Nigerian Passport Renewal from UK: Contactless Biometrics in 1 Month (No Embassy Visit)

Here is my step‑by‑step experience renewing my Nigerian passport from home and how you can do it too. If you are a Nigerian living in the UK, you know the struggle. You have to book an appointment, travel all the way to London (sometimes from far away cities like Manchester or Edinburgh), queue for hours, and do your biometrics in person. Then you wait… and wait.

I was in that same situation. My passport expired in December 2023. I started the renewal process online in June 2024, but I kept waiting for a biometric appointment. Then, in late 2024, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) introduced a contactless biometric option. I tried it. And within one month, I had my new passport delivered to my door without ever stepping foot in London.

Contents

1. Who Is This For?

2. Cost Breakdown: What I Paid

3. Requirements: Phone & Documents

4. 10 Steps to Renew Your Nigerian Passport Contactless

5. Important: How to Get the Thumbprinting Right

6. What to Mail to the Nigerian High Commission

7. How Long It Took Me

8. Frequently Asked Questions

9. Final Words

This guide is for Nigerians living in the United Kingdom who:

• Already have an expired or expiring Nigerian passport (renewals only, fresh applications are not eligible for contactless).
• Want to avoid traveling to the Nigerian High Commission in London.
• Have an Android phone with a fingerprint sensor (the NIS app does not work on iPhones as of 2026).
• Cost Breakdown: What I Paid (June 2024 to January 2025)
• Passport renewal fee (32 pages, 5 years):  £162, paid online via NIS portal
• Contactless biometric service fee: £100, paid inside the NIS app
• Postal order (administrative fee): £20, for return delivery from the High Commission

Total: £282, no travel costs, no time off work

You pay the £162 renewal fee first (the normal way). Then, when you switch to contactless, you pay an extra £100 for the convenience. The £20 postal order is paid at any UK post office.

Requirements: Phone & Documents

• Android phone only: (the NIS app is not available on Apple App Store as of 2026).
• Your phone must have a fingerprint sensor: (usually on the back, side, or under the screen). You will use it for thumbprinting.

Documents You Need Ready

• Valid email address
• Your old (expired) Nigerian passport
• A way to pay online (debit/credit card for the £162 and £100)
• Access to a printer (to print the self addressed envelope label)

10 Steps to Renew Your Nigerian Passport Contactless

I did this myself. Here is exactly what you need to do.

Step 1: Download the NIS App

Go to the Google Play Store and search for "NIS App" (Nigeria Immigration Service). Download and install it. 

Note: There is no iOS version yet.

Step 2: Create a Profile & Activate

Open the app. Create a profile using a valid email address, this is where you will receive your application ID, reference number, and payment confirmations.

Step 3: Click on "Passport Application Service"

On the app’s landing page, tap Passport Application Service.

Step 4: Choose the "Self Enrollment" Option

When prompted, select self enrollment (this is the contactless path). If you already started your renewal on the web portal, you can still link it here by entering your existing application ID and reference number.

Step 5: Make Payment for Passport Renewal (If Not Already Paid)

If you haven’t paid the standard renewal fee (£162), the app will guide you. If you already paid on the website, skip to the next step.

Step 6: Select "Contactless Biometric Enrollment"

Inside the passport service, look for Contactless Biometric Enrollment. Tap it. 

The system will check your eligibility. 

• Eligible? → Proceed to biometric enrollment (you are a renewal applicant). 
• Not eligible? → The app will redirect you to the physical appointment portal (this usually happens for first‑time applicants).

Step 7: Input Your Application ID & Reference Number

You will be asked for your application ID and reference number (sent to your email). Enter them. The system will pull your details.

Step 8: Complete Biometric Enrollment (Selfie + Thumbprints)

This is the most delicate part. 

• First, take a selfie in good light (face the window). 
• Then, thumbprint all 10 fingers one by one. 

 Turn your phone so that natural light reflects on your thumb. Do not face your phone directly – let the light hit your finger from the side. I struggled until I turned around, then all prints worked perfectly.

Step 9: Pay the Contactless Service Fee (£100)

After successful biometric submission, you will be prompted to pay £100. Use your debit/credit card. 

I had a small glitch where payment showed as pending. I waited 24 hours, logged in and out a few times, and it finally showed "100% successful, payment confirmed."

Step 10: Mail Your Old Passport & Documents

Once the app shows 100% complete, you must physically mail your old passport to the Nigerian High Commission in London. I explain exactly what to send in the next section.

The Thumbprinting Secret – Get It Right the First Time

Many people fail the thumbprinting step. Here is why and how to fix it.

Problem: The app keeps saying "error" or "failed" when you scan a finger.

Solution (what worked for me):

• Stand near a window with natural light. 
• Turn your body so that the light reflects on your thumb (do not face your phone toward the light, let the light hit your finger from behind or the side). 
• Place your finger flat on the sensor, not too fast, not too slow.

I failed when I faced the window. I succeeded when I turned around and let the light reflect on my hand. Try it.

What to Mail to the Nigerian High Commission (London)

After the app confirms success, you must send a package to:

Nigerian High Commission London 

9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX, United Kingdom

Inside the envelope, you must include:

1. Your old (current) passport: the one that is expired or about to expire.

2. A Royal Mail C4 Special Delivery self addressed envelope: this is the envelope they will use to send your new passport + old passport back to you. You need to buy it from a post office, write your own address on it, and include it inside the package.

3. A postal order of £20: payable to "Nigeria High Commission London". 

•    Buy this at any UK post office. 
•    Write your full name and phone number on the back of the postal order.

4. Evidence of payment: you can print the confirmation email from the app showing you paid the £100 contactless fee (optional but recommended).

Do not forget the self addressed envelope. If you do not include it, they cannot send your passport back.

 The High Commission will then use the £20 postal order to cover their postage, and your new and old passports will arrive in the special delivery envelope you provided.

Total time from contactless completion to delivery: approximately 1 month. I received two calls from the High Commission asking to confirm I had sent my passport (they said they couldn’t see it at first). I reassured them. A few weeks later, the passport arrived with no further notification, just a knock on the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an iPhone?

No. As of 2026, the NIS contactless biometric feature only works on Android phones with a fingerprint sensor.

Is this available for first‑time passport applicants?

No. Contactless enrollment is currently only for passport renewals. First time applicants must go for physical biometrics.

What if I already started my renewal on the web portal?

You can still switch. Just download the app, create a profile, and enter your existing application ID and reference number. The app will pick up where you left off.

I paid the £100 but the app still says pending. What do I do?

Wait 24 hours. Log out, log back in. Sometimes it takes time to update. If it still doesn’t work, contact the NIS support email (check the app for details). In my case, it resolved on its own.

Can I send my passport via regular mail?

No. You must use a tracked, signed for service (Royal Mail Special Delivery) to send your old passport. And you must include a Special Delivery self addressed envelope for the return.

Do I need to include a passport photograph?

No. The photo is taken via the selfie in the app.

If you are a Nigerian in the UK with an Android phone, you can renew your passport from your living room. Follow the 10 steps above, be patient with the thumbprinting, mail your documents correctly, and your new passport will arrive in about a month.

Have you tried the contactless renewal? Drop a comment below. I would love to hear your experience. And if you have questions, ask away. I will reply.

Disclaimer: This guide is based on my personal experience in 2024 to 2025. Immigration rules and app functionality may change. Always check the official NIS website or app for the most current information.

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