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| Follow the official online process to apply for a Nigerian international passport in 2026, including fees, biometric capture, and tracking steps. |
How to Apply for the Nigerian International Passport Online: 2026 Guide
Getting a Nigerian international passport used to mean touts at the gate, months of waiting, and quiet "facilitation" payments just to get seen. That's genuinely changed. Since the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) centralised passport production in Abuja in September 2025 and pushed the entire process online, applying has become more predictable — but fees have also roughly doubled, and there are still specific steps where applications commonly stall. Here's exactly how the process works now.
Nigerian International Passport 2026
- - Application platform: Fully online via the NIS portal at immigration.gov.ng
- - 32-page passport (5-year validity): ₦100,000 (within Nigeria)
- - 64-page passport (10-year validity): ₦200,000 (within Nigeria)
- - Diaspora fees (unchanged): $150 (5-year) and $230 (10-year)
- - Fee increase effective: September 1, 2025
- - Processing time (fresh application): Roughly 6 weeks after biometric capture
- - Processing time (renewal): Roughly 3 weeks after biometric capture
- - Fastest official option: Automated Passport Application Process, targeting a 1-week turnaround in optimised cases
- - Payment method: Online only — cash payments at NIS offices are not accepted
- - Mandatory requirement: A valid NIN, used to auto-retrieve your details from the NIMC database
- - Old discounted fee categories (minors, seniors): No longer applicable — the standard ₦100,000/₦200,000 fees now apply across the board
- - Centralised passport production: Launched Abuja, September 2025, replacing the decentralised printing system that had run since 1963
Step-by-Step: How to Apply Online
Step 1: Visit the Official NIS Portal
Go to immigration.gov.ng and select "Apply for Passport" or "Apply for Fresh/Renewal Passport." Avoid any third-party site claiming to offer passport applications — the NIS portal is the only legitimate channel.
Step 2: Create an Account or Log In
Register using an OpenID account tied to your email address, or sign in with Google if you've previously used the portal. Returning applicants (for renewals) can log directly into their existing profile.
Step 3: Enter Your NIN
This is the step that's made the biggest practical difference in recent reforms — the system automatically retrieves your biodata from the NIMC database using your National Identification Number, rather than requiring you to manually re-enter everything.
Important: If any of your NIMC-held data (name spelling, date of birth) is incorrect, fix it at a NIMC office before applying — the passport prints exactly what NIMC holds on file, and this cannot be corrected on the passport portal itself.
Step 4: Select Your Passport Type
Choose between:
- - 32-page, 5-year validity — ₦100,000
- - 64-page, 10-year validity — ₦200,000
Step 5: Complete the Application Form
Fill in your personal information, including full name, address, and date of birth (auto-populated from NIN where applicable). Upload required documents as prompted.
Step 6: Pay Online
Payment is made entirely online via debit/credit card or approved bank payment channels. Print both your payment receipt and your acknowledgment slip — you'll need these at your biometric appointment.
Step 7: Book Your Biometric Appointment
Schedule a date at your nearest NIS office for fingerprinting, photo capture, and document verification. Be aware: busy centres, particularly in Lagos, can have appointment slots booked out weeks in advance — don't wait until close to a travel deadline to book this step.
Step 8: Attend Biometric Capture
Bring all original documents, your printed slips, and dress appropriately for your photo — modest, plain clothing that contrasts with the white background, with your face fully visible (no glasses or headwear).
Step 9: Track and Collect
Use your application reference number and date of birth to track your passport's production status via the NIS tracking portal. Once marked ready, collect it from your designated centre.
