The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has denied claims that it requires married women to submit their husbands’ passport data pages or proof of their husband’s identity in order to renew their own passports.
Recall that a Nigerian writer had taken to social media to call out the service.
In her post, the lady who is in the process of getting a divorce stated that she began renewing her passport last week but is yet to complete it due to the many requirements needed from women.
She wondered if the service knows how dangerous they are for women trying to escape all kinds of things in their marriages, including domestic violence.
Reacting via its X handle, the NIS said there is no such law that says married women must attach their husbands’ passport pages or proof of their husbands’ identity before they can renew their passports.
Read the NIS’s reaction below:
“Hello Ijeoma,
“Please be assured that there is no requirement for a married Nigerian woman to attach her husband’s passport page or proof of his identity in order to renew her passport. This is not an official policy.
“Nigerian International Passport renewal process remains based on the individual’s identity documents.
Any claims suggesting otherwise are incorrect.
“However, For Change of Data (Due to Marriage):
“A Nigerian female with an existing passport who intends to obtain a new passport with the new surname of her husband (upon marriage), needs to get amongst other things, the following documents:
“- Newspaper publication of change of name due to marriage
– Wife’s Passport Datapage
– Marriage certificate
– Husband’s passport data page/ or NIN slip
– NIN Slip
– Local government certificate of origin
– Birth Certificate/ Declaration of Age.
“For Change of Data (Due to Divorce)
Amongst other documents, a divorced woman should present in reverting to her maiden name, are:
“- Decree Absolute
– International passport Datapage
– Newspaper publication to that effect
– NIN Slip
– Local government of origin certificate
– Birth Certificate/ Declaration of Age
“For parents wanting to obtain international passports for their children, amongst the documents required include:
“- consent letter countersigned by parent(s)
– International passport data page of parent(s)
– NIN Slip
– Local government certificate of origin
– Birth Certificate/ Declaration of Age
“For renewal for married women who are not changing name, required documents includes:
“- Expired international passport Datapage
– NIN Slip
– Local government certificate of origin
– Birth Certificate/ Declaration of Age
“Of the 4 scenarios, only in two situations is a married woman required to provide the International passport data page/NIN of her husband.
“Kindly be informed that each passport application has defined requirements regarding the type and number of documents that applicants are required to submit.
“We encourage you to verify all information directly with the Nigeria Immigration Service via official channels to avoid any confusion or misinformation. Check the FAQs/SLA Tabs on immigration.gov.ng for guidance.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service assures Nigerians of her unwavering commitment to Quality Service Delivery and Seamless Passport Acquisition Process.”
