Passport & Immigration
All passport & immigration guides
Every passport guide we publish, grouped by topic. 33 guides in total. Looking for the highlights first? Start at the passport hub.
Apply and collect
5 guidesHow to Apply for a Nigerian Passport in 2026
First-time application — NIN setup, passport types, biometrics, fees and the route from immigration.gov.ng to collection.
Passport Guide9 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport for Minors (Under 18)
How to apply for a Nigerian e-passport for a school-age child or teenager. Parents' documents, biometrics, validity, who can sign on the child's behalf.
Family8 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport for a Newborn
How to apply for a Nigerian e-passport for a baby — NIN first, parents' documents, the 5-year booklet rule, and what biometrics look like for an infant.
Family7 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport Collection Process
How and when to collect a finished Nigerian e-passport. Required documents, proxy rules, missed-collection policy, and diaspora postal return.
Reference7 min readUpdated May 2026How Long Does a Nigerian Passport Take?
The NIS Service Level Agreement is 42 days for fresh applications and 21 days for re-issue, counted from biometric capture. Real-world timing usually meets it.
Eligibility6 min readUpdated May 2026
Renewal
4 guidesHow to Renew a Nigerian Passport in 2026
A complete, up-to-date guide covering requirements, fees, appointments, and each step to successfully renew your Nigerian passport.
Passport Guide8 min readUpdated Jan 2026Expired Nigerian Passport — Renewal vs Replacement
Expiry is a status, not an emergency. The Nigerian re-issue route handles it cleanly, and the visas inside the old booklet are not lost. Here is the practical path.
Troubleshooting7 min readUpdated May 2026Can I Renew My Nigerian Passport Before It Expires?
Yes — and NIS asks you to start when 6 months of validity remain. Why some travellers should renew even earlier, and what happens to the old booklet.
Eligibility5 min readUpdated May 2026Can I Travel with an Expired Nigerian Passport?
No for outbound international travel from Nigeria. The narrow exception is the return-to-Nigeria leg, where NIS has directed airlines to accept Nigerians with expired booklets.
Eligibility5 min readUpdated May 2026
Requirements
2 guidesNigerian Passport Requirements (2026 Checklist)
The full document checklist for a Nigerian e-passport — fresh, renewal, replacement, minors, and diaspora — verified against current NIS guidance.
Reference7 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport Photo Requirements (2026 Specification)
The full ICAO-compliant photo specification used by the Nigeria Immigration Service. Dimensions, background, expression, eyewear, head coverings, babies.
Reference7 min readUpdated May 2026
Fees and payment
5 guidesNigerian Passport Fees in 2026 — Full Schedule
Every published fee for a Nigerian e-passport in 2026. Inside Nigeria and diaspora rates, lost-passport penalties, NTP, and what is not included.
Reference8 min readUpdated May 2026How to Print a Nigerian Passport Application Form
A printed copy of your application form is the physical handoff between the portal and the biometric officer. Here is when the PDF generates and how to retrieve it.
Passport Guide5 min readUpdated May 2026How to Reprint a Nigerian Passport Payment Receipt
You closed the tab before saving the PDF. Or the print queued and never came out. Recover the official NIS payment receipt from the portal or directly from Remita.
Passport Guide5 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport Payment Pending — What to Do
Your bank debited you but immigration.gov.ng still shows the application as Pending. Here's how to fix it without paying twice.
Troubleshooting6 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport Payment Failed — How to Fix
Failed is different from pending. The bank rejected the card or Remita returned an explicit Failed status. Here is how to recover and complete the payment.
Troubleshooting7 min readUpdated May 2026
Appointments
4 guidesHow to Book a Nigerian Passport Biometric Appointment
After payment clears on immigration.gov.ng, the next move is booking the date and centre for biometric enrolment. Here is the full walkthrough.
Passport Guide9 min readUpdated May 2026Nigerian Passport Appointment Not Available — What to Do
Payment cleared and the portal shows no available appointment slots. Real workarounds for Lagos, Abuja and other busy centres, and what not to try.
Troubleshooting7 min readUpdated May 2026Missed Nigerian Passport Appointment — Next Steps
You did not attend on the booked date. Your file is fine, the slot lapsed. Here is how to recover without losing the payment or starting over.
Troubleshooting7 min readUpdated May 2026How to Reschedule a Nigerian Passport Appointment
The portal opens rescheduling only after the original date has passed. Here is how to access the screen, what changes, and what stays locked.
Passport Guide6 min readUpdated May 2026
Status tracking
1 guideLost or damaged
3 guidesLost Nigerian Passport — What to Do
Calm, ordered steps from the moment you realise it is gone to a new booklet in hand. Plus what to do if you have to travel before it arrives.
Troubleshooting9 min readUpdated May 2026Damaged Nigerian Passport — Replacement Steps
Water, ink, a torn page, a washing-machine cycle. How to replace a damaged Nigerian passport without losing the visas inside, and what to do if you fly soon.
Troubleshooting8 min readUpdated May 2026Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) and Nigeria Temporary Passport
The one-way travel document for Nigerians stranded abroad. What the ETC and NTP are, who qualifies, where to apply, and what they will not do.
Reference6 min readUpdated May 2026
Identity mismatch
3 guidesNIN Does Not Match Passport Application — How to Fix
When your NIMC record and your Nigerian passport file disagree, NIS holds the file at NIN Verification. Here is how to bring the two systems back into sync.
Troubleshooting8 min readUpdated May 2026Name Mismatch on Nigerian Passport Application
A spelling difference, a missing middle initial, the surname in the wrong position. The decision tree for whether to fix the form or fix the supporting document.
Troubleshooting7 min readUpdated May 2026Date of Birth Mismatch on Nigerian Passport Application
Why DOB carries more legal weight than a name and why fixing it costs more, takes longer, and sometimes needs a court order before NIS or NIMC will move.
Troubleshooting8 min readUpdated May 2026
Change of data
3 guidesHow to Change the Name on a Nigerian Passport
You have a new name after marriage, divorce, or a court name change. Here is how the passport catches up, in the right order, with the right documents.
Modification9 min readUpdated May 2026How to Change the Date of Birth on a Nigerian Passport
The legal hurdle comes first. Court affidavit, NPC corrected certificate, then NIMC, then NIS. Why this process is longer than a name change and what it costs.
Modification9 min readUpdated May 2026How to Change Marital Status on a Nigerian Passport
Four marriage-related scenarios run through NIS, and each needs a different document bundle. Here is the practical map from marriage certificate to new booklet.
Modification7 min readUpdated May 2026
Booklet types
3 guides32-Page vs 64-Page Nigerian Passport
Same passport, different booklet size. Which one is right for you depends on how often you travel and the visas you collect.
Comparison5 min readUpdated May 20265-Year vs 10-Year Nigerian Passport
Two validity options, two prices, one age rule. Which Nigerian e-passport validity is right for you depends on your age and how often life changes.
Comparison5 min readUpdated May 2026Standard Nigerian Passport vs Enhanced E-Passport
The dual system was scrapped in July 2025. All new Nigerian passports are now the enhanced e-Passport. Here is what changed and what the old labels still mean.
Comparison6 min readUpdated May 2026