Cost of International Passport In Nigeria

If you are a citizen of Nigeria who plans to travel overseas, one of the most important documents you will need
is a Nigerian international passport.

Nevertheless, getting a Nigerian international passport can be quite challenging and can also be a costly process especially if you do not know about the requirements and procedures involved.

This article talks about the important factors you need to put into consideration when you are budgeting for an international passport in Nigeria.

At the end of this article, you will have had a better understanding of what it takes to have a Nigerian international passport and how to effectively budget for it.

What Is An International Passport?

An international passport serves as a very important document for any person who wishes to travel overseas.

The international passport acts as a basic proof of identification that is issued by the government of one’s country and is internationally recognized.

Not only does it serve as a means of identification, it also shows that the holder of the document is a legal citizen of their home country.

This also allows them to have access to various essential services including medical and legal aid.

In addition, an international passport serves as proof of identity which can be of use when verifying other documents that are necessary for international travel.

Documents like visas and birth certificates. An international passport consists of important information about the holder, information like the holder’s name, date of birth, photograph, and other identifiers that are unique to the holder.

Nearly all the countries of the world require you to have an international passport in order to be allowed to enter, exit, or pass through their borders.

Without having a valid international passport, a person will not be allowed access into a foreign country or exit from their country of origin.

As a result, obtaining and carrying a valid international passport is very important for anyone who wants to experience international travel.

It is also of great importance for one to ensure that he/she carries an updated or up-to-date and valid international passport before embarking on an international journey.

Requirements for International Passport in Nigeria

Let us see the requirements for obtaining a Nigerian International Passport; In order to obtain a Nigerian international passport, one must provide proof that he or she is a Nigerian citizen either by:

A birth certificate, or National Identity Card (NIMC)

Types of International Passport in Nigeria

The Nigerian government gives four types of passports

• Standard International Passport
• Official International Passport
• Seamans Book
• Diplomatic International Passport

1. Standard International Passport

The Standard International Passport is green in color and is issued to Nigerians for regular travel.

The lifespan of the Standard International passport is 5 – 10 years depending on the one you choose.

The documents required to get the Standard International Passport in Nigeria are as follows:

• A letter of identification from your Local Government Council of Origin.

• Proof of age document such as a declaration of age from a court or a birth certificate.

• Two (2) recent white background passport photographs.

• A guarantor’s form

• A letter of consent from a parent or guardian (applicable to someone below the age of 16 years).

• A marriage certificate (applicable to someone who is married).

• A police report (in case of a lost or stolen International passport).

2. Official International Passport

The Official International passport is a type of passport that is issued to government officials and Nigerian Ambassadors.

The Official International passport is blue in color and has a lifespan of five years.The documents required to get the Official International Passport in Nigeria are as follows:

• An appointment letter from any appropriate level of government at the State or Federal level.

• A marriage certificate where necessary

• A police report (in case of a lost or stolen International passport).

• A letter of recent promotion or a letter of appointment.

Application is to be submitted to the passport office, the Embassy, or High Commission along with other essential documents.

3. Seamans Book

The Seamans Book is a kind of passport that issued to people who work on shipping vessels and watercraft and it is maroon in color.

The documents required to get the Seamans Book International Passport in Nigeria are as follow

• Identification letter and proof that the applicant is a seaman.

• A completed application form.

• A Local Government letter of identification.

• Birth certificate or age declaration.

• 2 recent coloured passport photographs (with white background).

The application is to be submitted to the passport office, the Embassy, or High Commission along with other documents.

4. Diplomatic International Passport

The Diplomatic International passport is red in color and is issued to government officials who are traveling out of the country on official assignments.

This type of passport is given free of charge to government officials on official assignments outside the country

How To Apply For A Diplomatic International Passport

In order to apply for a Diplomatic International passport, you will have to pay a visit to the office of the Comptroller General in Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters to write and submit your application.

Along with your International passport application, you will have to submit the following documents:

• 2 passports photography
• Appointment letter
• Proof of age or birth certificate
• Return certificate from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), (this is applicable to political officeholders).

Before you take the next step, you will have to wait for verification of the documents.

The next step is to do a biometric capture to get your Nigerian International passport.

Requirements for Nigerian International Passport

Every Nigerian International passport requires that applicants submit the following documents:

• An acknowledgement slip
• Payment receipt
• 2 recent photographs with white backgrounds
• Printed copy of a completed application form.
• Finally, two guarantors will need to sign your papers.

Said guarantors must also be able to vouch for your character and your identity.

The guarantors will be required to sign your application form as a means of showing their support.

This process helps to ensure that the information you provided is authentic.

This process is also a critical part of maintaining the integrity and security of the international passport system.

As such, it is critical that as an applicant you carefully choose your guarantors and provide every necessary document to support their application.

The documents to be submitted by the guarantors include the following:

• A photocopy of the data page of the Nigerian Standard International Passport
  Drivers license or National Identity Card
• The signed application form can be submitted at any passport office Embassy, or High Commission.

How much is International Passport in Nigeria?

A 32-page passport booklet valid for a period of five years is N50,000 only; while a 64-page passport booklet which is valid for 10 years is N100,000.

