Nigeria Immigration Service Launches Online Portal For International Passport Application

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched an automated portal for international passport application.

Speaking during the launch on Monday, the Minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the new reform seeks to redefine how citizens enroll and procure the international passport in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the minister, the automated platform will give room for convenience, reduce processing time, and also enhance national security and data protection.

He explained further that instead of visiting immigration offices, applicants can apply for passports within six minutes, adding that the processing, reviewing and approval stages will all be done online.

“With the new solution, application, processing, review, and approval will all be done online. On knowledge transfer, we have trained our officers to assume the new roles.

“With what we have done now, we have reduced the process of requesting for a passport to about six minutes. This does not require anybody to visit the immigration office and it will reduce the pressure on the immigration officers.

“As I speak, we have made arrangements for power and internet service providers to ensure at least 99.9% up time. By February, Nigerians in the diaspora can have this same experience.”

On identity theft, the Minister disclosed that the Service has also achieved its objective of harmonization of data through its technical handshake with the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC.