The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has released an updated step-by-step guide to assist Nigerians living abroad in renewing their passports through its Contactless Passport Application System.
The Service announced the update on Tuesday via its official X account, urging Nigerians in the diaspora to take advantage of the digital platform designed to simplify passport renewal without requiring an initial physical visit to a Nigerian embassy or high commission.
According to the NIS, applicants are required to begin the process by visiting the official Passport Application Portal, where they should select the “Continue” option from the pop-up window before choosing “Apply for Renewal/Re-issue.”
Applicants must then create an account and verify their identity using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth. After successful verification, they are expected to complete the online application form, select their preferred Nigerian embassy or high commission for processing, upload all required supporting documents and pay the appropriate passport booklet fee.
Upon completion of the payment, the system generates an Application ID and Reference Number, which applicants will need to proceed with the contactless enrolment process.
The NIS explained that applicants should then access the Application Status/Book Appointment section of the portal, select the Contactless option and review the instructions before opting into the service.
The next stage requires applicants to download the NIS Mobile App, where they can either log in or create a new profile. Through the application, users should select Passport Application Services, followed by Passport Biometrics Enrolment, before entering their Application ID and Reference Number to confirm their eligibility.
Eligible applicants will then be required to capture their facial image and fingerprints using the mobile application, complete the liveness verification process, pay the prescribed contactless biometric service fee and submit their biometric information electronically.
However, the Nigeria Immigration Service clarified that the contactless passport renewal option is not available to every applicant.
According to the Service, individuals deemed ineligible by the system must return to the online portal and schedule a physical appointment at their selected Nigerian embassy or high commission.
“If the response is INELIGIBLE, then it means the applicant should return to the landing page of the portal to book a physical appointment at the Embassy/High Commission,” the Service stated.
For applicants who successfully complete the contactless biometric enrolment, the NIS said additional documentation must still be forwarded to the selected processing mission to complete the application.
The Service explained that applicants should print their completed application form, passport booklet payment receipt, biometric payment receipt and include their current passport. These documents should then be enclosed in a self-addressed return envelope and mailed to the embassy or high commission selected during the application process.
The NIS further disclosed that applicants would be able to monitor the progress of their passport renewal after submission.
According to the Service, applications can be tracked approximately two weeks after submission through the passport tracking platform or the NIS Mobile App.
The updated Contactless Passport Application System forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve service delivery, reduce processing time and make passport renewal more convenient for Nigerians residing outside the country.
