The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has extended the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system to the United States, Brazil, Jamaica, and Mexico.
This development was announced in a statement issued on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Abuja by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Akinsola Akinlabi, via the Service’s official page on X (formerly Twitter).
According to the statement, the system was launched in the U.S. on April 11, followed by Jamaica on April 14. Brazil and Mexico are also scheduled to go live with the system on April 14, 2025.
Mr. Akinlabi explained that this move is part of the NIS’s broader effort to simplify passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora. He noted that the application can now be accessed on the Google Play Store under the name “NIS Mobile,” allowing users to complete their passport renewal process without the need to visit any passport center for biometric enrollment.
He added that an Apple Store version of the app would be released soon, with an enhanced version planned for both Android and iOS platforms to improve user experience and accessibility.
“With this rollout, the contactless passport application system is now operational in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil, Europe, and Asia,” Akinlabi said. “It is yet to be introduced in Australia and Nigeria, with official launch dates for both countries to be announced later.”
He reiterated the NIS’s commitment to providing innovative and efficient services to Nigerians worldwide.
What You Should Know
- The NIS launched its contactless passport application system in Europe on February 7, 2025.
- The service was first made available to Nigerians in the UK and Ireland, following its initial rollout in Canada on November 5, 2024.
- The system allows passport renewals without visiting a passport center for biometric enrollment.
- Applicants can download the NIS Mobile app from the Google Play Store to initiate the process.
- NIS Comptroller General Kemi Nandap emphasized that the initiative is designed to reduce the burden of passport acquisition and renewal for Nigerians abroad.
- By enabling digital passport applications, the new system eliminates the need for physical interaction, ensuring quicker verification and smoother processing.
The NIS remains focused on leveraging technology to enhance service delivery and improve access to travel documentation for Nigerians across the globe.
