The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the introduction of a phased, contactless passport renewal system, which will commence in Canada on November 1, 2024. This innovative system enables Nigerians to renew their passports online, significantly minimizing the necessity for in-person visits to NIS offices.
The announcement was made on Wednesday via a video shared on the NIS’s official X account (formerly Twitter). Following the launch in Canada, the system will be extended to the United Kingdom, United States, and Italy on November 15. By December 1, the service will be accessible in Nigeria and various other global locations.
“In its continued effort to serve the Nigerian public more efficiently and create a functional system that meets global standards, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a new contactless and issuance process starting from November 1st, 2024.
“Individuals will be able to apply to renew their international passports from the comfort of their homes without having to visit any NIS office,” it stated.
According to the NIS, the phased rollout is designed to enhance accessibility for Nigerians worldwide, allowing citizens to renew passports seamlessly from any location without visiting NIS offices.
The NIS stated that Nigerians will be able to renew their passports by downloading the NIS mobile app—available on Google Play, the App Store, and the Windows Store—or by visiting its portal.
While the app is not yet available on Google Play or the App Store, the NIS noted that starting November 1, Nigerians in Canada are expected to access the app on these platforms and begin using the service.
