Your passport is about to expire, or it carries a misspelt surname, or you got married and want your new name on it. Each of these is a different application on the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) portal, with a different document list. Pick the wrong one and you lose an appointment slot and possibly a payment.
This guide covers renewal, correction of errors, change of data after marriage, and the "others" category (adding, deleting, replacing or rearranging names). If you've never held a passport, start with our guide on getting a Nigerian international passport instead. Everything below comes from the NIS passports page; fees and processing times aren't covered here because you should read them live on the portal.
First, identify which application you need
The NIS page lists these separate categories for people who already hold a passport:
- Renewal, whether the validity has expired or is still running.
- Correction of errors, where the booklet has a mistake in your details.
- Change of data, for example after a change in marital status.
- Others: replacement, addition, deletion or rearrangement of names.
A simple test: if the details on your passport are right and only the dates have run out, it's a renewal. If the details are wrong from the start (typo by the office), it's a correction. If the details were right but your life changed, it's a change of data. If you simply want names added, removed or reordered, it's "others".
Renewal: the most common case
NIS treats expired and unexpired passports under the same requirements. The process on the page is:
- Complete the application online at the NIS passport portal.
- Upload your birth certificate from the National Population Commission (NPC) or a declaration of age from a High Court, your state of origin certificate, and the data page of your passport.
- Pay online and book an appointment at an immigration office.
- Show up on the appointment date with your payment and appointment slips, and bring the passport booklet itself for photograph and biometric capture.
Notice that the booklet matters even if it has expired. The page says applicants must appear with it. Don't leave it at home because you "already uploaded the data page".
Which booklet to choose
NIS lists three kinds of standard (green) passport: 32-page with 5-year validity, 64-page with 5-year validity, and 64-page with 10-year validity. The page describes the Enhanced e-Passport as a ten-year booklet made with polycarbonate technology, designed to save frequent visits to passport offices. If you travel often, the 64-page option gives you room for visas. Check the portal for what each choice costs before you pay.
Correction of errors
This is for mistakes in your details. The page says you must complete the application online and pay a non-refundable administrative charge. That wording matters: if you pick the wrong category, don't count on a refund.
The documents to upload are:
- Birth certificate from NPC, or declaration of age from the High Court
- An application letter stating the reason for the change
- Newspaper publication for change of name
- Court affidavit
- State of origin certificate
- Data page of your passport
Then you pay, book, and appear at your chosen office with your current booklet for biometrics.
Change of data after marriage
For a change in marital status, the upload list adds your marriage certificate to the standard documents: birth certificate or age declaration, state of origin certificate, application letter, marriage certificate, court affidavit, newspaper publication, and your passport data page. You still appear in person with the booklet.
A hypothetical example
Say Ngozi Eze, a nurse in Enugu, marries and wants to travel under her husband's surname. Her checklist would look like this (names and situation invented for illustration):
- Scan her NPC birth certificate and state of origin certificate.
- Get a court affidavit sworn to the name change and have the newspaper publication done.
- Write a short application letter explaining the change and scan the marriage certificate.
- Photograph the data page of her current passport in good light.
- Start the change-of-data application online, upload everything, pay and book.
- Take the original documents and the booklet to her appointment.
The affidavit and newspaper steps take the longest because they depend on third parties. Do them first, then start the portal application, so you aren't racing the appointment date.
Also check that your NIN and bank records carry the name you plan to use. Our NIN enrolment and linking guide explains how mismatches between records cause trouble later.
The "others" category: adding, deleting, replacing, rearranging names
NIS groups these together. The requirements mirror correction of errors: online application, the non-refundable administrative charge, then uploads of birth certificate or age declaration, application letter stating the reason, newspaper publication, state of origin certificate, court affidavit and passport data page. Appear with your booklet.
The practical lesson is that any change of name needs a paper trail that explains why. Your application letter should be short and factual: what the name currently reads, what it should read, and the reason. Make sure the affidavit and newspaper notice say exactly the same thing as the letter. Differences in spelling between these documents are an easy way to get stuck.
Documents to line up before you open the portal
| Document | Renewal | Correction / others | Marriage change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPC birth certificate or court age declaration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| State of origin certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passport data page | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Application letter | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Court affidavit | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Newspaper publication | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Marriage certificate | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
The NIS page says "newspaper publication for change of name" under corrections, so a plain typo fix may not need it. If you're unsure which items apply to you, ask at an NIS office or through the portal's help channels before paying.
If you live abroad
Each category on the NIS page says Nigerians in the diaspora should submit applications at the nearest Nigerian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The portal also has a separate link for applicants outside Nigeria. Use that one, not the in-country link, and check the mission's own page for appointment rules.
Passports for children
A child's first passport is a fresh application, not a renewal. For minors, the page requires an application form with a photograph endorsed on the back by the consenting parent, evidence of the parents' Nigerian citizenship, an NPC birth certificate for minors born in Nigeria, a letter of consent from either parent, and the acknowledgement slip and payment evidence. Adopted children need a court order and a letter of approval from the State Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong category. Corrections and name changes carry a non-refundable charge. Read the descriptions twice.
- Forgetting the booklet. Every category requires you to bring it for biometrics.
- Mismatched names across documents. Affidavit, newspaper notice, letter and certificates should agree character for character.
- Using an agent to "skip the process". NIS describes the Enhanced e-Passport as an automated, online-payment-only system meant to reduce touts and middlemen. If someone asks you to pay cash into a personal account, walk away. Our piece on impersonation scams shows how fake officials work.
- Using a non-official site. Start from immigration.gov.ng and follow its links to the portal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to renew only after the passport expires?
No. NIS lists renewal for both expired and unexpired validity, with the same requirements. Many travellers renew early because some countries want several months of validity remaining; check your destination's rules.
Can I do everything online?
No. The application, uploads, payment and booking are online, but you must appear at your chosen office for photograph and biometric capture.
What if I don't have an NPC birth certificate?
The page accepts a declaration of age from a High Court as an alternative to the NPC certificate. For adult first-time applicants it also mentions a signed age declaration endorsed by a Commissioner for Oaths. Confirm which applies to your case on the portal.
Where do I find current fees and wait times?
On the NIS portal at the point of payment, not from social media posts or agents.
Your next step
Take your current passport, find the data page, and decide which of the four categories describes your situation. Then gather the matching documents from the table above before you open the portal, so you only pay once.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 26 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.