How To Replace Lost Nigerian International Passport Abroad or Locally In 2026? Step by Step Guide
I've been there. Actually, a close friend of mine went through this exact nightmare at Heathrow Airport two hours before his connecting flight to Lagos. The panic on his face still stays with me. But here's the thing losing your Nigerian passport isn't the end of the world. It's a headache, yes. A big one. But it's fixable.
Lost Your Nigerian Passport? Don't Panic. Here's Your
2026 Step by Step Guide
Step 1: First Things First: Stay Calm and Search
Before you declare it lost forever, take a breath. Check
every pocket, every bag, every corner of your hotel room. Ask at hotel
reception and any shops or restaurants you visited. You'd be surprised how many
"lost" passports are actually sitting under a car seat or in a coat
pocket. No luck? Then let's move to the official steps.
Step 2: Report to the Police: This Is Non Negotiable, whether
you're in Nigeria or abroad, the very first official step is filing a police
report. This isn't just paperwork, it's your proof that the loss was genuine.
Without it, you cannot apply for a replacement passport.
If you're in Nigeria: Go to the nearest police station and
report the loss. Request a Police Extract, this is your official report that
clearly states the circumstances of the loss.
"Do I really need to go to the police? Can't I just
skip it?"
No. The Nigeria Immigration Service explicitly requires a
police extract for lost passport replacement. You won't get a new passport
without it.
Step 3: Get Your Sworn Affidavit of Loss
Now comes the paperwork that many travelers forget.
Alongside the police report, you need a sworn affidavit of loss from a court.
The Nigeria Immigration Service lists this as a required supporting document
for passport replacement.
In Nigeria: Visit any Magistrate Court or High Court. You'll
swear an oath before a court official, declaring under penalty that your
passport is truly lost. They'll issue you a sworn affidavit document. There's a
fee for this, usually a few thousand naira.
Abroad: Some Nigerian embassies may have a similar process.
Others will accept an affidavit sworn in the country you're in, but check with
your nearest Nigerian mission first. The affidavit must confirm the loss,
including your personal details, passport number (if known), and the
circumstances of the loss.
Step 4: Decide: Are You Abroad or in Nigeria?
Here's where your location determines your next move. The
process looks different depending on where you are. If You Lost Your Passport
Inside Nigeria. Good news, you're on home ground. The process is more
straightforward.
Step 4a: Visit a Nigeria Immigration Service Office
Go to the nearest NIS passport office. You'll need to start
a "replacement" application, not a fresh one. Choose the "Apply
for Renewal/Reissue" option on the NIS portal.
Step 4b: Gather your documents
- Police extract (original)
- Sworn affidavit of loss from the High Court
- Printed copy of your passport data page (if you have a previous scan or photocopy)
- National Identification Number (NIN) slip – this is essential
- Two recent passport photographs
- Any other valid Nigerian ID (driver's license, voter's card, etc.)
Step 4c: Complete the online application
Visit the official NIS portal at https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/passport/epassport
and fill out the application. When asked, select the option for lost passport
replacement.
Step 4d: Pay the required fees
The NIS increased passport fees effective September 1, 2025.
A standard 32 page passport booklet with 5 year validity now costs ₦100,000.
The 64 page passport booklet with 10 year validity costs ₦200,000.
Step 4e: Biometric capture and processing
Attend your appointment at the passport office for biometric
data capture. Your fingerprints and photograph will be taken.
Step 4f: Track your application
Once your application is submitted, you can track its status
online at https://track.immigration.gov.ng. The NIS introduced a new status
called "PRODUCED (PASSPORT PRODUCED, READY FOR COLLECTION)" to help
applicants know exactly when their passports are ready for pickup.
Other statuses include: Paid, Application Sent, Application
Received, Ready for Enrolment, NIN Verification, Production Queue, and Passport
Issued.
How long does it take? With the new reforms and the mega
passport centre in Abuja, the NIS promises that no Nigerian will wait longer
than one week after biometric capture. However, lost passport replacements may
take slightly longer due to the extra verification steps.
If You Lost Your Passport Abroad
This is where things get more complex. You're in a foreign
country without your primary travel document. But don't worry there's a clear
pathway.
Step 4a: Contact your nearest Nigerian embassy or
consulate immediately
Find the Nigerian diplomatic mission in the country you're
in. If you're in a major city like London, New York, Johannesburg, or Dubai,
there's likely a consulate or embassy. Call them as soon as possible. Their
consular section handles lost passport cases and emergency travel documents.
