NIS unveils step-by-step guide for contactless passport renewals abroad
By Aboki Forex —
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has released an updated step-by-step guide for its Contactless Passport Application System, allowing eligible Nigerians abroad to renew their passports without visiting an embassy for biometric enrolment. The guide was published on the Service's official X account on Tuesday.
How the new system works
Applicants must first visit the official passport application portal and select the Renewal/Re-issue option. They are required to create an account, verify their identity using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth, complete the online application form, upload the required documents, pay the passport booklet fee, and obtain their Application ID and Reference Number, according to Channels Television.
After completing these steps, applicants can select the Contactless option under the Application Status/Book Appointment section, read the instructions, opt into the service, and download the NIS Mobile App. Using the app, applicants can sign in, access Passport Application Services, enter their Application ID and Reference Number, and proceed with facial image capture, fingerprint enrolment, and liveness verification. They must then pay the contactless biometric enrolment fee and submit their biometric data electronically.
Eligibility and ineligibility rules
The Immigration Service stressed that the contactless option is available only to applicants who meet its eligibility requirements. Those who are declared ineligible during the verification process will be required to return to the application portal and schedule a physical biometric appointment at the Nigerian embassy or high commission they selected during the application. According to the Service, an INELIGIBLE response means the applicant must complete the remaining process in person at the designated diplomatic mission.
Even after completing the remote biometric enrolment, applicants must send supporting documents to their selected embassy or high commission for processing. The required package includes the printed passport application form, passport payment receipt, biometric payment receipt, current passport, and a self-addressed return envelope.
Tracking and timeline
The NIS advised applicants that passport application status can be tracked two weeks after submission through the online tracking platform or the NIS Mobile App. The updated process is expected to simplify passport renewals for thousands of Nigerians living abroad by reducing the need for repeated visits to Nigerian diplomatic missions while maintaining identity verification and document security.
For Nigerians in the diaspora, this development cuts the cost and time spent on embassy visits. It also supports the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to digitise passport services, reduce processing delays, and improve access for citizens abroad.