Nigerian Passport Application Gone Digital, See How To Apply & Pay For It Online

The Federal Government has said it has digitalised payments for Nigerian Passports, advising citizens to avoid patronising touts and unscrupulous officials when applying for the documents.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, during the rollout of the Enhanced e-Passport with Polycarbonate Data Page and other security features in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday.

“Part of the reforms is the migration of passport application and payments to digital platforms. But we regret to observe that applicants still patronise touts and unscrupulous officials in the hope to beat the system and get expedited services. When they were disappointed, they come to report to us. Of course, we have zero tolerance for corruption and subversion of due process. We, therefore, take seriously any such report and invoke the necessary disciplinary measures.

“But I will implore applicants to stop patronising touts and our officials directly. Follow the process we put in place. Apply for passports and pay online. The only engagement with our staff is the enrolment of your biometrics.

Patronising touts and passport office officials doesn’t always end well, but rather serves to defeat our purpose of eliminating corruption and infusing integrity to the passport administration process,” the minister stated.

Speaking on the new application process, the minister noted that a new timeline has been set for fresh passport application and reissue.

“Our template stipulates maximum of six weeks for obtaining new passports and maximum of three weeks for renewal. We work within this schedule to enable us to investigate any claims made by applicants and verify them, for the final document we issue them to have integrity. If there are challenges, wait. Eventually, you will get your passport before your due date of travel, if you apply early enough. You will still have long enough time to apply for visa and other travel documents.

“Nowhere in the world is passport administration done on a wait-and-get basis except in extreme emergencies. The only wait-and-get passport is passport photograph,” the minister said.

On the new enhanced passport being rolled out in Ibadan, the minister noted that the passport is an improved document with high-security features.

“The Enhanced e-Passport is a great improvement on the Biometric Passport technology which Nigeria adopted in 2007 as a deliberate step towards curbing forgery, impersonation and other forms of travel document fraud associated with the old Machine-Readable Passport regime.

“It is the latest technology in passport making anywhere in the world and only a few countries have it. It is the most secure identity document ever produced. We are proud to make it available to Nigerians,” Aregbesola added.

Speaking during the event, the Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, CG Isah Jere, reiterated the call by the minister for citizens to stop patronising touts.

“As you have heard from the Minister, we expect that the only time citizens will have contact with our officers is during the biometric capturing. You are to apply and pay only,” CG Isah Jere revealed.

Given the latest update on payment for Nigerian Passport Application, step by step guide on how to apply for a Nigerian Passport and how to pay for it online has been shared.

Click here to download an adobe pdf format of the instructions below

APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT THE NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE WEBSITE AND FILL THE ONLINE FORM

APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO APPLY SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR PASSPORTS

PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES FULLY BEFORE BEGINNING THE APPLICATION

THE SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR THE NIGERIAN E-(ECOWAS) PASSPORT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 10-YEAR PASSPORT BOOKLET WOULD SOON BE AVAILABLE! PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

To begin the application

• Have a Credit Card ready or Purchase the amount of Post Office money order required.
• Go to NIS website https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/passport/epassport for the electronic application.
• Select Standard E-PASSPORT – The Official E-Passport is ONLY for Government Officials travelling abroad
• Select UNITED STATES as processing country and New York as Office of Application.

PLEASE READ IN FULL THE GUIDELINES REGARDING PAYMENT ON THE START APPLICATION PAGE

• Click on “START APPLICATION’. Choose from GOOGLE or YAHOO and create an account or if you have one, SIGN IN.
• Complete the application online and print out a copy of the completed application before you submit for payment.
• Complete the application form – PRINT then click submit
• On successful submission of your application, you will come to a page that will contain your reference ID which will also be emailed to you from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) – Close the screen to proceed to payment or to input further applications (UP to 6 applications)
• Select method of payment (Money Order, Visa or American Express) and follow relevant steps.

Note: You may choose to exit the application to make payment at a later stage. To return, go to www.innovate1services.com and sign in.

• Upon making your electronic payment or after having entered and submitted your (USPS) money order details, you will first be e-mailed an acknowledgement. Please allow 1-2 business days for receipt of a confirmation payment e-mail from Innovate1.

Note: Money orders should be purchased from the US Postal Service, this allows for immediate processing. Follow the instructions on how to fill out the money order and where to mail it.

• To print out your receipt/acknowledgement slip, go to http://portal.immigration.gov.ng/visa/OnlineQueryStatus enter your application type, Reference No., Application ID and click SEARCH RECORD

TO SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR PASSPORT INTERVIEW.

GO TO THE CONSULATE WEBSITE – WWW.NIGERIAHOUSE.COM CLICK ON Schedule Passport Interview Appointment

• APPLICANT MUST BRING THIS DOCUMENT IN PERSON ON THE GIVEN INTERVIEW DATE BETWEEN 9am – 12pm (Monday-Friday).