Required Documents
- - National Identification Number (NIN) — mandatory
- - Birth certificate or age declaration — from the National Population Commission (NPC) or a court affidavit
- - Two recent passport photographs with a white background
- - Completed online application form
- - Payment and acknowledgment slips
Additional Documents by Category
| Applicant Type | Extra Requirements |
|---|---|
| Minors (under 18) | Birth certificate, parent/guardian consent letter, parent/guardian's passport data page |
| Married women (name change) | Marriage certificate or supporting affidavit |
| Senior citizens | Proof of age (birth certificate or statutory declaration) |
| Lost/stolen passport | Police extract, sworn court affidavit, newspaper publication of the loss, plus an additional non-refundable administrative charge |
Renewing an Existing Passport
Renewal follows essentially the same process as a fresh application, with a few differences:
1. Log in to the NIS portal and select the renewal option
2. Enter your current (expiring) passport details
3. Make payment — renewal costs exactly the same as a fresh passport; there's no discounted renewal rate
4. Schedule and attend your biometric appointment
5. Present your old passport for cancellation
6. Collect your renewed passport once production is complete
A Genuinely Useful New Option: Contactless Renewal
Eligible applicants can now complete biometrics contactlessly via the NIS Mobile app, avoiding an in-person office visit entirely for the biometric step — a meaningful improvement for applicants in areas without convenient access to a physical NIS office.
Applying From Abroad
If you're a Nigerian living abroad, the online renewal service covers applicants in multiple countries, including Canada, the UK, the US, and Italy, with an option for home delivery once your passport is ready. Diaspora applicants pay $150 (5-year) or $230 (10-year), a fee structure that has remained unchanged despite the domestic fee increase.
Realistic Timelines: Plan Ahead
If your passport expires in, say, October, you should be starting your renewal application by May or June at the latest — not because the official processing window is that long, but because appointment availability at busy centres can itself take weeks to secure before your biometric capture even happens.
- - Regular fresh application: Roughly 6 weeks after biometric capture
- - Renewal: Roughly 3 weeks after biometric capture
- - Fastest official pathway: The Automated Passport Application Process, which the Minister of Interior has indicated can, in optimised cases, produce a passport within one week of enrolment
- - Airport fast-track (diaspora renewals): A dedicated system at major airports promises completion within roughly two weeks for eligible renewal cases
- A caution on "express" claims: Official express or same-day processing fees are not published by NIS. Any third party promising guaranteed same-day turnaround for an extra fee should be treated with real skepticism.
Common Mistakes That Delay Applications
- - Applying with incorrect NIMC data. Since the passport prints exactly what's on your NIMC record, an error there will follow straight into your passport application. Fix it at NIMC first.
- - Waiting too close to a travel date to book biometrics. Appointment slots at busy centres fill up weeks in advance.
- - Paying through unofficial "agents" or touts. The process is fully self-service online — anyone offering to "speed things up" for a fee outside the official portal adds cost and genuine fraud risk.
- - Submitting mismatched documents for name-change or minor applications — double-check the specific document list for your applicant category before booking your appointment.
- How to Link NIN to MTN (2026 Guide)
- Nigeria Customs Service Ranks and Salary Structure (2026 Guide)
Applying for a Nigerian international passport in 2026 is a genuinely more predictable process than it used to be — fully online, NIN-linked, and trackable — but it now costs significantly more (₦100,000 or ₦200,000 within Nigeria) following the September 2025 fee increase. The biggest practical risk isn't the online application itself, but appointment scarcity at busy biometric centres, so apply and book your slot well ahead of any firm travel date.
5. FAQ
How much does a Nigerian international passport cost in 2026?
₦100,000 for the 32-page, 5-year passport, or ₦200,000 for the 64-page, 10-year passport, for applications made within Nigeria. Diaspora applicants pay $150 or $230 respectively.
How long does it take to get a Nigerian passport in 2026?
Roughly 6 weeks for a fresh application and 3 weeks for a renewal, both counted from your biometric capture date, though optimised cases via the Automated Passport Application Process can be ready within one week.
Can I pay for my Nigerian passport in cash?
No. All payments are made online through the NIS portal — cash payments at NIS offices are not accepted.
What if my NIN details are wrong when applying for a passport?
You must correct your data at a NIMC office first, since the passport is printed using exactly what NIMC holds on file — the passport portal itself cannot fix biodata errors.
Can Nigerians abroad renew their passport online?
Yes, the online renewal service covers Nigerians in several countries including Canada, the UK, the US, and Italy, with a home delivery option and a contactless biometric option via the NIS Mobile app for eligible applicants.
- Nigeria Immigration Service official portal
- National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
- Federal Ministry of Interior
