The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled a phased, contactless passport renewal system, marking a significant step toward digital transformation in Nigeria’s immigration processes.
This new development is set to launch first in Canada on November 1, 2024, allowing Nigerian citizens to renew their passports online with minimal need for in-person visits to NIS offices.
Announcing the development on Wednesday via a video posted on its official X account (formerly Twitter), the NIS highlighted the service’s potential to streamline passport renewals for Nigerians worldwide.
Following the launch in Canada, the NIS plans to expand the system to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy on November 15. By December 1, the service will be available in Nigeria and across 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," the NIS stated.
"Individuals will be able to apply to renew their international passports from the comfort of their homes without having to visit any NIS office.”
The phased rollout is intended to enhance accessibility for Nigerians worldwide, ensuring citizens can renew their passports smoothly from any location without needing to physically visit NIS offices.
According to the NIS, Nigerians will have the option to renew their passports via the NIS mobile app, which will be available on Google Play, the App Store, and the Windows Store, or by accessing the NIS online portal.
While the app has not yet been made available on the listed platforms, NIS expects it to be accessible for Nigerians in Canada starting November 1. Upon downloading the app, users will have access to the streamlined passport renewal process.
In a similar development, the NIS also announced the deployment of advanced e-border solutions across 80 crossing points within Nigeria, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance border security and combat trans-border crimes.
The Comptroller General of NIS, Kemi Nandap, shared this update during a recent visit to the NIS Head Office in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She underscored that this deployment represents the first phase of the e-border project, which aims to modernize Nigeria’s border surveillance infrastructure.
During her visit, Nandap also inspected the progress of the e-border project at the Ogun State command, emphasizing that the era of traditional, manual border surveillance methods is now behind Nigeria.
