The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced the expansion of its contactless biometric passport system to four additional countries as part of its ongoing efforts to digitize and streamline passport processing for Nigerians living abroad.
The expanded rollout will now cover the United States, Brazil, Jamaica and Mexico bringing the number of countries under the contactless biometric passport scheme to seven.
The system was previously launched in the United Kingdom, Canada and some parts of Europe.
According to the Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, the contactless passport application process allows Nigerians in the diaspora to complete passport renewals using a digital self-service platform without the need for in-person biometric capture.
The initiative aligns with the broader modernization agenda of the Ministry of Interior aimed at improving service delivery reducing turnaround time and eliminating bottlenecks associated with traditional passport issuance.
The digital passport system, which was first introduced in 2023, uses advanced facial recognition and secure document verification to authenticate applicants’ identities.
Users are required to download the Nigeria Immigration mobile application, submit required documents upload a passport photo and complete payment through an integrated online platform.
Adepoju said the system is designed to enhance user experience for Nigerians abroad by simplifying access to consular services and enabling faster processing of passport applications.
She noted that the system will also improve data security and support real-time tracking of passport requests through encrypted digital records.
In a statement released by the service, the Comptroller General reiterated the NIS commitment to leveraging technology to meet the growing demands of Nigeria’s diaspora population, which now exceeds 17 million globally.
The expansion to the United States and Latin American countries follows successful pilot implementations and positive user feedback in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Officials noted that the new countries were selected based on the density of Nigerian communities and the need to improve access to consular services in underserved locations.
As part of the implementation plan NIS has deployed specialized equipment and trained personnel to Nigerian missions in the newly added countries to support onboarding and address technical inquiries from applicants.
The Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has repeatedly emphasized the importance of passport reform as a cornerstone of the government’s public service delivery transformation.
He described the contactless system as a major achievement in line with global best practices for identity management and citizen services.
With the contactless passport platform now active in North America, Europe and parts of Latin America, the government aims to continue phased expansion to other regions like Asia and the Middle East before the end of the year.
The digital upgrade is expected to reduce administrative delays, lower processing costs and enhance Nigeria’s reputation for efficient public sector innovation.
