Nigeria Launches Online Passport Application Portal Today

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is set to launch the first online portal for passport applications in Abuja today (Monday). This marks a crucial step towards enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of passport services in Nigeria.

The new online platform caters to both international and Nigerian applicants, streamlining the application process. The Federal Government, aiming for a fully automated passport application system, had been working on the platform, which is now ready for launch. The automation includes features like uploading passport photos and supporting documents, simplifying the overall application procedure.

During the demonstration session held on Friday, the minister highlighted the progress made, emphasizing the system's user-friendly nature. The introduction of this online portal aligns with modernization efforts and aims to provide citizens with a more convenient and accessible means of obtaining passports.

In terms of pricing, Nigerian applicants opting for a 32-page passport with a five-year validity period will pay N25,000, while those choosing a 64-page passport with a 10-year validity period will pay N70,000. Foreign applicants will be charged $130 for a passport with a five-year validity period and 32 pages, and $230 for a 10-year validity period with 64 pages. The application submissions will be accepted through https://passport.immigration.gov.ng

Dignitaries attending the event included prominent figures such as the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and representatives from the International Organisation for Migration, Development Alternatives Incorporated, Kwandala Foundation, and Technext. The launch of this online passport application portal represents a pivotal move towards modernizing and digitizing essential public services in Nigeria.