The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a major increase in passport application fees, effective September 1, 2025.
According to a statement by the Service’s spokesman, A.S. Akinlabi, the revised rates apply only to applications made within Nigeria. Under the new structure, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with 10-year validity will be ₦200,000.
Passport applications by Nigerians abroad remain unchanged, at $150 for a 32-page five-year booklet and $230 for a 64-page 10-year booklet. Akinlabi explained that the adjustment was necessary to balance service quality with accessibility for applicants.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s ongoing ‘Japa’ migration wave, driven by unemployment, insecurity, and the search for better opportunities abroad. Popular relocation destinations include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and parts of Europe.
The World Bank (2023) estimates that remittances from the Nigerian diaspora contribute over $20 billion annually to the economy. However, the trend has raised concerns among policymakers.
Outgoing AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, described the migration surge as a major loss for Africa.
“We have over 465 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35,” Adesina said. “I do not believe that the future of our young people lies in Europe; it doesn’t lie in America, it doesn’t lie in Canada, Japan or China. It should lie in Africa growing well, growing robustly and able to create quality jobs for our young people.”
