NIS launches second phase of contactless passport application in US and Brazil

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has expanded the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system to four additional countries, including the United States, Mexico, Jamaica, and Brazil. In a statement, NIS Public Relations Officer AS Akinlabi confirmed that the system was launched in the United States on Friday, April 11, and commenced on Monday, April 14, in the three other countries.

The latest rollout follows the successful introduction of the service in other regions, as the NIS moves to ease passport renewal processes for Nigerians living abroad. Akinlabi stated that the contactless application system is also currently available in Canada, parts of Europe, and Asia. The initiative, which was initially launched late last year, enables Nigerian citizens to renew their passports without visiting a passport centre for biometric capturing.

Applicants can now complete their renewal process by downloading the NIS mobile application from the Google Play Store. Akinlabi added that the version for Apple devices will soon be available on the App Store, and that a more advanced version of the app is being developed to enhance user experience and accessibility for both Android and iOS users.

The NIS also announced that the third phase of the contactless passport application rollout will cover Nigeria and Australia, with dates for implementation to be communicated in due course. The service is part of a broader effort by the immigration agency to streamline passport processing and better serve Nigerians across the globe. Akinlabi reiterated the agency’s commitment to providing innovative and efficient services to all citizens, regardless of their location.