The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has urged Nigerians to apply for their passport six months before the expiration of the existing one.

Nigerians in recent times have often complained of delays and other challenges in applying for passport renewal or a new application.

“When the validity on your international passport is down with only 6 months left (and below), you should immediately begin the process of renewal,” NIS said in a graphic tweet.

“AVOID THE RUSH so you don’t fall into the hands of scammers. Visit passport.immigration.gov.ng to begin your passport application process.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians can get their passports whether fresh or renewal by visiting the home page of the Nigeria Immigration Portal, according to the NIS.

“Locate and click on the appropriate application form to start the process. Select a passport type (standard e-passport or official e-passport), then click on the ‘Start Application’ button,” a guide on the NIS website said.

“Fill out the application form and print the filled form. Click on the submit application button to view the applicant details page. Click on proceed to online payment. Click to select the payment currency (Pay in Naira or Pay in Dollars) option, then click on the continue button.

“Identification number: You will be issued an application ID and reference number. Once you’ve made a payment and gotten a “Validation Number,” you can verify it on the NIS website. Print your NIS e-receipt on the portal home page. Generate your passport guarantor’s form.

“After you have submitted your online application, you will need to visit your specified immigration office for photographs and biometrics to be taken.

“If you are applying for a new passport, and you have never previously owned one, you need to fill out the form for a Fresh Passport. Click on ‘Fresh Passport’ on the menu bar. Choose the appropriate passport type you are applying for and click on the ‘Start Application’ button.” (The Guardian: Text, Excluding Headline)

•A Nigerian officer holds passports for his troops preparing to board a U.S. military plane in the Nigerian capital Abuja October 28, 2004, before flying to El-Fasher in Darfur to reinforce an expanded African Union peacekeeping effort in the violent region of western Sudan. The U.S. airlift is the first U.S. military deployment in the Darfur conflict.

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