NIS launches fully online passport renewal for Diaspora Nigerians

By Blessing Emmanuel

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out a major upgrade to its passport services, now allowing Nigerians living abroad to renew their passports entirely online—eliminating the need for visits to passport offices or enduring long queues.

Dubbed the Contactless Biometric Passport Application System, the new process enables applicants in countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, and several parts of Europe and Asia to complete passport renewals using only their smartphones.

With the help of the NIS Mobile App, currently available on the Google Play Store, users can upload all necessary documents and finalise their renewal applications without any in-person biometric capture. The Service has confirmed that an iOS version of the app will soon be released.

The announcement was made via the official NIS page on X (formerly Twitter), under the leadership of Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap. She noted that the initiative is designed to make passport services quicker, more efficient, and universally accessible for Nigerians, no matter their location.

Although the digital system has already gone live in many regions, Nigerians residing in Australia or within Nigeria itself will have to wait a bit longer. The NIS assured that a rollout timeline for these areas will be shared in due course.

The Service reiterated its commitment to upgrading immigration infrastructure and simplifying the experiences of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. Officials said this digital leap is expected to ease the longstanding stress and delays often associated with passport renewals abroad.

By reducing bureaucracy and embracing technology, the NIS hopes to build a more responsive and inclusive immigration system, tailored to meet the needs of a globally mobile Nigerian population.