The Nigeria Immigration Agency (NIS) has expanded the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system to four other countries, including the United States, Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil. In a statement, NIS public relations officers as Akinlabi confirmed that the system was launched in the United States on Friday, April 11 and started in three other countries on Monday, April 14.
The latest launch comes after the successful introduction of the service in other regions, with the development of NIS, providing a passport renewal process for Nigerians living abroad. Contactless application systems are currently available in parts of Canada, Europe and Asia, Akinlabi said. The initiative was originally launched late last year to enable Nigerian citizens to renew their passports without accessing the passport center for biometric capture centers.
Applicants can now complete their renewal process by downloading the NIS mobile app from the Google Play Store. Akinlabi added that the version of Apple devices will be available soon on the App Store, and a more advanced version of the app is being developed to enhance user experience and accessibility for Android and iOS users.
NIS also announced that the third phase of the launch of contactless passport application will cover Nigeria and Australia and will be implemented when appropriate. The service is part of a broader effort by the Immigration Agency to simplify passport processing and better serve Nigerians around the world. Akinlabi reiterates the agency’s commitment to providing innovative and effective services to all citizens, regardless of their location.
