All You Need To Know About The Nigerian Passport

The Nigerian passport is a document made by Nigeria for Nigerians as a means of global identification to travel globally. The international passport also provides you with the opportunity to travel and access various countries and societies, permitting you to travel any place in the world with the right visa.

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Nigerian passports can be applied for either at any of the physical location of the Nigeria Immigration Service, or by applying through its website. Nigerians living in other countries may obtain passports through the nearest Nigerian embassy or consulate. Currently, Nigerian Immigration Services are issuing electronic travel papers (e-international IDs) for new applications, which dumbs the old analog international passports they initially issue on their website www.immigration.gov.ng.

Difference Between Nigerian Standard and Official Passports 

Common residents can apply for a Standard e-identification (green spread), while official e-international IDs (blue spread) are saved for government officials and top personnel at higher places.

The standard international passport is a type of means of official identification (passport) that each Nigerian have the privilege to apply for regardless of whether you are working in any is sector for government or private individuals or corporation. If you are not a government official in Nigeria, the passport you are eligible to have is the standard visa. 

The official e-identification is saved for specific classes of people which includes government officials and Nigerian ambassadors. Applications for an official passport should be with a letter of recognizable proof gave from the State Government, Federal Government, Ministry/association, a marriage endorsement when relevant, a letter of arrangement and a letter indicating another assignment/advancement

Requirements For Acquiring Standard Passport 

Any citizen or applicant who wishes to get the Nigeria standard e-visa is relied upon to meet certain requirements and conditions. One of such is a government letter of recognizable proof, birth testament, or age affirmation, and an as of late taken passport photograph, which must show candidate’s full face down to the neck, with no discolouration. The standard identification can be acquired with any of the following reasons

1. Fresh (First) Application 
2. Re-Issuance of Passport 

Fresh Passport Application Requirements

You must have Citizenship by Birth, by Naturalization, by Registration. The following documents are needed for fresh passport application for Adult (18 years and above) and are citizens of Nigeria by birth:

1. Letter of recognizable proof from Local Government/State of origin or home or National Identity Card OR Letter of presentation for representatives of government as a Nigerian resident expressing Service Number, Length of Service and Designation/Rank. The letter must be accompanied with a legitimate staff personality card; 
2. Finished visa application structure and 2 identification estimated photos (identification photos supported at the back by the Guarantor); 
3. Completed Guarantors’ structure appropriately marked by a Commissioner for Oaths joined with Photocopy of Data page of Guarantor’s Nigerian ePassport and one identification estimated photo of the Guarantor; 
4. Marriage testament, if married; 
5. Birth Certificate (testament gave by the National Population Commission will be required from candidates whose date of birth is with effect from Dec 1992) or Age Declaration connected with one visa estimated photo and appropriately embraced by a Commissioner for Oaths 
6. Affirmation slip and proof of installment.

For those that acquired their Nigerian citizenship through naturalization, they must have the following documents.

1. Certificate of Naturalization duly issued by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
2. Completed passport application form and 2 passport sized photographs (passport photographs endorsed at the back by the Guarantor)
3. Completed Guarantors’ form duly signed by a Commissioner for Oaths attached with Photocopy of Data page of Guarantor’s Nigerian ePassport and one passport sized photograph of the Guarantor
4. Marriage certificate where applicable
5. Birth Certificate or data page of previous passport as evidence of age
6. Acknowledgement slip and evidence of payment

For those that acquired their Nigerian citizenship through naturalization, they must have the following documents.

1. Certificate of Registration duly issued by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
2. Completed passport application form and 2 passport sized photographs (passport photographs endorsed at the back by the Guarantor);
3. Completed Guarantors’ form duly signed by a Commissioner for Oaths attached with Photocopy of Data page of Guarantor’s Nigerian ePassport; and one passport sized photograph of the Guarantor;
4. Marriage certificate where applicable;
5. Birth Certificate or data page of previous passport as evidence of age;
6. Acknowledgement slip and evidence of payment.

For Minors Under The Age Of 18

1. Finished visa application structure attached with 1 identification estimated photo of minor to be embraced on the invert side by the consenting guardian/s; 
2. Proof of Nigerian citizenship of parent/s; 
3. Birth endorsement (declaration must be given by the National Population Commission for minors conceived inside Nigeria); 
4. Letter of assent from either parent; 
5. Affirmation slip and proof of installment; 
6. Lastly, a Court Order and Letter of endorsement from State Ministry of Women and Child Development. This Requirement is required in the case of child adoption.

For Re-Issuance of the Nigerian Passport, the documents needed to acquire a new passport has been grouped into expired validity in the table below.

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Eligibility for Nigerian Official Passport

You must meet any of the following requirements to acquire a Nigerian Official Passport;

• Commissioners (members of the State Executive Council), Special Assistants and Special Advisors
• Senior Government Officials in the rank of Deputy Directors and above in the Federal Civil Service
• Senior Government Officials from the rank of Directors and above in the State Civil Service
• Deputy General Managers and above in Federal and State Parastatals
• Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretaries of Local Government Councils
• Staff from the rank of Deputy Director and above in CBN and their equivalent in Federal owned Banks and allied institutions
• Colonel and above in the Army and their equivalent in the Navy and Air force
• ACP and above (NPF), ACSIO in DSS
• AC and above in paramilitary Services
• Vice and Deputy Vice Chancellors of Federal and State Universities and their equivalents in the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education
• Immigration, Military and Police Officers on Peace keeping Missions
• 1^st Class Traditional Rulers / Chiefs
• Senior Government Officials i.e. GL.08-14 on Official assignment abroad provided there is an SGF / SSG approval for such official trips

Also, Senior Government Officials, those under GL.08-14 on Official task abroad and have SGF/SSG endorsement for such authority trips are also given the Official passport.

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Prerequisites for obtaining the Nigerian Official passport

Here is the list of important documents required to get the Nigerian Official passport;

1. Letter of application / introduction from the Applicant’s Organization
2. 2 passport photographs
3. Last promotion letter or Letter of Appointment
4. Photocopy of valid official identity card
5. Evidence of Age
6. Certificate of returns from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or States Electoral Commission (SEC) (For Political office holders)

How to Apply for an Official Passport in Nigeria

• The letter of application and introduction from the candidate’s MDA ought to be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller General at the NIS Headquarters, Abuja. 
• States and Local Government Authority applying for the passport should also be submitted through the offices of the Comptrollers of Immigration Service in the State Commands and the Local Government Divisional Immigration Officer separately. 

Cost of Nigerian Official Passport

According to the immigration website, a nonrefundable fee of ₦6,750 which is selective of bank charges is the cost for getting the Nigerian Official Passport. You can confirm the recent price and know more about the official passport by clicking here.

Cost of Nigerian Standard Passport

According to the immigration website, all fees are exclusive of bank charges, ₦2000 Address Verification fee. Administrative charges are non-refundable and payment of passport fees for such cases are subject to the approval of the application. No age classification for 64 pages.

You can see the recent price and know more about the Standard Passport by clicking here.

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Regardless of whether it is a Standard or Official passport type, an application letter, affirmation slip, installment receipt and two recent photos are required for both processes. Presently, the process is digitalized and done on their website which makes it easier to acquire and more flexible. 

Do you now know how to get your Nigerian passport? Comment below if this helps.