A new contactless passport system has recently been launched in Nigeria by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The contactless passport system allow seamless renewal of passport documents for citizens both at home or abroad.
In other words, Nigerians at home and diaspora can now apply for passports, submit biometric data, and make payments online, or renew their passport entirely online without visiting a NIS physical office.
The system was successfully launched in Canada on November 5, 2024. Now, available and live in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, as well as Nigeria and other countries.
The initial plan to extend the service to the United Kingdom, United States, and Italy on November 15, 2024, and to Nigeria and other countries by December 1, 2024, was adjusted and was fully launched on February 7, 2025.
As of now, the contactless passport renewal system is operational in Canada, Italy, United State of America, Europe, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The gradual rollout ensures system stability and effectiveness.
The system is designed to simplify the passport application process and provide greater convenience for people who want to apply for a new passport and people who want to renew their expired or about to expire passport.
How to use NIS’s contactless passport system
This article emphasizes mainly on how to how the new NIS’s contactless passport system works. I will detail a step-by-step guide to help you understand the new system and how to use it from the comfort of your home.
Regardless of where you are on earth, so far you’re a Nigeria citizen, you can either use the NIS’s contactless passport system to renew your passport or obtain a new passport. Hence, it’s start with renewal of passport.
Use contactless system to renew your passport
Follow the steps highlighted below to renew your passport online using the the NIS’s contactless system:
- Download “NIS Mobile App”: To initiate your passport renewal online, you will need to download and install the NIS mobile app to your smartphone. The NIS app is available on Google Play store for Android phones and Apple App Store for iPhone and other iOS devices.
- Create a Profile: Once you are done installing the NIS app, you will be required to create a profile using a valid email address and a working phone number. You will also be required to setup a unique password which will be necessary to access your NIS account whenever you want to login.
- Activate your Account/Profile: A one-time passcode (OTP) will be sent to either your email address or phone number (depending on the one you use to create the NIS account). Confirm the code in the provided designated space to activate your account. Once the account is activated, you can then access the main page of the app.
- Complete Eligibility Check for Passport Renewal: The passport renewal eligibility check is a brief test to confirm your passport is qualified or due for renewal. To complete this check, click on “passport application services” tab on the NIS app’s homepage. Select “passport renewal service” and input your “passport number”. The system will run the test and display the results. If your passport is due for renewal, then you can proceed. If it isn’t due yet, the due date will be displayed on the dashboard.
- Make Payment for Renewal: The amount to be paid to renew your passport online will be displayed on your dashboard. Make the payment via your preferred payment options (such as card, bank transfer, or USSD). After a successful payment, you will be issued an application ID and reference number, which they should keep for reference. Once the payment plan has been sorted out, proceed to contactless biometric submission.
- Confirm your Eligibility for Contactless Biometric: To confirm your usability of the contactless system for renewal of passport, select “Contactless Biometric Enrollment” service in the NIS app homepage. Enter the “application ID” and “reference number” given to you on the payment page to check if you’re qualified for the online enrollment. If you’re qualified, you can proceed, but if you’re not qualified for online contactless biometric enrollment, then you will need to book an appointment for in-person biometric enrollment through the NIS passport application portal at passport.int.immigration.gov.ng.
- Submit Documents Contactless Biometric Enrollment: Once you’re eligible, enter your National Identification Number (NIN) and current passport number for verification. Also, fill in your personal details and upload necessary documents, such as your NIN slip, birth certificate, and local government certificate. Furthermore, use your mobile device to capture fingerprint biometrics as required in the process and lastly, ensure all information is accurate before submission.
- Mail your Expired Passport to NIS Office: After you have completed all the online application and contactless biometric data submission, you will be required to send (mail) your current passport to relevant Nigeria embassy (for diasporans) along with a self-addressed envelope. If you’re in Nigeria, just send the passport to any NIS offices. Note that you must mail/send/submit your current passport to Nigeria embassy or NIS office otherwise new passport will not be issued. Once the passport is processed, the new passport will be sent to the address provided in the self-addressed envelope.
As you can see, the online renewal process is simple and swift. This process can maintained to obtain a new passport as well. The process will be explained below. Keep reading!
Use NIS’s contactless system to obtain a new passport
The procedure is simple. As explained above, download the NIS mobile app and create a profile/account. Once your NIS account is ready, click on “passport application services” on the app homepage and select “get a passport”.
Next, you will be required to make payment to get “applications ID” and “reference number”. Once the payment is successfully made, proceed to “contactless biometric enrollment” to check your online enrollment eligibility status.
Once you’re eligible, you will be required to submit your NIN, fill in your personal details (such as your full name, address, date of birth as highlighted on your birth certificate), and upload necessary documents, such as your NIN slip, birth certificate, and local government certificate.
Furthermore, use your mobile device to capture fingerprint biometrics as required in the process, and input your house address in which the passport will be mailed to. Once you’re done with all that procedures, submit your application. Once the passport is processed, it will be sent to the address provided in your online application.
However, if you cannot use the NIS’s contactless system for their biometrics submission, then you need to book an appointment to submit your biometrics in person at the NIS office. You can simply book an appointment online on the NIS passport application website at passport.int.immigration.gov.ng.
If you have any questions regarding this tutorial, feel free to ask in the comments section below. I will reply as soon as possible.
