latest, a week. This route requires you to part with money to speed up the process.

Fast-tracking services may not be available in all immigration branches in the country. So, it would help if you asked questions before using your preferred branch’s services.

How to verify if your international passport is ready in Nigeria

After successfully applying for your passport, the next wise thing to do is to wait. While you await for the process to be completed, you can decide to track it.

You must know the necessary steps to track your passport. For many people, tracking their passports’ progress helps them cope with the waiting period.

So here’s how to track your Nigerian international passport:

• Get on an internet-enabled device
• Log into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Portal for passport status
• Input your passport application reference number
• Input your passport application ID
• Click on submit

Your information, that is, your details, including your passport status, will appear on the screen for you to check. Your passport application ID and application reference number will be in your email. The immigration office will send them to you after your passport application.