FG launches enhanced e-passport for Nigerians in UK, US with ten years validity

The Nigerian Immigration Service has announced the launch of the enhanced e-Passport for Nigerians in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, which comes with a ten-year validity.

This is for the Nigerian missions and consulates in the UK and the USA, according to a statement by the Nigerian Immigration service on Thursday.

The e-passports were launched last year to counter the passport booklet crisis facing the Service.

NIGERIANS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN NOW APPLY FOR THE TEN-YEAR VALIDITY ENHANCED ePASSPORT AT THE MISSIONS pic.twitter.com/ayudyrcAkq

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— Nigeria Immigration Service (@nigimmigration) July 7, 2022

What they are saying

NIS said the passport comes in 3 categories, which are 32-page 5-year validity, 64-page 5-year validity and 64-page 10-year validity.

The steps to get the passport are:

1. Visit passport.immigration.gov.ng
2. Fill form and make payment online
3. After successful payment book appointment date.
4. Print appointment slip
5. Visit pre-selected mission and consulate with all required documents
6. NIN is mandatory for applying for the epassport

NIS said timeline for processing epassport is 5 weeks for fresh applications and 3 weeks for renewals.

What you should know

• Nairametrics  reported last year that the FG launched the Electronic Temporary Passport to cater for Nigerians desirous of returning home but whose national passport is not available.
• They later announced the launch of an enhanced e-passport, which they say will improve the passport application process for Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.
• NIS said the process of securing a passport had been riddled with challenges from the shortage of booklets to louting, with an economy of corruption built around it.