The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday, launched an automated passport application process for Nigerians.
With this, Nigerians at home and abroad can now go online to apply for passports without interface with personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.
While speaking on the successfully launched online passports portal, Tunji-Ojo ascribed credit for the project to the visionary leadership and support given by President Bola Tinubu.
The minister was upbeat that the online passports portal would drastically reduce contacts between applicants and immigration officers, adding that it would revolutionise the process of obtaining passports.
He also added that it would speed up the entire process of obtaining a new passport by Nigerians in any part of the world.
“This initiative is sure to bring relief to all Nigerians who desire to obtain the nation’s passport. The portal has undoubtedly ended the long waiting period for passport issuance. It has also ended the cycle of daily wastage of man-hours by passport applicants”, said Tunji-Ojo.
The Minister during the training of Immigration personnel for the exercise had hinted that the online passport application platform was established for both international and Nigerian applicants.
He said the process which would involve uploading passport photos and supporting documents online would reduce human interfaces and eliminate corrupt practices.
He explained that Nigerian applicants who want 32-page passports with five-year validity would pay N25,000, while those who want 64-page passports with a 10-year validity would pay N70,000.
Foreign applicants, who wish to apply for passports with a five-year validity period and 32 pages, would pay $130, while those who prefer passports with a 10-year validity period and 64 pages would pay $230.
According to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the new system will allow users to upload passport images and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.
He stated that if fully automated, Nigerians will only visit immigration facilities for fingerprint or biometric purposes.
Before the launch, here are some general tips for applying for passports using the new automated system.
Note that meeting the eligibility criteria, which are mentioned below, is the most crucial basic prerequisite.
1. Nigerian citizenship
2. Possession of the National Identification Number
3. Compliance with stringent ICAO standards for passport photographs
4. Essential breeder documents such as the birth certificate and local government certificate of indigeneship
Here is how to apply:
1. Accessing the Online Portal:
Begin by visiting https://passport.immigration.gov.ng/ and enter your NIN. The system will auto-fill your data from the National Identity Management Commission.
2. Completing Data Fields:
Fill in all necessary data fields as prompted, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
3. Document Submission:
Upload your passport photo and other required breeder documents securely onto the platform.
4. Immigration Office Visit:
Head to an immigration office for biometric capture. This step ensures the necessary physical verification and identity confirmation.
5. Passport Collection:
Expect your passport to be ready for collection within two weeks, marking the successful completion of the application process.
Also for passport renewals, applicants must have their old passport number readily available for uploading during the application.
The ministry has stated that following these outlined steps meticulously will facilitate an easy and efficient application process for a passport.