Step 4b: Get an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) or the
new STEP
This is your immediate priority. You need a document that
allows you to return to Nigeria.
What's currently available: The Emergency Travel Certificate
(ETC) is a temporary travel document issued for one way travel to Nigeria. It's
valid for six weeks from the date of issue and costs nothing at some embassies
(like the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York, which does not charge for
this service).
You'll need to fill out an ETC application form at the
embassy and provide:
- Police report from the local authorities
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Copy of your itinerary or airline ticket
- Your NIN or birth certificate
- Any other document proving Nigerian citizenship
In 2026 the Nigerian Immigration Service is introducing the Single
Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to replace the existing Emergency Travel
Certificate. STEP will be a biometric, digital emergency passport available to
Nigerians abroad from January 2026. It can even be generated using a mobile
device without visiting an embassy in some circumstances. It will be issued at
designated Nigerian embassies and consulates and will be valid for single entry
only to return to Nigeria.
Step 4c: Apply for your full passport replacement
Once you're back in Nigeria, you'll need to apply for a full
passport replacement using the same process as local applicants. However, you
can also begin the application process abroad. Many Nigerian missions accept
passport applications and forward them to the NIS headquarters.
Step 4d: Fees for Nigerians abroad
If you're applying from outside Nigeria, passport fees
remain unchanged from the old rates:
- 32 page, 5 year passport: $150 USD
- 64 page, 10 year passport: $230 USD
Foreign missions charge these fees in their local currency
equivalent.
Step 4e: Processing time for replacement abroad
Expect a longer wait. Some sources indicate processing times
for Nigerian passport applications abroad can take between 6 and 12 weeks. This
is significantly longer than the timeline inside Nigeria. Plan accordingly.
Step 5: Watch Out for the Fraud Warning
This is serious. The NIS has warned: "The continued use
of a passport declared lost may be considered fraudulent use of a government
document and could result in..." legal consequences.
What does this mean for you? Once you report your passport
as lost, that document is officially deactivated in the NIS system. If someone
finds it and tries to use it, or if you find it later and try to use it
yourself, it will be flagged at immigration checkpoints. You could be detained
or charged. So even if you find the passport after reporting it lost, you
cannot travel with it. You must complete the replacement process.
Step 6: Prevent This Nightmare Next Time
Once you've survived this ordeal, you'll never let it happen
again. Here's how to avoid the panic next time:
- Take photos of your passport data page and store them in your email, cloud storage, and on your phone. This single step saves so much headache when you need to report a loss.
- Keep a colour photocopy of your passport in your suitcase, separate from the original.
- Use a travel wallet or passport pouch that stays on your body, not in an easily stolen bag.
- Store your passport in your hotel safe when you're not actively traveling. Only carry it when necessary.
- Leave a copy with a trusted family member back in Nigeria who can send you essential information.
Step 7: Get Travel Insurance
Here's where I put on my "learn from experience"
hat. Losing your passport is stressful enough without the financial blow. But
what if you need a new flight because you missed your original departure while
sorting out the emergency certificate? What if you need emergency accommodation
for an extra week?
Travel insurance covers exactly those unexpected costs. Many
policies include coverage for lost or stolen passport replacement expenses,
emergency travel document fees, and even missed flights due to consular delays.
Before your next trip abroad (especially when you have your shiny new replacement passport), get yourself covered. A small premium today means you're not facing a passport loss and a huge bill tomorrow. Some of you are reading this and thinking, "This sounds expensive and time consuming. ₦100,000 for a replacement? That's not small money."
You're right. It's not small money. And the process isn't quick, especially if you're abroad. But here's the alternative: staying stuck in a foreign country without valid travel documents. Missing flights. Wasting days at embassies. Paying for last minute flights that cost three times the normal price.
The ₹100,000 feels like a punch now. The alternative? That's
a knockout.
Have you ever lost a passport while traveling? Tell me in
the comments, where were you, how did it happen, and how long did it take to
get back home? Your story could help someone else avoid the same nightmare.
For Emergency Contacts:
- NIS Contact Centre: 09121900655, 09121556359, 09121477092 (available 24/7)
- NIS Support Email: support@immigration.gov.ng
- Twitter/X for complaints: @nigimmigration | Instagram: @nigimmigration
- Portal: https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/passport/epassport
- Tracking: https://track.immigration.gov.ng
