Nigeria passport rules & issuance — the complete plain-English guide
By Chaman Law Firm — clear, value-driven legal education
Introduction — why passports still matter (and why this guide)
A passport is your legal key to cross borders. For Nigerians — whether you live in Lagos, London, New York or Abuja — understanding passport eligibility, application steps, timelines and legal protections can save weeks of delay and protect your constitutional rights. Nigeria has modernised passport issuance in recent years (online applications, biometric e-passports and tighter NIN/NIMC checks). That’s great for speed and security — but it also means applicants must be precise and organised. This guide explains the full process, practical examples, recent legal developments and what to do if something goes wrong.
Who issues Nigerian passports (and the legal basis)
• The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is the statutory issuing authority for passports and the operator of the online passport portal. All standard applications — fresh, renewal, replacement, correction — are processed through the NIS passport service.
• Passport issuance operates under the Passport Act / Immigration Act framework and the administrative rules published by NIS; courts may review administrative delay or wrongful refusal. Recent court orders have compelled NIS to issue passports and awarded damages for unreasonable delay.
Types of Nigerian passports (what you can apply for)
• Standard / Ordinary e-Passport (green): issued to ordinary citizens — available in 32-page 5-year and 64-page 5-year or 10-year booklets depending on eligibility and fee paid.
• Official passport (blue): for government officials on official duty.
• Diplomatic passport (red): for accredited diplomats and certain public office holders.
• Other travel documents: convention travel documents or temporary/ emergency travel documents may be issued in specific circumstances by NIS or via Nigerian missions abroad.
Who is eligible for a Nigerian passport?
Generally, every Nigerian citizen — by birth, descent, registration or naturalisation — is eligible to apply, provided they satisfy documentary and identity requirements set out on the NIS portal. First-time applicants must show proof of identity and, where applicable, state-level documents (e.g., birth certificate, indigeneship/ local government card).
The modern application workflow — step-by-step (online + biometric)
Overview: Nigeria has automated passport applications — you start online, verify your NIN, upload documents, pay online, then attend a biometric appointment at the chosen passport office or consulate for capture and final processing.
1. Register / start on the official NIS portal — use the NIS passport portal to create an account and select the application type (fresh, renewal, replacement, correction). Always use the official portal — don’t trust third-party sites.
2. Verify your NIN (National Identification Number) — most passport applications now require NIN verification (NIMC). Ensure your NIN details match the name and date of birth you enter on the portal. Mismatches cause delays.
3. Complete the online form & upload supporting documents — passport photograph (ICAO standard), birth certificate or sworn age declaration (where necessary), proof of state of origin/indigeneship for first-timers, previous passport for renewals. For lost passports you’ll upload police extract + sworn affidavit.
4. Pay official fees online and print the payment/appointment slip — NIS accepts payment via the portal. Keep the transaction reference; NIS will not accept cash for portal transactions and warns against third-party payment scams.
5. Attend biometric capture and submit originals — bring originals to your appointment (ID, NIN, birth certificate, supporting docs). Biometrics and signature capture are mandatory.
6. Track the application & collect — use the portal tracking feature and return to the processing centre or consulate on the issued date to collect or arrange courier return where available.
Renewal, re-issue and corrections — practical notes
• Renewal: verify NIN during renewal; upload your current passport details and choose booklet size. If renewing abroad, follow the Nigerian mission/consulate’s procedures (appointments, original passport, photos, NIN and printed portal slips).
• Name change / correction: supply a court order for a legal name change and publish (where required) — follow NIS guidance and upload supporting documents to the portal.
• Replacement (lost/stolen): file a police report in the country where the loss occurred, obtain a sworn affidavit and upload the police extract and affidavit with your online replacement application; consulates often require additional local documentation for overseas replacements.
Minors, guardianship & passports for children
• Child applicants (under 18) require parent/guardian identification and consent. The parent or legal guardian must attend the biometric appointment with the child and present their own NIN and ID documents. Special rules apply for adoption or cases where one parent objects — NIS will request supporting court orders. Always check the portal checklist for minor applicants.
Fees, processing times & realistic expectations
• Fees: vary by booklet type and whether application is domestic or through a consulate abroad. Always pay via the official NIS portal and save receipts. Fee schedules are published on the NIS portal and consulate websites.