Please take note that NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 1PM

Note: ALL APPLICATIONS ARE VALID FOR A PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR FROM THE DATE OF SUBMISSION ONCE THE TIME HAS LAPSED, APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RE-APPLY AND MAKE ANOTHER PAYMENT.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION AT THE CONSULATE

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED BY EACH APPLICANT ON INTERVIEW DATE:

• (1) Copy of online application form (signed and dated)
• (2) Copy of Payment Confirmation Slip
• (3) Copy of Acknowledgement Slip
• (4) Expired Nigerian passport (if not presented, will be considered lost passport)
• (5) Photocopy of the data page (which clearly shows photograph, full name and date of birth)
• (6) Prepaid, Self-Addressed USPS overnight express mail Envelope with Tracking number
• (7) Credit or Debit card for $30 administrative fee

Note:

• Photographs are not required as these will be taken at the Consulate on the interview date.
• Every applicant must appear in person at the Consulate for biometric capture (finger and thumb printing), which are necessary to produce the E-passport.

FOR MINORS (FIRST TIME APPLICANTS):

Note: THE E-PASSPORT DOES NOT ALLOW CHILD ENDORSEMENT! PARENTS SHOULD APPLY FOR INDIVIDUAL PASSPORT FOR EACH CHILD, THIS INCLUDES NEWLY BORN INFANTS.

• (1) Copy of online application form (signed and dated)

• (2) Copy of Payment Confirmation Slip
• (3) Copy of Acknowledgement Slip
• (4) Signed letter of authorization from BOTH PARENTS – signatures should match the signatures on their respective passports and names should match those on the child’s birth certificate
• (5) Copy of parents’ passports (Data Page)
• (6) Copy of the child’s birth certificate
• Note: In case where only the mother appears on the birth certificate, she will have to present an affidavit from the court that she has full custody of the child/children
• (7) Prepaid, Self-Addressed USPS overnight express mail Envelope with Tracking number
• (8) Credit or Debit card for $30 administrative fee

Note: In case both parent’s names are on the birth certificate but only one has full custody, a copy of a legal document should be provided to this effect.

ADULT (FIRST TIME APPLICANT)

• (1) Copy of online application form (signed and dated)
• (2) Copy of Payment Confirmation Slip
• (3) Copy of Acknowledgement Slip
• (4) Non Nigerian born applicants must provide a copy of the Nigerian passport and letter of authorization from a Nigerian parent that appears on his/her birth certificate as right of citizenship.
• (5) Applicant’s birth certificate
• (6) Prepaid, Self-Addressed USPS overnight express mail Envelope with Tracking number
• (7) Credit or Debit card for $30 administrative fee

PASSPORT AMENDMENTS

• Applicants wishing to amend the details on their Nigerian passport should follow the same application process as when applying for the standard E-Passport for the first time.
• Depending on the reason(s) for amendment, copies of all legal documents should be submitted in addition to the usual application requirements.

LOST PASSPORTS

Lost or stolen passports attract a penalty fee and a police report must be obtained.

To obtain the letter, applicants should come to the Consulate between 9am-1pm on business days and submit the following:

• (a) 2 colored Passport size photographs (on white background)
• (b) $50.00 US Postal money order or Certified Bank Cheque made payable to – The Consulate General of Nigeria, New York
• (c) All available evidence of the lost or stolen passport and/or proof of citizenship (i.e. birth certificate)
• (d) After obtaining the Police Report, applicants may then begin the passport application steps as detailed above (HOW TO APPLY……)
• (e) Copy of online application form (signed and dated)
• (f) Copy of Payment Confirmation Slip
• (g) Copy of Acknowledgement Slip
• (h) Police Report
• (i) Penalty fee of $350.00 payable in US Postal money order to the Consulate General of Nigeria, New York.
• (7) Prepaid, Self-Addressed USPS overnight express mail Envelope with Tracking number
• (8) Credit or Debit card for $30 administrative fee

RESCHEDULING OF PASSPORT INTERVIEW DATE

The Consulate General of Nigeria, New York, will strictly adhere to the interview date on the payment confirmation slip. Applicants are advised to come to the Consulate only on their interview dates. The Consulate is closed on weekends and public holidays. However, if an interview date falls on a holiday, the applicant may come the next working day. Applicants who are willing to reschedule their interview dates should fill the PASSPORT ENROLLMENT INTERVIEW RESCHEDULE REQUEST form and attach copy of the Payment Confirmation Slip to the Consulate using the email address: switchboard@nigeriahouse.com

PLEASE FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER MAKING PAYMENT WITH INNOVATE1 PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONS WILL GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF WHAT TO WRITE ON THE MONEY ORDER BEFORE MAILING IT TO THEM.