Nigeria’s Passport Among World’s Costliest, On Par with U.S, UK

Revenue Extraction Disguised as Reforms – Nigerians

As of September 1, 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially doubled domestic passport fees, setting a new threshold that now makes the Nigerian passport among the most expensive in Africa.

Applicants within Nigeria will now pay ₦100,000 for a 32-page, 5-year validity passport and ₦200,000 for a 64-page, 10-year version. In contrast, diaspora fees remain unchanged at $150 and $230, respectively.

The NIS justifies this increase as “vital for preserving passport integrity, upgrading security features, expanding service centres, and enabling local production.”

But for millions of Nigerians already battling soaring food prices, electricity tariffs, and fuel costs, the move is seen as a tone-deaf government action that risks deepening economic despair.

What the Numbers Are Saying

Nigeria’s ₦100,000 fee for a 5-year passport is now higher than Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, positioning it near UK and US levels. This is particularly striking given many Nigerians earn far less than Western minimum wages.

Experts are saying that the narrative is that passport expenses are becoming a luxury, not a public service, for thousands of Nigerians.

At ₦70,000 minimum wage, an average Nigerian worker would need to forfeit nearly two months’ pay to afford a 5-year passport. A 10-year passport would cost almost three months’ salary.

In contrast, a U.S. worker earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour needs less than 25 hours of work to cover a $130 passport fee.

Global Passport Production Costs: A Comparison with Nigeria’s Rates

The cost of producing an international passport varies significantly across the globe, influenced by factors such as security features, administrative expenses, and national economic conditions.

For example, in Australia, the average production cost of a passport in the 2022–23 financial year was approximately AUD $140.57. This includes design, production, and distribution costs, particularly for high-security features.

Similarly, Germany charges €70 for an adult passport, which encompasses production and administrative expenses.

In the United States, while specific production costs are not readily available, the U.S. government charges $130 for a standard 10-year passport. This fee covers both the cost of production and processing.

In China, passports are priced at ¥120, a fee that reflects both the cost of issuing biometric passports and related administrative expenses.

In Singapore, the cost for a biometric passport is S$70, which includes the government’s investment in the security and technology features that safeguard the passport against counterfeit activities. A larger investment was made in the launch of biometric passports, with S$9.7 million allocated to enhance security features.

Globally, the variation in passport costs is often attributed to the level of security and technology embedded in the passport design. Countries with high-tech biometric features and anti-counterfeiting mechanisms typically incur higher costs. This trend is evident in Australia, where the cost of production is higher due to enhanced security measures in place.

Passport Fee Comparison Table

Country / Region	Passport Type & Validity	Local Fee	Approx. USD	Approx. ₦
Nigeria (2025)	32p (5 yrs) / 64p (10 yrs)	₦100,000 / ₦200,000	$65 / $130	₦100K / ₦200K
Ghana	32p / 48p (10 yrs)	GH₵350 / $64)	$33 / $64	₦50,800 / ₦83,200
Kenya	34p (10 yrs) / 66p	KES 4,550–7,550 / 7,550	$35–50 / $49	₦53,800–77,000 / ₦75,400
Uganda	Ordinary (10 yrs)	UGX 250,000	$70	₦103,000
South Africa	32p (10 yrs)	R600	$32	₦52,300
Côte d’Ivoire	Ordinary (5 yrs)	CFA 40,000	$67	₦54,000
Senegal	Ordinary (5 yrs)	CFA 20,000	$33	₦27,000
Liberia	ECOWAS Biometric (5 yrs)	$50	$50	₦40,000
Sierra Leone	Ordinary (5 yrs)	~$100	$100	₦80,000
United Kingdom	Standard adult (10 yrs)	£94.50 (online)	$120–$136	₦120K–₦136K
United States	Adult (10 yrs)	$130 (book only)	$130–$165 (with fee)	₦200K–₦240K

What the Government Stands to Gain

Under Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, NIS recently cleared 200,000 backlogged applications, launched contactless biometric renewal systems, built a high-capacity data centre, and unveiled e-gates at major airports.

According to NIS, the adjustment is not merely about squeezing citizens’ pockets but about long-term reforms.

In an overstretched economy, the hike injects vital funds into NIS operations, giving the agency more autonomy.

Proceeds are expected to fund biometric upgrades, advanced anti-forgery measures, and technology like e-gates at airports.

The service promises more front offices and biometric centres to reduce bottlenecks. It argues that by producing passport booklets locally, the hike aligns with the government’s local-content agenda.

Yet, whether these gains will translate into visible improvements for citizens remains highly debated.

Revenue Extraction Disguised as Reforms – Nigerians

Nigerians have taken to several social media handles to vent their frustration with the new announcement, describing it as one of the several government moves to increase revenue at the expense of Nigerians.

Writing on ‘X’, formerly Twitter, one @Elozoma Chukwu said, “When policies with little impact arrive, they’re instant; when it’s something that could benefit 70% of citizens, it drags on forever.”

Dipo Adedipe said, “International passport fees increased for those nursing japa dreams. They didn’t touch the fee for those who already ‘japa-ed’. Life is no balance. ( implying discriminatory treatment.)

Irunnia, a private sector worker, wondered why the passport of a country costs more times the minimum wage.

Others, however, argued that the hike was justifiable. @Darpor__ tweeted: “The value of a nation is reflected in the strength of its PASSPORT.” Paying a little more for a document that carries our identity with pride and global respect is a price worth it. This is literally the only government document that comes easy to get.”

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This latest increase comes barely a year after the Federal Government raised fees in September 2024 from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000 for the 32-page passport and from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000 for the 64-page version.

Now, within just 12 months, Nigerians face another steep jump, cementing fears that passport costs may become a recurring fiscal tool rather than a genuine service reform.

At face value, the government’s justification for this hike sounds logical: strengthening integrity, funding tech, and expanding access. But for millions of Nigerians who measure their survival daily in naira and kobo, the policy feels like another burden dressed up as reform.

With unemployment high, wages stagnant, and inflation soaring, the Nigerian passport is becoming a luxury document. While the elite may barely feel the pinch, the average citizen is left asking, “Is the Nigerian passport now a ticket out of hardship or proof of it?”

Speaking exclusively to Pinnacle Daily, public servant and sovereign blockchain architect Oye Shobowale-Benson said, “Given the improved efficiency and timely delivery of passports under the new administration and factoring in inflation, the increase does not seem excessive.

“However, since wages in the private sector have not been significantly raised across the board, it could still weigh heavily on lower-income earners.”

A chartered accountant, Mr Joseph Enenche, in his response to Pinnacle Daily‘s question around the appropriateness of the fees, said, “These moves are tangible, yet scepticism remains. Will the new fees genuinely fund better services, or are citizens simply subsidising systemic inefficiencies?”