In September 2024, the Nigerian government increased passport application fees. The fees for a five-year passport increased from N35,000 (approximately $23) to N50,000 ($33), while the fees for a ten-year passport increased from N70,000 (approximately $46) to N100,000 ($66). By September 2025, the fees doubled again to N100,000 (approximately $66) and N200,000 ($133) respectively. Given the current economic situation, the 185 percent cumulative increase in passport fees places a severe strain on citizens, restricting access to global mobility.
Inflation in Nigeria has repeatedly exceeded 30 percent in the past 20 months, while the national minimum wage stands at a mere N70,000. The passport, an essential gateway to international education, trade, and professional opportunities, is becoming financially inaccessible for aspiring Nigerians. To mitigate the adverse effects of the fee increase, the Nigerian government should introduce a tiered pricing model and digitize the application process.
The current flat fee fails to account for the vast income disparities within the Nigerian population. The cost of a 64-page passport, now $133, is nearly triple the national minimum wage. Such a barrier restricts the freedom of movement and stifles the needed economic engagement and international exposure that spur development. This barrier also contradicts the principles of a free market and economic empowerment.
A flexible, income-sensitive passport pricing model is necessary to ensure equity. This system would offer reduced rates for students, low-income earners, and first-time applicants. Verification could occur through existing databases, such as the Bank Verification Number (BVN) for income assessment, or student identity cards issued by accredited institutions. Standard rates would remain for corporate applicants and frequent travelers.
Nigeria has not yet moved beyond a one-size-fits-all fee structure. The current structure focuses on revenue generation over citizen empowerment. The Nigeria Immigration Service must collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to design clear eligibility criteria.
Implementing this model would directly increase the number of Nigerians who can legally get a passport. Such a tiered system would reduce the incentive to use illicit brokers and curb associated corruption. The expected outcomes are increased affordability for low-income earners and a more globally connected, economically active citizenry.
Similar models have succeeded elsewhere. India, for instance, subsidises passports for students and minors. This policy recognises that investing in the mobility of the younger generation yields significant future returns. Nigeria can adapt this model to local contexts.
Beyond that, the passport application and issuance process requires complete digitisation. Currently, the process is notoriously opaque, with network failures, limited appointment slots, and rampant allegations of officials exploiting manual bottlenecks to extort. A fully digital system would require online form submission, payment, and document upload.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has attempted to digitize; however, these efforts remain fragmented. Persistent physical intermediation at critical stages creates opportunities for rent-seeking. A necessary step is to eliminate all non-essential physical touchpoints and decentralise biometric capture through accredited centers, much as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) model does. The government should also offer secure, trackable home or office delivery as the standard collection method. A streamlined digital process would reduce processing times.
There would be greater transparency in the process, enhanced accountability, and restored public trust. The outcome would be a system enabling citizens to receive their passports within a predictable timeframe.
The success of fully digital public services is evident in Nigeria. The BVN system shows the feasibility of large-scale digital registration for millions of citizens. Looking abroad, Rwanda’s Irembo platform offers a blueprint for this transition, consolidating over 100 government services online. Applying this same technical and operational rigor to passport issuance is achievable.
High passport application fees in Nigeria function as a regressive tax on the aspirations of key demographic groups, and contradict Nigeria’s commitments under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Free Movement Protocol. The government should urgently revise this pricing structure to prioritise mobility over administrative income. After all, a nation’s true wealth is defined by the global competitiveness of its people, not by the levies extracted from their potential.
Ngbechukwuyem is a writing fellow at African Liberty. He can be reached via: @godslovedivon.
Article first appeared in The Guardian Nigeria.
Photo by Agus Dietrich via Unsplash.