The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced an updated Contactless Passport Application System, allowing Nigerians living abroad to renew their passports without visiting a Nigerian embassy or high commission for biometric capture.
In a revised application guide released on its official X account, the NIS encouraged eligible Nigerians in the diaspora to take advantage of the digital platform to complete the passport renewal process remotely.
Applicants are required to visit the official passport application portal, select the passport renewal option, create an account, and verify their identity using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth. They must then complete the application form, upload the required documents, and pay the passport booklet fee.
After obtaining an Application ID and Reference Number, applicants can choose the contactless option, download the NIS Mobile App, and complete biometric enrolment by capturing their facial image and fingerprints, followed by a liveness verification.
Once the biometric process is completed and the contactless enrolment fee is paid, applicants are expected to print their application form and payment receipts and send them, along with their current passport, in a self-addressed return envelope to their selected Nigerian embassy or high commission.
The NIS advised applicants to monitor the progress of their passport renewal through the Passport Tracking Portal or the NIS Mobile App. Processing is expected to take about two weeks after submission.
The agency also noted that applicants who do not meet the requirements for the contactless process will be required to schedule a physical biometric appointment at their chosen Nigerian embassy or high commission.
