NIS Extends UK Passport Exercise to October 3 as Demand Surges
The Nigeria Immigration Service has extended its special passport intervention exercise in the United Kingdom by two weeks following a surge in demand from Nigerians seeking passport services.
The exercise, being conducted at designated centres in London and Manchester, which was initially scheduled to end on September 19, 2026, will now run until October 3.
The extension was announced by the NIS Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the Service, the extension was approved following the high turnout and level of interest recorded since the commencement of the intervention exercise.
“In response to the high turnout and interest shown, the Nigeria Immigration Service under the directive of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has approved an extension of the exercise in London and Manchester from 19th September to 3rd October, 2026,” the statement said.
The NIS said the extension would provide additional capacity to accommodate the growing number of applicants and ensure that more eligible Nigerians were attended to.
It disclosed that 1,477 Nigerians had successfully completed processing and enrolment within the first four days of the exercise, adding that more than half of those enrolled had already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses.
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The Service said the exercise was progressing smoothly at the London and Manchester centres despite challenges encountered on the first day.
It urged eligible applicants to obtain appointments before visiting the centres, stressing that the procedure was designed to ensure an orderly and transparent process.
Applicants are required to book appointments through the official website of the High Commission of Nigeria in the United Kingdom and present their completed application forms and payment receipts, appointment slips, current passports where applicable, and self-addressed return envelopes.
The NIS also warned applicants against making cash payments or paying unauthorised additional charges, emphasising that the passport application and payment processes were fully automated and cashless.
The applicable fees remain $162 for a five-year passport booklet and $242 for a 10-year validity booklet, with no additional charges required to participate in the intervention exercise.
The Service said further information on the extended dates, participating locations and appointment procedures would be communicated through its official channels and those of the Nigerian High Commission in the UK.
The NIS thanked Nigerians in the UK for their patience and cooperation, reaffirming its commitment to providing efficient, transparent and responsive passport services to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
By PRNigeria
