HOW-TO

How to Apply for a Nigerian International Passport

The Nigeria Immigration Service takes passport applications online, so you fill the form and pay first, then attend a passport office for biometrics.

Step by step

1. Open the official portalGo to passport.immigration.gov.ng and choose 'Apply for Fresh Passport'. Use only this official Nigeria Immigration Service domain.
2. Verify your NINEnter your National Identification Number and date of birth so the system can pull and verify your NIMC record.
3. Choose centre and bookletSelect your processing centre or Nigerian mission, then the booklet size and validity (for example 32-page 5-year or 64-page 10-year).
4. Upload photo and detailsProvide an ICAO-compliant passport photograph, confirm the personal details from your NIMC record and a valid email, and add your contact address and next of kin.
5. Upload supporting documentsAttach the documents required for your category, such as birth certificate or declaration of age, local government/state of origin evidence, and any guarantor or parental documents for minors. Confirm the exact list on the portal.
6. Pay online and submitPay the applicable fee through the portal's payment option and submit. Keep your application and reference numbers safe.
7. Book and attend biometricsSchedule your appointment, then appear at the chosen immigration office or mission for fingerprints and photo capture, bringing the originals of your uploaded documents.

How the process works

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) runs passport applications online, so the form-filling and payment happen on the portal first, and you only visit a passport office for the in-person biometric capture. Everything starts at the official domain passport.immigration.gov.ng. Treat any other website, including ones that promise a passport with no appointment, as untrustworthy, and if you are unsure whether a page is genuine, read how to spot fake government portal clones.

What you need before you start

Have your National Identification Number (NIN) ready, because the application verifies it against your NIMC record, and the details on your passport will be drawn from that record. If your NIN details are wrong or out of date, fix them at NIMC first, and if you are not sure of your number you can check your NIN before you begin. You will also need a working email address, an ICAO-compliant passport photograph, and the supporting documents for your category. For adults these commonly include proof of age or a birth certificate, and evidence of your state and local government of origin; minors usually need their parents’ data and consent, and additional documents. The portal shows the exact list for your situation, so follow it rather than a general checklist.

Choosing a booklet and understanding fees

During the application you choose a booklet size and validity period, typically a 32-page or 64-page booklet with a 5-year or 10-year validity. The fee depends on that choice, and it is different for applications made inside Nigeria compared with those made abroad, where payment is in US dollars. Because these amounts are reviewed from time to time, do not rely on figures quoted on blogs or in this guide; confirm the current fee on the official portal at the point of payment. As of 2026 the domestic fee bands were higher than in previous years, another reason to verify before you pay.

Payment and booking

You pay online through the portal’s own payment step and then schedule your biometric appointment at the centre you selected. Keep your application number and reference number safe, since you will need them to attend your appointment and to follow progress. On the appointment day, bring the originals of every document you uploaded for verification, along with a means of identification.

After you submit

Once your biometrics are captured, your application moves into processing, and you can monitor it yourself; see how to check your passport application status for the exact steps. Processing times vary by office and passport type, so check the indicative timeline at your centre rather than assuming a fixed date. If anyone offers to speed things up in exchange for your NIN, BVN, passwords or card details, refuse, because no part of a genuine passport application needs those.

SabiGuide is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.