The Ministry of Interior has outlined the process for swift passport renewal for Nigerians in Diaspora, amid the public outcry about difficulties encountered by applicants.
In a post titled: Nigerians in Diaspora; Three Easy Steps to Fast-track your Passport Renewal Process this December, the ministry said that the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) has made it easier for Nigerians living abroad to obtain a new passport in just two weeks through the newly-launched special Diaspora fast-track passport renewal programme.
The immigration office said the programme will run from 12 December 2022 to 31 January 2023, and “you can travel to Nigeria even if your passport is expired and renew it once you arrive.”
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The ministry thus outlined the three steps that Nigerians in Diaspora could take to renew their passport during this Christmas season. They’re listed below as follows:
“Step 1 – Register online through the online registration portal.
Log in to the passport application portal at https://passport.immigration.gov.ng and apply online. The application process includes making payment for your preferred passport type via approved payment platforms.
Step 2- Visit the Diaspora Desk at any international airport in Nigeria.
On arrival into Nigeria via any of the international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt, locate the Diaspora desk and provide your application details.
You will then be given a fast-track letter (this letter overrides the date on your online application, so no panicking) to any passport office of your choice.
Step 3 – Capture Your biometric information.
Visit your preferred passport office between Monday and Wednesday. Once you get there, your biometrics, including your photo and fingerprints, will be captured, and your passport will be produced and ready in two weeks.
Also, note that you will need your National Identification Number (NIN) for your passport application. You are also to ensure that your personal information in the passport application matches the information on the NIN and vice versa; otherwise, the process cannot be completed.”
The Ministry of Interior said that Passport Offices will be open on Saturdays to support the operations.
In April last year, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, outlined a new line of action aimed at putting a permanent end to the general challenge facing the issuance of passports. The move became necessary as Nigerians; both at home and abroad, face severe difficulty getting passports.
As part of efforts to remove the bottlenecks in passport issuance, Aregbesola announced in May 2021, the launch of Temporary Passport (TP), as a replacement of the former Emergency Travel Certificate. The Ministry also approved front offices at the airports, where Nigerians who arrive in the country with expired passports can have their passports renewed immediately.
The three easy steps are expected to put an end to the dependence of Nigerians in Diaspora on embassies for passport issuance.