Nigeria to Roll Out Contactless Passport Application in UK, Europe Friday

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria will roll out a contactless passport application system in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland on Friday, February 7, as part of making the process more transparent and faster.

According to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) via its spokesperson, Mr AS Akinlabi, the initiative will allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes.

“This initiative set for launch on February 7, 2025, will enable Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes,” the NIS Comptroller General, Ms Kemi Nanna Nandap, was quoted to have said in the statement.

This was disclosed when she paid a courtesy call to the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.

The NIS said the move followed “the roll-out of the contactless passport application system in Canada on 5th November 2024.”

“For emphasis, the Contactless Passport Application which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for biometric enrollment,” the NIS said.

“The Service reiterates its commitment to innovative and efficient service delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world.”

“The launch of the contactless passport application solution in Europe is a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora,” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said.

“NiDCOM will continue to support, monitor, and collaborate with the NIS to ensure the success of this initiative,” she added.