Last week, there was Breaking News that got Nigerian Travellers excited. It was the increase in the validity of the Standard Passport to 10 years. Before we had to renew our passport every five years but going forward that hassle is gone.
We are all stoked about it because with the falling value of the Naira, raising the funds for a trip outside Nigeria was becoming more time demanding than before. With this 10 year validity, you can take your time in planning for that vacation to your dream destination. Another reason we like this new development is that we won’t have to attach two passports together. We now have 10 years to have all our visas stamped on one booklet.
There are people who travel a lot in a year and worry that one booklet might not do it for 10 years. But you know there is a 64-page booklet you can pay for if you think 32 pages is too small for 10 years worth of travel history. Besides, the process to apply for more pages if your booklet is full is the same with renewing your passport. .
Speaking on renewing our passport, for those whose passports need renewal, here’s what you need to know:
- It will take 72 hours to get your passport renewed with bio-metric data recording. But sometimes, if the booklets are not available at the closest immigration office to you, you might have to wait as long as 8 weeks.
- The cost of renewing your passport is based on age. Passports for people under 17 years of age and those above 60 years are cheaper than that for those aged 18 – 59. To find out about the cost of passport renewals, see here (https://immigration.gov.ng/standard-passport/).
- There is no age classifications for those applying for the 64-page booklets. However, the 64-page booklet is more expensive than the 32-page booklet.
- You can apply to renew your whether your validity has expired or not. So you don’t have to wait till it expires to renew your passport.
- If your validity has expired, you will need to present the following documents when applying for a renewal: Application Letter; your Passport Booklet; a Photocopy of the Data Page of Passport; Acknowledgement Slip and Evidence of Payment.
- If your validity is yet to expire and has over 6 months on it, you submit the above documents also including a letter explaining the reasons for needing a re-issuance. Also, you must have a National Identification number from Nigeria Identification Management Centre (NIMC).
- To apply for passport renewal online, visit the Home page of Nigeria Immigration Portal (https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/). Complete passport application online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference. For payment instructions click here (https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/passport/epassport). Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the passport office chosen during online application.
- Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.
Note: Applicants are require to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.
Some people say it is more stressful to renew your passport or change a detail on your current passport than it is to get a new one. They recommend getting a new one altogether because the cost is the same for both renewal and a fresh application. The choice to renew your old passport or get a fresh passport is up to you.
Feature Image: feedtide.com
