Several immigration services now have separate online portals, which makes choosing the right one more important than simply searching for an application form. The Nigeria Immigration Service handles passports, entry visas and residence-related services, but those applications are not interchangeable.
If you are renewing a Nigerian passport, arranging a visit to Nigeria or trying to regularise a foreign resident’s documents, start with the service you need. The directory below puts the relevant portals first, followed by the application steps and contacts that help when something goes wrong.
Nigeria Immigration Service Portals and What Each One Does
Use the main official website as the starting point and follow its current service links. The domains below are listed as plain text so you can distinguish the services. Current application links are included in the sources at the end of this guide.
| Service | Portal Domain | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main information website | immigration.gov.ng | Official services, notices and contacts |
| Passport applications | passport.immigration.gov.ng | New Nigerian passports and renewals |
| Passport tracking | track.immigration.gov.ng | Application-status enquiries |
| Appointment availability | appointments.immigration.gov.ng | Checking appointment availability |
| Electronic visa | evisa.immigration.gov.ng | Eligible electronic visa applications |
| Regular visa | visa.immigration.gov.ng | Regular visa application route |
| Electronic residence permit | cerpac.immigration.gov.ng | e-CERPAC applications |
| Landing and exit card | lecard.immigration.gov.ng | Travel-card completion |
| Temporary work permit | twp.immigration.gov.ng | Temporary work permit service |
| ECOWAS biometric identity card | enbic.immigration.gov.ng | ENBIC service |
An older portal, portal.immigration.gov.ng, carries a notice that it is no longer used for passport and visa applications. A page remaining accessible does not make it the current application route. Avoid following an old tutorial without checking where its payment and application links lead.
The Nigeria Immigration Service also links to the Ministry of Interior’s citizenship and business service. That is a separate administrative function, so a business or expatriate application may involve more than one authority or approval.
Applying for a Nigerian Passport
Begin at the passport service linked from the official website. Select the appropriate new application or renewal route and complete the information carefully. Names, date of birth and supporting records should be consistent before payment.
Review the current document checklist for your circumstances. An adult renewal, a child’s application and a replacement for a lost passport can require different evidence. Do not upload an incomplete set simply because a friend completed a different type of application with fewer documents.
Pay through the designated process and save the application reference and receipt. Follow the appointment and biometric instructions for the location selected. The ordinary process may require attendance, while contactless services have their own eligibility and availability conditions.
Applicants outside Nigeria should follow the relevant Nigerian mission’s current appointment arrangements. Do not assume a procedure available in one country is available at every embassy or high commission. Check the mission and portal instructions together before travelling to an appointment.
If your document has been lost, our guide to replacing a lost Nigerian passport explains why replacement is a different process from an ordinary renewal. Report the circumstances accurately rather than trying to describe a missing passport as an expired one.
Nigeria Immigration Service Visa Applications
A Nigerian visa is permission relevant to entry into Nigeria, subject to the conditions of the category and the border process. It is different from the visa a Nigerian citizen may need to enter another country. Identify the destination and applicant’s nationality before choosing an application route.
The official website links to both electronic and regular visa services. Eligibility depends on the category and the applicant’s circumstances. Choose the category that matches the actual purpose of travel, such as a visit, business activity or another permitted purpose.
Read the required passport validity, supporting documents, permitted stay and application conditions for that category. A host letter, travel details or business evidence may be relevant, but there is no single checklist suitable for every visa class.
Submit the application through the appropriate portal, save the reference and follow any further instructions. An application receipt is not approval, and approval should be checked for the correct name, passport number, entry conditions and validity.
For international travel planning, our Air Peace route and booking guide can help with the flight side of the journey. Choose an appropriate ticket only after checking the document rules that apply to the traveller and destination.
e-CERPAC, Residence and Work-Related Permissions
Foreign nationals planning to reside or work in Nigeria need the appropriate status for their circumstances. The e-CERPAC portal provides a digital residence-permit route, with categories and requirements covering different applicants and dependants.
A short-stay visit or business visa should not be assumed to authorise long-term residence or employment. Identify the relevant category and employer-related requirements before starting. Employment applications can depend on other approvals, and a document uploaded by the employee alone may not complete the process.
The Nigeria Immigration Service portal explains the supporting requirements for different residence categories. Check whether the application is for a principal applicant, dependant, mission-related applicant or another category. Using the wrong category can lead to unnecessary payment or an application that cannot proceed.
For a temporary work assignment, use the linked temporary-work-permit service and read its current requirements. Describe the work honestly and check the permission period. A temporary permit should not be treated as an unrestricted long-term employment document.
Where an employer, school or legal representative is helping, retain access to your application records. Ask for the reference, receipt and approval documents. You should be able to identify the application even if the person who assisted becomes unavailable.
Landing and Exit Cards Before Travel
The official website links to the electronic landing and exit card service and identifies the cards as part of entry and departure formalities. Follow the current instructions on the live portal for applicability and timing rather than relying on a copied form.
Have your passport and flight information ready so the details match the journey. Save the completed confirmation in a format you can access during travel. Filling a card does not replace a visa or residence permission where one is required.
If an airline asks about a travel card, check that it is the current Nigerian service rather than a similarly named document for another destination. Transit and destination countries may have additional forms, which need to be handled separately.
Tracking an Application and Correcting Problems
Use the Nigeria Immigration Service tracking link, with the reference supplied during your application. Keep the receipt and appointment information together. If the tracker does not find a record, check the reference and selected service before creating another application.
Our Nigerian passport application tracking guide explains the practical information to keep ready when following up. A clear reference and payment record are more useful to support than a message saying only that a passport is delayed.
If you notice an error, contact the relevant service before submitting another paid application. Ask whether the existing record can be corrected and what evidence is needed. Duplicate payments can create another problem without fixing the original mistake.
Nigeria Immigration Service Contacts
The published headquarters is on Umar Musa Yar Adu’a Expressway, Airport Road, Sauka, Abuja, FCT. The general published contact numbers include +234 912 190 0655, +234 912 155 6359 and +234 912 147 7092.
The contact directory lists help-evisa@immigration.gov.ng for electronic visa support and support@immigration.gov.ng for e-CERPAC support. Landing and exit card enquiries use lecard@immigration.gov.ng. General service complaints are directed through nis.servicom@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng.
Choose the contact connected to your service. Include the application reference, applicant name, service type and a short explanation. For payment enquiries, include the transaction reference and receipt while withholding passwords, card PINs and one-time codes.
The Nigeria Immigration Service contact page should be checked again before an important enquiry because service arrangements can change. There is no need to send a passport scan to every address in a contact list; provide only the information the verified process requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Passport Receipt Enough to Travel Internationally?
No. A receipt shows an application or payment, not a valid travel document. You need the issued document and any permission required for the journey.
Can an Agent Guarantee Visa Approval?
No private agent can guarantee the immigration decision. Assistance with forms does not replace meeting the category requirements or receiving a genuine approval.
Which Portal Should I Use If an Old Link Still Opens?
Return to the main Nigeria Immigration Service website and follow the current service link. Check the service and domain before submitting information or making payment.
Start with the Correct Service
The safest Nigeria Immigration Service workflow is to identify the application type, follow its current official portal, save the records and use the service-specific support channel. That avoids mixing passport, visa and residence processes and makes a later enquiry much easier to resolve.
Leave a Reply