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Residents of Benue State planning to obtain or renew their Nigerian Standard Passport should brace for higher costs, as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a significant fee increase effective September 1, 2025. This development, which affects passport applications made within Nigeria, will impact individuals and families across Benue State seeking international travel documents.
According to a statement by ACI AS Akinlabi, the Service Public Relations Officer, the new fee structure sets the cost of a 32-page passport with a five-year validity at N100,000, while the 64-page passport with a 10-year validity will now cost N200,000. These changes apply only to applications processed in Nigeria; fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page, five-year passport and $230 for the 64-page, 10-year passport.
The NIS justified the hike, stating that it is necessary to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport while ensuring accessibility for citizens. However, this marks the second fee adjustment in just over a year. In August 2024, the Federal Government increased the cost of the 32-page passport from N35,000 to N50,000 and the 64-page passport from N70,000 to N100,000, citing the need to sustain passport quality and improve service delivery.
For Benue residents, this steep increase could pose a financial burden, particularly for families, students, and professionals who rely on passports for education, business, identity verification, or migration purposes. The new fees may also spark discussions in local communities about affordability and access to essential travel documents.
The NIS has yet to announce any specific measures to cushion the impact of the fee hike on low-income earners, but Benue State News will continue to monitor the situation for updates. For now, residents are advised to plan ahead and budget accordingly if they intend to apply for or renew their passports after September 1, 2025.
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