NIGERIA INTRODUCES E-PASSPORTS

The High Commission wishes to inform all Nigerians in Canada that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is set to commence the issuance of a new electronic travel document, e-passport, in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard.

The new system is aimed at achieving the following: 

v    To enhance security against all forms of forgery in the paper based (MRP) passport; 

v    To prevent multiple applications and acquisitions by an individual;

 v    To facilitate the movement of people through immigration entry/exit points using auto gates;  

 v    To ensure compliance with the latest ICAO recommendations; and

 v    To provide online and effective Information Management and Reporting Systems.  In fact, individual applicants will be able to undertake initial on-line service in their application process before the stage of submitting biometric data, as well as being able to monitor the progress of their applications.

 Regrettably, when the process takes off here in Canada, ALL APPLICANTS  for an e-passport must physically be present in the office in Ottawa for the submission and capture of their details i.e. photos and thumb-prints.  This is the only way that the genuineness of the e-passport is assured, including the prevention of forgeries and proxy applications.

 While the issuance of e-passports will shortly commence in Nigeria, it is not expected that the various Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad would commence such operations until the last quarter of 2007, due to the logistics involved. The Mission will however post new Guidelines, Requirements and Procedures on its Web Page accordingly at the appropriate time.

 The Mission wishes to inform all Nigerians that at the commencement of the issuance of e-passports by Nigerian Diplomatic and Consular Missions, they must replace their current Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) when they expire, with the e-passports.  At that point in time, ALL APPLICANTS for a new Passport must physically appear in our office in Ottawa to have their biometric details captured accordingly.

 Meanwhile, pending the take-off of the issuance of e-passports by Nigeria’s Missions overseas, this Office will continue to issue MRP passports accordingly, while all the relevant subsisting requirements, as detailed on our web page, remain.

 Nigerians are however advised to please visit the web-site of the Nigeria Immigration Service at http://www.immigration.gov.ng in order to obtain further information, as well as familiarize themselves with the procedures for obtaining e-passports. 

Consular Section

Nigeria High Commission