Most passport delays in Nigeria don't start at the immigration office. They start at home, with a missing birth certificate, a guarantor form that wasn't sworn properly, or a name that differs between documents. This guide walks you through the process the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) describes on its passport page, so you arrive with the right papers the first time.
One limit first: fees, processing times and office lists change, and I don't have them from the official page. Confirm those on the NIS site before you pay anything. The official portal is passport.immigration.gov.ng, and the NIS homepage is immigration.gov.ng.
Know which passport you are applying for
The NIS lists three kinds of fingerprint-enhanced e-Passport. The normal passport (green) is for ordinary Nigerians. Official passports (blue) are for eligible government officials, and diplomatic passports are for diplomats and other top officials approved by the President.
The green passport comes in three versions: 32 pages with 5-year validity, 64 pages with 5-year validity, and 64 pages with 10-year validity. If you travel often or plan to apply for visas that fill pages, the 64-page versions give you more room. The 10-year booklet also saves you a repeat visit to a passport office.
The NIS says the enhanced e-Passport is strictly online-payment based and automated to cut out touts and middlemen. That matters for you: no legitimate step requires you to hand cash to a stranger.
Documents for a first adult passport (citizen by birth)
For applicants aged 18 and above, the NIS page lists these items:
- Proof of identity: a letter of identification from your Local Government or state of origin or residence, or a National Identity Card. Government employees can use a letter of introduction stating service number, length of service and rank, with a valid staff ID.
- Application form and two passport photographs. The photographs must be endorsed at the back by your guarantor.
- Guarantor's form, signed before a Commissioner for Oaths, with a photocopy of the data page of the guarantor's Nigerian e-Passport and one passport photo of the guarantor.
- Marriage certificate, where applicable.
- Evidence of age: a birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC) is required if your date of birth is December 1992 or later. Otherwise, an age declaration with one passport photo, endorsed by a Commissioner for Oaths.
- Acknowledgement slip and evidence of payment.
The online process also asks you to upload your NPC birth certificate or a declaration of age from a high court, plus your state of origin certificate. Have clear scans ready before you start.
Step-by-step: applying inside Nigeria
- Gather and scan documents. Use a phone scanner in good light. Blurry uploads are an avoidable reason for trouble.
- Complete the application online at passport.immigration.gov.ng. Type your names exactly as they appear on your birth certificate.
- Upload your documents: NPC birth certificate or high court age declaration, and state of origin certificate.
- Pay online through the portal and keep the receipt.
- Book an appointment at the passport office you prefer. Pick one you can reach without a long trip, since you must appear in person.
- Print your payment and appointment slips and carry them with your original documents.
- Attend your appointment for photograph and biometric capture, and submit your slips in person.
Arrive early, and charge your phone the night before in case power is out. Keep your portal login details safe so you can track the application.
Applying for a child under 18
The requirements for a minor differ:
- Completed form with one passport photo of the child, endorsed on the back by the consenting parent(s).
- Evidence of the parent's or parents' Nigerian citizenship.
- An NPC-issued birth certificate for minors born in Nigeria.
- A letter of consent from either parent.
- Acknowledgement slip and evidence of payment.
For an adopted child, you also need a court order and a letter of approval from the State Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Naturalised and registered citizens
If you became Nigerian by naturalisation, you need your Certificate of Naturalisation issued by the President. If by registration, you need the Certificate of Registration. Both then need the same form, two guarantor-endorsed photos, guarantor's form, marriage certificate where applicable, evidence of age (a birth certificate or the data page of a previous passport), and the acknowledgement slip and payment evidence.
Renewal, corrections and name changes
Renewal works for both expired and unexpired passports. You apply online, upload your birth certificate or age declaration, state of origin certificate and your passport data page, pay, and book an appointment. Bring the passport booklet itself to the appointment.
| Situation | Documents the NIS lists (uploaded online) |
|---|---|
| Renewal | Birth certificate or age declaration, state of origin certificate, passport data page |
| Correction of errors | Birth certificate or age declaration, application letter giving the reason, newspaper publication for name change, court affidavit, state of origin certificate, data page. A non-refundable administrative charge applies. |
| Change of data after marriage | Birth certificate or age declaration, state of origin certificate, application letter, marriage certificate, court affidavit, newspaper publication, data page |
| Replacing, adding, deleting or rearranging names | Same set as correction of errors, with a non-refundable administrative charge |
In all of these cases, bring the current passport booklet to the biometric appointment.
If you live abroad
Nigerians in the diaspora submit applications at the nearest Nigerian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The NIS page has a separate link for applying outside Nigeria, so use that rather than the in-country one. Check your mission's own website for appointment arrangements. If you're preparing other documents for a move, see our credential evaluation guide.
A hypothetical example
Imagine Ada, 26, born in 1999, applying for the first time. Her parents never got an NPC birth certificate for her. Because her birth date is after December 1992, the NIS requires an NPC certificate, so she should sort that out before starting the application, not at the appointment. Her guarantor, a civil servant with a Nigerian e-Passport, signs the form before a Commissioner for Oaths and endorses the back of both photos. Ada uploads clean scans, pays, books the nearest office, and carries originals. She has done everything the page asks, so there is little to go wrong.
Also check that her NIN details match her other documents. Mismatches cause trouble elsewhere too; our post on fixing NIN data mismatches shows the kind of problem to avoid.
Common mistakes
- Using an ineligible guarantor or an unsworn form. The form must be signed before a Commissioner for Oaths and include the guarantor's passport data page copy.
- Names that don't match. Spelling differences between birth certificate and application lead to correction applications later, which carry a charge.
- Paying outside the portal. The process is online-payment based. Treat anyone offering a "fast track" for cash as a scam risk and read our guide on spotting fake agents.
- Forgetting the booklet when renewing or correcting data.
- Submitting fake or borrowed documents. Don't. Get a genuine age declaration or NPC certificate instead.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to visit an office even after applying online?
Yes. The NIS says applicants must appear at the chosen office for photograph and biometric capture, and submit payment and appointment slips in person.
Which birth document do I need?
An NPC certificate is required for dates of birth from December 1992. Others can use an age declaration endorsed by a Commissioner for Oaths. The online form refers to a declaration from a high court, so confirm which applies to you on the portal.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
I don't have current fees or timelines from the official source. Check the portal's payment page before you pay.
Can I change my name on the passport?
Yes, through the corrections or change-of-data routes above, with supporting documents such as a marriage certificate, court affidavit and newspaper publication where required.
Your next step
Open passport.immigration.gov.ng today and read the fee and office information. Then list your documents against the checklist above, and start with whichever one will take longest to obtain, usually the birth certificate.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 19 October 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
Fees, dates, requirements and procedures change. Always confirm with the official agency or institution before you act.