The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clarified that Nigerians living in the diaspora do not need a valid, unexpired passport to travel back to the country. The agency stated that citizens abroad can return to Nigeria using their expired passports and complete the renewal process upon arrival.
​The clarification comes as many Nigerians in the diaspora begin making travel arrangements for the end-of-year holiday season.
​Addressing inquiries during an operational update on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, Service Spokesman, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI) Akinsola Akinlabi, confirmed that foreign airlines have been instructed to allow citizens with expired Nigerian travel documents to board flights bound for Nigeria.
Citizens holding expired Nigerian passports possess an absolute constitutional right to return home and do not require Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) or visas to enter the country.
Travelers entering Nigeria on expired passports must renew their booklets before attempting to board any outbound flights back to their host nations.
DCI Akinlabi noted that the NIS contactless passport application portal remains fully operational, enabling returning citizens to process their passport renewals remotely or visit local passport offices during their stay.
Regarding concerns about passport backlogs at international missions, such as the Nigerian High Commission in London, the Service reassured the public that ongoing passport interventions have not disrupted regular appointment schedules for applicants abroad.
​The NIS advised all returning diaspora travelers to carry secondary identification, such as their National Identification Number (NIN), alongside their expired passport to facilitate seamless clearance at immigration border desks upon arrival.
