By John Umeh
The Federal Government has announced a significant increase in the cost of obtaining the Nigerian standard passport, with the new rates set to begin on September 1, 2025.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, the upward review affects only applications made within Nigeria, while fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged.
Under the new policy, a 32-page passport with a five-year validity will now cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with a ten-year validity will be pegged at ₦200,000. Previously, the same passports were issued at ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 respectively, following earlier increments in recent years.
For Nigerians abroad, the application charges remain fixed at $150 for a 32-page passport (five-year validity) and $230 for a 64-page passport (ten-year validity).
The NIS explained that the new adjustment became necessary to “uphold the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport” while also ensuring the sustainability of efficient service delivery.
“The Service remains committed to balancing quality service delivery with the need to ensure passport services are accessible to all Nigerians,” the statement added.
The announcement has already sparked mixed reactions across the country. While some Nigerians argue that the increment is unjustifiable given the current economic hardship, others believe the move may help reduce corruption, racketeering, and delays in passport processing if properly managed.
The Federal Government, however, assured applicants that efforts are ongoing to make the process faster and more transparent, stressing that the increment will not affect ongoing reforms aimed at eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks in passport issuance.
