Nigerians living outside the country can now renew their passports without physically visiting a Nigerian embassy or high commission for biometric enrolment, under the Nigeria Immigration Service’s Contactless Passport Application System.
The initiative is designed for eligible Nigerians in the diaspora and allows applicants to complete the passport renewal process, submit their biometrics remotely and monitor their applications online.
The Nigeria Immigration Service announced the procedure in a video shared through its official social media platform on Saturday, while urging Nigerians to use only its authorised channels when applying for passports.
How the Contactless Passport Renewal Works
1. Start the application online
Eligible applicants should visit the official NIS passport portal and select “Apply from Outside Nigeria.” They should then choose “Apply for Renewal/Re-issue” to begin.
Applicants will be required to create an account and verify their identity using their National Identification Number and date of birth.
They must complete the application form, select their preferred processing embassy or high commission and upload the required documents.
2. Pay the passport fee
After completing the application, applicants must pay the applicable passport fee based on the booklet they require.
The NIS will issue an Application ID and Reference Number, which applicants will need during subsequent stages of the process.
3. Select the contactless option
Applicants will be offered the choice of a physical appointment or the contactless service.
Those who qualify and wish to use the remote option should select “Opt-in for Contactless” under the application status or appointment section.
The system will provide instructions explaining the process. Applicants are required to read the guidelines before confirming their participation.
4. Complete biometric enrolment remotely
Applicants must download the NIS Mobile App and either sign into an existing account or create a profile.
Within the app, they should select “Passport Application Services” and then “Passport Biometrics Enrollment.”
They will be required to enter their Application ID and Reference Number and select “Check Eligibility.”
Eligible applicants will then be guided through the capture of their facial image and fingerprints. They will also undergo liveness verification before submitting their biometric information for review.
Once the biometric information has been reviewed and eligibility confirmed, applicants will be directed to pay the contactless service fee.
What If an Applicant Is Not Eligible?
Applicants who do not qualify for the contactless service will have to complete their biometric enrolment physically.
The NIS said such applicants should return to the passport portal and book an appointment at their selected Nigerian embassy or high commission.
Applicants Must Still Send Their Current Passport
Even after completing the biometric process remotely, applicants must print their application form and retrieve their current Nigerian passport.
The NIS requires the documents and passport to be placed in a self-addressed return envelope and sent to the selected processing embassy or high commission.
How to Track the Application
Applicants can begin tracking their passport applications approximately two weeks after submission through the NIS passport tracking portal or the NIS Mobile App.
According to the Immigration Service, the contactless system was introduced to make passport renewal faster, easier and more convenient for eligible Nigerians living abroad.
The service stressed that eligible applicants no longer need to travel to an embassy specifically for biometric enrolment and can complete much of the process remotely.
The NIS also warned Nigerians to avoid unofficial agents and websites, advising applicants to use only the Immigration Service’s official platforms for passport applications and related payments.
