Nigerian Immigration Service Issues Fresh Guidelines For Contactless Passport Applications

The Service said on Tuesday that 11 steps should be followed by Nigerians trying to renew their passports, saying the new Biometric Passport Application, has been launched in four countries including the United States of America, Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil.

The NIS disclosed this in a statement on its verified X account, saying the new biometric system will soon be available in Nigeria and Australia where it has yet to be launched.

According to the agency those eligible for contact passport includes persons between 18 and 60 years, those with not more than six months to the expiration on their current passports and those for re-issuance of existing passport.

“It is yet to be rolled out in Australia and Nigeria, a future date will be announced for both countries in due course,” the NIS stated.

The Service further disclosed that the application process which can be accessed on Google Play Store (NIS Mobile) is designed to help Nigerian passport holders carry out their renewal process without visiting any Passport Centre for Biometric enrollment.

Below, steps to be followed by Nigerians applying contactless passport:

1. Download and install the NIS Mobile App from relevant mobile app store(Google Playstore); create a profile and activate your account using a valid email
2. Click on ‘passport application services’ tab on the landing page.
3. Proceed with the passport application process as indicated and ensure to choose the self enrollment option.
4. Make payment and note your application ID and Reference No.
5. Click the contactless biometric enrollment option on the passport application services
6. Input your application ID and reference number as required to check eligibility and proceed
7. If you are not eligible, proceed to book appointment via the NIS passport application portal (passport.int.immigration.gov.ng)
8. If eligible proceed with biometric fingerprints and passport photograph enrollment and submit appropriately.
9. Print your application form and payment receipt.
10. Send your old passport including your application form and payment receipt to the processing Embassy in a self-addressed return envelope l refusal to comply with this means that you will not receive your newly produced passport)
11. Wait for your passport to be delivered to the address indicated on your envelope within the stated timeline.

Meanwhile, the NIS said In addition, the NIS said those for correction of data, replacement of lost or stolen passport and other exceptional cases are not eligible under the new system.