NIS Hikes Passport Fees as‘JAPA’ Wave Continues

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a major increase in the cost of international passports, with the new rates set to take effect from September 1, 2025.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Service’s spokesman, A.S. Akinlabi, confirmed that the adjustment represents nearly a 100 percent rise compared to the current fees. “The review, which only affects Passport Application fees made in Nigeria, now sets a new fee threshold for 32-page passports with 5-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page passports with 10-year validity at N200,000. Meanwhile, Nigerian Passport Application fees made by Nigerians in diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for a 32-page passport with 5-year validity and $230 for a 64-page passport with 10-year validity,” Akinlabi said.

The Service maintained that the decision was guided by the need to sustain service delivery while ensuring accessibility of passports to Nigerians at home and abroad.

The announcement comes at a time when the “Japa” trend—mass migration of Nigerians seeking opportunities overseas—has intensified, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and several parts of Europe remain top destinations for those pursuing better education, employment, and security.

Remittances from Nigerians abroad continue to play a vital role in the national economy. According to 2023 World Bank data, diaspora communities contribute more than $20 billion annually, making them a critical economic pillar.

Yet, experts warn that this trend comes at a steep cost for the country. Outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has repeatedly cautioned against the long-term consequences of large-scale youth migration. “We have over 465 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35,” he said, stressing that Africa risks losing its greatest resource if governments fail to invest in their potential. He added that Africa must not turn what should be its demographic asset into “somebody else’s problem.”

“I do not believe that the future of our young people lies in Europe; it doesn’t lie in America, it doesn’t lie in Canada, Japan or China; it should lie in Africa growing well, growing robustly and able to create quality jobs for our young people,” Adesina said.