• Processing times: improved with automation, but actual timelines depend on completeness of application, NIN verification and office workload. Courts have recently criticised excessive delay — judges have ordered passports issued where NIS unjustifiably delayed beyond statutory or reasonable time. Expect to allow several weeks; contact your processing centre if you meet all requirements but wait beyond published timelines.
Passport revocation, seizure and refusal — legal grounds & safeguards
When NIS can refuse, revoke or seize a passport:
• The passport was obtained by fraud or false representation.
• The passport has been reported lost or stolen and recorded as such.
• A person is subject to legal restrictions (court order, extradition, or national security reasons).
• Under certain specific statutory provisions (e.g., where the holder is wanted for offences) the passport may be retained pending legal processes.
Safeguards & remedies:
• Seizure or retention of a passport engages constitutional rights (freedom of movement). Courts have ordered release of retained passports and awarded damages where NIS or other agencies acted without fair procedure. If your passport is seized or your application is wrongly refused or unreasonably delayed, you can make administrative representations; if that fails, judicial review / constitutional remedies are available. Recent Federal High Court decisions have fined NIS and ordered passports issued where delays were unlawful.
Travelling with expired passports, emergency travel & consular services abroad
• Travel with expired passport: airlines and destination countries may refuse boarding/entry — renew before travel where possible. If you are abroad and need emergency travel, contact the nearest Nigerian embassy/consulate for emergency travel documents (temporary travel documents / return certificates) and comply with local reporting requirements (police report for lost passports). Consular processing differs across missions — check the mission’s passport guidance.
Common problems & how to avoid them (practical tips)
• Mismatch between NIN and application: fix your NIN record at NIMC before applying; mismatches cause the most delays.
• Incomplete or wrong documents: follow the NIS checklist — missing birth certificates, wrong photo specs or absent indigeneship proofs are frequent reasons for rejection.
• Using unofficial service providers: pay only via the official NIS portal and keep the transaction ID. Third-party intermediaries sometimes charge extra and provide no legal remedy for portal errors.
What to do if NIS delays, refuses or seizes your passport
1. Seek an explanation via written administrative inquiry to your processing centre and keep proof of delivery.
2. Make formal administrative representation through the NIS escalation channels (portal enquiries, complaints units).
3. Contact your constituency representative or local consular office if you are abroad — they can escalate administrative cases.
4. Legal remedies: instruct an immigration or human-rights lawyer to pursue judicial review or fundamental rights enforcement if the administrative steps fail — Nigerian courts have granted relief and damages in passport delay/seizure cases. Time is important where travel is imminent.
Recent legal developments and illustrative cases
• Judicial orders for passport issuance and damages (2024–2025): Federal High Courts have declared unreasonable delays by NIS unlawful and ordered NIS to issue passports, sometimes awarding compensatory damages for infringement of freedom of movement. Those decisions emphasise that passport issuance cannot be unreasonably withheld once statutory requirements are satisfied.
• Legal commentary on seizure & deprivation: legal writers and chambers have analysed passport seizure, retention and revocation as constitutional issues: seizure without due process may breach the right of exit and fair hearing under Chapter IV of the Constitution. These commentaries provide helpful frameworks for legal challenges.
Practical examples
Scenario 1 — First passport for a young adult
Action: confirm NIN record, gather birth certificate/state indigene certificate, register on portal, pay online, attend biometric appointment. Tip: resolve any name order differences between NIN and birth certificate before submitting.
Scenario 2 — Lost passport abroad and urgent return needed
Action: report to local police, obtain police extract and sworn affidavit, contact Nigerian consulate for emergency travel certificate, apply for replacement via consulate passport service and follow consular guidelines. Tip: keep scanned copies of passport data page in cloud for emergencies.
Scenario 3 — Passport seized at airport and detained
Action: request written reason; contact your lawyer and consular office; if detained unlawfully, seek immediate legal representation to apply for release and to challenge seizure procedurally. Tip: preserve witness details and receipts from the airport authority.
Conclusion — pragmatic rules to keep your passport process smooth
1. Use the official portal. Start and pay only via NIS’s official passport portal; keep screenshots and transaction IDs.
2. Match your NIN. Confirm your NIN records with NIMC before you apply. Mismatched NIN data is the leading cause of delay.
3. Bring originals to biometric appointments. Confirmation slips without original documents won’t get you past biometric capture.
4. Act fast if something goes wrong. Make written administrative complaints immediately; preserve evidence; and if needed instruct counsel to seek judicial relief quickly. Recent court decisions show the courts will correct unreasonable delay and award remedies.