Immigration Service Jerks Passport Fees to N100,000, N200,000

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a sharp increase in the cost of obtaining the Nigerian Standard Passport, with the new rates scheduled to take effect from September 1, 2025.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) A. S. Akinlabi, the agency disclosed that the review applies exclusively to applications processed within Nigeria.

Under the revised structure, a 32-page passport with five years’ validity will now cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with ten years’ validity will be issued at ₦200,000.

The Service, however, clarified that fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page five-year passport and $230 for the 64-page 10-year passport.

According to the NIS, the new pricing regime was introduced to maintain the quality, security, and integrity of the Nigerian passport while ensuring it remains accessible to citizens.

“The review, which only affects passport application fees made in Nigeria, is designed to enhance service delivery and safeguard the integrity of the Nigerian travel document,” the statement read in part.

The announcement is expected to stir mixed reactions among Nigerians, especially at a time when the cost of living is already high. Stakeholders say the hike could place an additional burden on applicants, many of whom rely on the passport for international travel, business, education, and other opportunities abroad.

This is the first major upward review of passport fees under the current administration, coming amid ongoing reforms in the NIS to improve efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and curb racketeering in passport issuance.