Nigerians living abroad can now renew their passports through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Contactless Passport Application System, allowing eligible applicants to complete the renewal process without visiting a Nigerian embassy or high commission for biometric enrolment.
The updated application guide, released by the NIS, outlines a fully digital process designed to simplify passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora.
To begin the process, applicants should visit the official NIS Passport Application Portal, proceed from the welcome page and select the passport renewal or re-issue option. They are then required to create an account and verify their identity using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth.
Applicants must complete the online application form, choose the Nigerian embassy or high commission where the passport will be processed, upload all required documents and pay the passport booklet fee. Once completed, an Application ID and Reference Number will be generated.
Afterward, applicants should select the Contactless option under the application status section, review the instructions and opt into the service. They will then need to download the NIS Mobile App, sign in or create a profile and access the Passport Application Services menu.
Using the app, applicants can begin biometric enrolment by entering their Application ID and Reference Number. The process includes capturing a facial photograph, scanning fingerprints, completing a liveness verification and paying the contactless enrolment fee before submitting the biometric information.
Once the biometric stage is completed, applicants are required to print their application form and payment receipts and send them, together with their current passport, in a self-addressed return envelope to the Nigerian embassy or high commission selected during the application.
Applicants can track the progress of their passport renewal through the NIS Passport Tracking Portal or the NIS Mobile App, with processing expected to take about two weeks after submission.
The Nigeria Immigration Service also noted that applicants who do not qualify for the contactless service will be required to schedule a physical biometric appointment at their selected Nigerian embassy or high commission before their application can be processed.
