Passport & Immigration FAQ

You can complete the form, payment and appointment-booking online at immigration.gov.ng, but biometrics and document verification always require a physical visit. Inside Nigeria that visit is to a passport office or processing centre. Abroad it is to a Nigerian high commission, embassy or consulate that handles passport biometrics. The portal flow ends with a barcoded acknowledgement to bring to the appointment.

Yes. NIN is mandatory for every Nigerian passport application since the NIMC integration with the NIS portal. The names, date of birth and gender on your NIN must match what you enter on the passport form, or the system rejects the submission. If your NIN data is wrong, fix it at NIMC first before paying the passport fee, otherwise the application will fail at validation.

Do not pay again immediately. Check three things first: your bank statement for the actual debit, the NIS payment dashboard for the transaction reference, and the application status page for any pending reconciliation. Most pending payments clear within 24 hours. If money was debited and status does not update after that, raise a ticket on the portal with your bank reference and the date.

Yes. Every Nigerian high commission, embassy and consulate handles renewals for residents of that country. Start the application on immigration.gov.ng and select the relevant mission as the processing centre. Appointment systems vary by country: London, Washington DC and Ottawa have heavy queues, while smaller missions are quicker. Diaspora renewal fees are set in US dollars, even when paid through a local bank.

Standard processing inside Nigeria is typically two to six weeks from biometric capture to card collection, depending on the booklet type and processing centre. Lagos and Abuja are usually faster than smaller offices. Diaspora applications take longer because the passport is printed in Nigeria and shipped to the mission. Plan to apply at least eight weeks before any travel where you need the new passport.

Both passports have the same legal validity. The 32-page booklet suits travellers who use fewer visa stickers per year. The 64-page booklet is for frequent travellers who would otherwise need a renewal before five years are up. Fees are higher for the 64-page version, but you avoid an early renewal if you collect visas regularly. Validity term (5 or 10 years) is a separate choice from page count.

Yes. Children of any age can hold a Nigerian passport, including newborns. Minor applications need both parents' consent on the form, the child's birth certificate from NPC, both parents' passports or NIN, and a recent passport photograph that meets the NIS specification. Child passports are typically issued for five years, after which the child applies for a fresh booklet with biometrics.

Most processing centres allow you to walk in on a later day with your appointment slip, subject to queue. The application does not lapse just because the appointment date passes. If the appointment was at a specific mission abroad, contact that mission to reschedule through their channel. Avoid touts offering to 'reschedule for a fee' at the office, since the system does not have such a paid path.

No. NigeriaHowTo is independent and never collects NIN, payment, biometrics or passport applications. Every Nigerian passport application is completed on immigration.gov.ng and the biometric appointment is in person at an NIS office or mission. Anyone messaging users claiming to be us and offering to 'process' a passport is not us, and is not authorised by the NIS.