In the process of applying for a Nigerian international passport, it is very important to consider the cost involved so that you can budget appropriately.

You will need to consider the following costs:

• International passport application fee
• Biometric capturing fee
• Passport photograph

Other documents such as; birth certificate, proof of citizenship, driver’s license, etc.

The cost of getting these documents may differ depending on the type of document required and other factors involved.

Below is a table that shows the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) International Passport Application fees by age and booklet type;

How Much Does International Passport Renewal Cost In Nigeria?

The cost of renewing a Nigerian international passport varies in the same way that the cost of getting a brand new international passport varies.

The prices vary based on:

• • Age of the applicant.
  • The number of leaves or pages in the booklet.
  • The duration of the international passport (either 5 years or 10 years).

Factors That Determine The Cost Of A Nigeria International Passport

The following are factors that determine the cost of an international passport in Nigeria;

1. The Type of Booklet

There is a difference in price between the 32-page booklet and the 64-page booklet.

2. Validity Period

The number of leaves (pages) on the booklets affects the cost of obtaining the booklets. There are 64-page booklets with a 10-year validity period and the regular 32-page booklet that has a 5-year validity period.

3. Region of Application in Nigeria

In the Southern region of Nigeria, the cost of a Nigerian international passport tends to be very high compared to that of the Northern region of Nigeria. The reason for this is that the amount of people leaving the country from the South is higher than the number of people leaving the country from the North, besides the city of Abuja.

While the cost of obtaining an international passport in Nigeria may differ depending on the factors stated above, applicants must follow all the necessary processes and requirements to prevent unnecessary delays and rejections.

A Step-by-Step Process on How to Pay for an International Passport Application Fee Online in Nigeria

How to apply for international passport has been made easy. As soon as you click on the “Submit Application” button and have viewed the applicant details page”, the next step to take is to proceed to the payment section.

There are two ways in which you can pay your application fees online. You can either pay directly from your bank account or use the credit card method. We will explain more about this further in the article.

Now let us focus on the step-by-step process on how to pay for international passport application fees in Nigeria:

• Proceed with the payment of the application fees by clicking on the button that says “Proceed to Online Payment”
• Select the payment currency of your choice. There are two (2) options for payment currency: “Pay in Naira” or “Pay in Dollars”.
• Then click on the ‘Continue’ button
• And then choose your preferred currency: Naira or Dollars.

(If you would prefer to pay in Naira, you will be prodded to select your PayType – which means your payment method either by “Bank”, “Credit OR Debit card”.

1. Bank Payment Method

Follow the process shown below for the bank payment method:

• Select “Bank” at the ‘PayType’ payment method and click on ‘Continue’, you will see a list of participating banks, click on ‘Continue’ and proceed.

• In order to print your “Payment Acknowledgment Slip” added with the Transaction ID, Application ID and Reference Number, you should click on the “Print Acknowledgment” button.

• With a copy of your “Payment acknowledgement slip”, proceed to a participating bank for payment.

• After you have made your payment at any of the participating banks, you will be given an “approved payment platform provider” receipt. This receipt will contain your “Validation Number”.

• The validation number will be needed when you have to confirm your payment on the NIS portal.

2. Credit/Debit Card Payment Method

Follow the process shown below for the credit or debit card payment method:

• Select “Credit Or Debit Card” at the ‘PayType’ payment method and click on ‘Continue’.

• Proceed to fill in your login details.

• Click on the “Login” button to have access to the payment portal. You will see the “PAY” button, click on it and your application details will be displayed.

• After assessing your application details, click on the “Continue” button.

• You will then be taken to the “Value Card” payment page, put in the necessary card information and Click on the “OK” button.

• Your “Validation Number” will be generated after you have made your payment. Keep the validation number in a safe place, you will need it to confirm your payment.

Also, you can click on the “Print Receipt” button to print out your receipt.

How to Confirm your Payment for the Nigerian International Passport using your Validation Number

After you have made your payment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) portal, copy the “Validation Number” that was generated to confirm your payment.

Follow the steps shown below:

• On the NIS portal go to “Query your Application Payment Status” and enter your International Passport Application ID and Reference No.

• Type in the receipt number from your “approved payment platform provider” receipt on the “Validation Number” field.

• Click on the “Search Record” button, this will lead you to the “Applicant’s Details” page, where a date for your interview has been provided.

• Click on the appropriate buttons to print your NIS receipt or your Acknowledgement Slip.

• Your NIS e-receipt or Acknowledgement Slip will be shown in a new window.
  Click on the “Print” button to send a copy of the receipt or slip to the printer.

How To Apply For Nigerian International Passport

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has a website that serves as both a guide and a place to apply for your International passport at a standard price. To apply click this link https://passportintl.immigration.gov.ng/

With the given information, we hope that you now have a better understanding of what it takes to obtain a Nigerian international passport and how to effectively budget for it.

Conclusion

It is ultimately important to note that what it costs to obtain an international passport can change over time. It is also crucial to know that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is not in support of international passport applications that are done by roadside vendors as this can lead to the termination of the applicant’s request.