The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a sharp increase in the cost of obtaining travel passports in the country, with new rates set to take effect from September 1, 2025.
In a statement issued Thursday, Immigration spokesman, A.S. Akinlabi, said the reviewed fees affect only applications made within Nigeria. Under the new structure, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will cost N100,000, while a 64-page passport with 10-year validity will now cost N200,000.
Passport fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for a 32-page booklet and $230 for a 64-page booklet.
“The Service reiterates its commitment to balancing quality service delivery with the need to ensure passport services are accessible to all Nigerians,” NIS stated, though the changes amount to nearly a 100 per cent increase from current charges.
The move comes amid rising unemployment and the ongoing wave of migration known as the ‘japa’ phenomenon, which has seen young Nigerians and middle-class families leave in large numbers in search of better opportunities abroad. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and several European countries remain top destinations.
Nigerian netzines have expressed outrage at the decision, with some decrying it “ridiculous” that a passport fee is now more inflated than the country’s minimum wage of merely ₦70, 000. Others said that the government seems determined to decrease the rate of ‘japa’ among youths especially.
Nigeria’s diaspora community, now one of the largest in Africa, contributes more than $20 billion annually to the economy through remittances, according to 2023 World Bank figures.
But leaders have raised concerns over the long-term impact of mass migration. Outgoing African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, recently warned that Africa risks losing its most valuable demographic advantage.
“We have over 465 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35,” he said, stressing that the continent must invest in its youth to create jobs and prosperity at home.