How to Apply for a Nigerian Passport in 2026

You need a fresh Nigerian passport application if this is your first passport, or if your last passport is so old that the Immigration Service treats it as a new file. If you already hold a passport that has expired or expires within six months, you are renewing, not applying fresh. Follow how to renew a Nigerian passport instead. Lost or damaged passports have their own routes; see lost Nigerian passport and damaged Nigerian passport.

This guide covers the first-time route through immigration.gov.ng: online application, payment, biometrics appointment, and collection.

The Nigeria Immigration Service ties every passport file to a verified National Identification Number. You cannot complete the online form without one. Two practical points:

• Your NIN record must already exist and be enrolled. If you have a NIN slip from NIMC, you are set.
• The name and date of birth on your NIN must match the application form exactly. Spelling, order, hyphens, all of it. A single-character mismatch is the most common reason applications stall.

If you do not yet have a NIN, complete NIN registration first. If the details on your NIN are wrong, fix them at a NIMC office before you apply. Correcting after submission means a separate trip to the passport office to update the file.

You make two choices on the same form:

• Booklet size: 32-page or 64-page. Pages are for entry stamps and visa vignettes. Frequent travellers and anyone applying for visas that take a full page should choose 64-page.
• Validity: 5 years or 10 years. The 10-year option costs more but means one fewer renewal cycle. Minors generally receive 5-year passports by default.

Neither choice affects how long approval takes. If you are unsure, see 32-page vs 64-page Nigerian passport and 5-year vs 10-year Nigerian passport.

You upload scans to the portal during the online application and bring the originals to your biometric appointment. Officers verify hard copies before they capture your fingerprints.

For minors, parents also bring their own passports, NIN slips, and a signed consent letter. For diaspora applicants, your nearest Nigerian high commission may also ask for a proof of address in your host country.

1. 1
   Start the application on immigration.gov.ngOpen the portal, pick 'Fresh' (not 'Renew'), then choose your processing centre and passport type.
2. 2
   Fill in personal detailsUse the exact spelling on your NIN. Add next of kin, contact details, and state of origin.
3. 3
   Upload documentsClear scans only. Blurry uploads are the second most common reason applications get queried.
4. 4
   Pay on the portalUse the Remita or card option offered. Save the payment receipt PDF before you close the tab.
5. 5
   Book your biometric appointmentPick a date and centre. Diaspora applicants book directly with their high commission or embassy.
6. 6
   Attend the biometric appointmentBring every original document. Officers take fingerprints, signature and photo, then issue an acknowledgement slip.
7. 7
   Track and collectCheck status on the portal. When the passport is ready, collect in person with the acknowledgement slip and a government-issued ID.

Inside Nigeria, the portal lets you pick any NIS passport office. Lagos (Ikoyi, Alausa, Festac), Abuja, and Port Harcourt see the highest volumes, which usually means longer waits for biometric slots. Smaller state offices often have faster availability, provided you can travel there for the appointment.

If you live outside Nigeria, apply through your nearest Nigerian high commission or embassy. NHC London handles the UK; the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC handles the US; the High Commission in Ottawa handles Canada. Each mission runs its own queue, charges a local-currency fee, and may add an in-person interview to the biometric capture. Diaspora processing is generally slower than Nigeria — budget at least eight weeks.

The centre where you book is where you collect. You cannot start in Nigeria and finish abroad, or the other way round.

NIS revised passport fees on 1 September 2025. Current rates inside Nigeria:

• 32-page, 5-year: ₦100,000
• 64-page, 10-year: ₦200,000

There is no 32-page 10-year option. The 64-page, 5-year is available at a price between the two above; check immigration.gov.ng for the current figure.

Diaspora applicants pay in local currency at their nearest Nigerian high commission or embassy: $150 for the 32-page 5-year and $230 for the 64-page 10-year. These USD anchors were left unchanged in the September 2025 review.

Processing follows the NIS Service Level Agreement: 42 days after enrolment for fresh applications and change-of-data. The clock starts on the day biometrics are captured. Diaspora missions run their own queues, typically 8 to 12 weeks.

• Picking 'Renew' instead of 'Fresh' on the portal when you have no prior passport. The system will reject the file later.
• Submitting a name that differs from your NIN, even a missing middle initial counts.
• Paying through a third party who promises a 'fast track'. Pay only on immigration.gov.ng; anything else is a scam.
• Booking a centre you cannot physically reach within the appointment window.
• Uploading phone screenshots of documents instead of clean scans.
• Forgetting to bring originals to the biometric appointment. Officers verify hard copies before capturing prints.