Expired Passport? NIS Says Nigerians Can Still Travel Back Home

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clarified that Nigerians living abroad may be allowed to return to Nigeria even if their international passports have expired.

According to Ireporter Online, the clarification is expected to bring relief to many Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those planning to travel home during the end-of-year period.

The immigration service explained that Nigerians whose passports have expired can return to the country and subsequently renew their travel documents after arrival.

The development comes as many Nigerians abroad make preparations for their December trips, with the NIS encouraging travellers to take advantage of their stay in Nigeria to process passport renewals where necessary.

The service noted that the arrangement could offer greater convenience to Nigerians whose passports have expired or are close to expiration ahead of their planned journeys home.

The NIS also addressed concerns surrounding passport services in the United Kingdom, assuring Nigerians that the ongoing special passport intervention has not affected regular passport services at the Nigerian High Commission.

According to the service, applicants with scheduled appointments are continuing to receive attention as planned.

The spokesperson for the NIS, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, also confirmed that the contactless passport application platform remains fully operational.

The platform allows eligible Nigerians to process passport renewals remotely without necessarily visiting a passport office in person.

The NIS urged Nigerians requiring passport services to make use of the available official channels and properly plan their applications.

The clarification is expected to ease concerns among Nigerians abroad who may have been worried about travelling back home with expired passports, especially as preparations begin for the busy end-of-year travel season.