If you want to Japa (a popular slang used by Nigerians that means ‘to travel out’ of the country), then you sure need a passport. And in this article, we’re going to share a step-by-step guide on how to apply for international passport in Nigeria by yourself – without paying any dime to any 3rd party agent.
It is a common occurrence in Nigeria, that when someone wants to travel out of the country, he/she starts looking for agents who will help them process their international passports – which at the end of the day will result to double and sometimes triple the amount they’d have paid had they done it by themselves.
Getting your international passport in Nigeria should be a straight forward and easy process that anyone can do on their own, but many Nigerians out of ignorance, impatience, and some times fear, do succumb to paying some exorbitant amount of money to passport agents who does the processing for them.
And so, the goal for this article is to help you realise that you can do it on your own, and to share a step-by-step process that anyone can follow to apply for international passport in Nigeria – without paying anyone to do it for you.
How to Apply For International Passport In Nigeria
This article is motivated by a Facebook user ‘Ruqayyah Olaniyan‘ who shared how she applied for her international passport at the Ikoyi Passport Office in Lagos State, all by herself – without paying any 3rd party agents.
According to her, she said “I did my passport at the official rate in a day without paying any extra fee and I got my passport in less than 2 months after data capture. I don’t know anyone working in immigration and you can use this guide to get your passport at the official government rate and by yourself.”
Here are the step-by-step process she followed to get her passport:
- Type Nigeria Immigration in your browser and click the link to apply for new passport or renewal as it applies. All requirements are stated on the immigration website.
- Fill the form appropriately, pay for the type of passport you want and print completed form. Also Download Guarantor’s form from same page, print and fill appropriately.
- Letter of identification from Local Government/State of origin or residence.
- National Identity Card.
- Print Completed passport application form
- 2 passport sized photographs – with white background (passport photographs endorsed at the back by the Guarantor).
- Marriage certificate, change of name documentation and newspaper extract (for married women or where applicable).
- Birth Certificate or Sworn Declaration of Age.
- Print Acknowledgement Slip, Guarantor’s form and Evidence of Payment.
- Make copies of all documents and take them to Ikoyi Passport Office, Lagos
- Completed Guarantors’ form duly signed by a Commissioner for Oaths attached with Photocopy of Data page of Guarantor’s Nigerian e-Passport and one passport sized photograph of the Guarantor. (There is a Commissioner for Oaths right in the passport office that can sign this for you for N1,000) The building is at the back, towards the left after the ATM machines and LONG ROOM (just keep asking)
- Sign in at the gate then go to SERVICOM office – Second building on your right from the gate.
- Speak with the officers at the reception to open a file for you. You’ll get a file with another form – just a replica of the one you filled online- Fill that again and register your file at office just opposite the reception.
- Ask for LONG ROOM – Its about the 3rd building on the left from the gate. You are doing 3 things in that block
- For your payment verification
- The section on the right is for enrolment of your data
- It’s just to the left of the 2nd room (they are same rooms) for capturing your data
DOs & DON’Ts
- Do not wear a white cloth so your picture will be OK against the white background.
- Eat well, go with a bucket of patience and be relaxed so you can check your data well when it is being entered or reviewed in capturing stage (check letter to letter)
- Don’t use your phone nor snap pictures in the capturing room.
- The officers were very pleasant and ready to give directions for the next step, so ask questions.
I was given a collection reference number and 3 weeks to collect the passport, and I added 3 weeks to the date I was given for collection and it was ready by then. I collected the passport, activated it as directed and that was it.
For Children’s Passport
All the requirements for adults plus their father’s state of origin certificate and consent letter ( father’s own). They might not process forms unless it’s the father’s origin certificate and signed consent letter.
What Are The Requirements For International Passport In Nigeria?
For standard passports, here are the requirements that you need to have/get when processing your International Passport In Nigeria.
- Local Government letter of identification.
- Birth certificate / age declaration.
- 2 recent colour passport photographs
- Guarantor’s form sworn to before a commissioner of Oaths / Magistrate / High Court Judge
- Parents’ letter of consent for minors under 16 years
- Marriage certificate where applicable
- Police report incase of lost passport
- Submit application with supporting documents to passport office / Embassy / High commission
Why You Need To Get Your International Passport
According to John Obidi – a popular Nigerian public speaker, and the creator of the Headstart African Facebook group. He shared his thoughts on why every Nigerians, especially adults needs to have their international passports.
According to him, he said that “This passport thing is not always about japa, even though e fit dey involved one kain. Every adult should have a passport. We were supposed to have been taught in Social Studies but you know how de tin go. Even if you have nowhere to go (YET), acquire it and keep in your drawer before another booklet ‘scarcity’ occurs… suddenly.”
“Then for those of you that have started making some money, just go to Ghana for 5 days and come back. Ghana is a part of ECOWAS, so you won’t need to apply for a visa. Take a cheap flight, or a bus. E no too far… like that. When you come back, give us the update. Then go to Kenya or Rwanda…”
Dey expand small small.
John Obidi
“The things you see and notice will start to change. The opportunities you demand and attract will start to change. This thing won’t meet you on your mattress. You are not too young. Censor every voice that tells you so. Take the steps.”
“I know that your PVC is your power. It allows you to exercise your democratic right to vote in a democratic system of government. But your passport allows you to exercise the basic human right called FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.”
“Again, I’m not shocked that there are no radio and TV ad campaigns about this. But you have heard it now.”
“Please, get your PVC so you can cast your vote for your MCM. But first… get your passport so you can cast your vote for YOURSELF… and YOUR FAMILY. Let your children come into this world seeing this as normal, because through knowledge and the power of will, you broke the cycle in your own time.”
Final Thoughts: How To Apply For International Passport In Nigeria
There you have it – a step-by-step guide on how to apply for international passport in Nigeria by yourself (without paying any 3rd party agents).
I hope this post was helpful. You can bookmark the post so it comes handy when you need to use it, and don’t forget to share with your family, friends, and social networks, using the floating social media icons on the left.
If you enjoy this post, be sure to checkout other useful posts here, that will help you live a very successful and enjoyable life in Nigeria.